The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-19
ROUNTREE |NSPECTS bANKHEAD HIGHWAY
Finds Great Interest in Project All the Way From
 Washington to Atlanta

J. A. Rountree, secretary of the Bankhead National Highway associa- tion, has just returned from two weeks tour of the Bankhead highway from Washington to Atlanta. In com pany with President T. s. Plowman and Senator Bankhead, they held con- ferences with various road officials, departmental officials. automobile of ficers and good roads advocates and directors in arranging details for of- ficiany locating the Bankhead high way from Washington to Atlanta, Bir- mingham- and Memphis.
 After holding these various confer ences it was decided that immediate ly after Congress adjourns. which is expected to be in six weeks, an off cial .pathfinding committee composed of two engineers, representatives of the American Automobile association and two citizens will start from Wash ington and officially designate the highway from Washington to Atlanta.
 It was also decided that when President Plowman returned from the east this week he would immediately ,call meeting of the executive com mittee in Birmingham for the pur- pose of deciding the date and itin-
 
 ing committee to designate the high way from Atlanta to Birmingham and thence to Memphis. It was decided that the Atlanta, Birmingham, Mem phis division of the Bankhead high way would be designated first and that the people on this division would be given two weeks notice to perfect their plans to fix the roads and ar range for the official party. It is sug- oactad that abouf .Tu1v 2A fha Dath- finding party would start but the defi- mite date will be settled by the execu- tive committee.
 For the past 10 days Secretary Rountree has been visiting the vari- ous cities and towns between Wash ington and Atlanta through which the Bankhead highway will pass, among them being Richmond, Lynchburg, AL tavista, Danville, Va, Reidsville, Greensboro, Highpoint, Charlotte, N. C.. Gaffney, Greenville, S. C., and At lanta. At all these points he was met by special committees from Chambers of Commerce, mayors and city and county road officials. He was exten- sively entertained and given an op- portunity to address the people at these various towns and cities and was shown over the links of tho Bankhead highway in their respect i've counties. He was extended many courtesies.
 He states that the greatest enthu- siasm was shown all along the route. The people are anxious that the road shall be linked up, built and officially designated. He also states that actual construction of permanent roads has already begun. The link through Guil- ford county, North Carolina, has al- ready been built and is surfaced with asphalt 16 miles. It is pronounced one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the United States. Cherokee county, North Carolina, has issued $500 900 worth of bonds. the road has been surveyed and contracts let to build and connect up with North Car olina link Spartanburg county, North Carolina, has voted a bond issue of a million dollars to build the road through that county. Greenville coun- ty. South Carolina, has sold bonds and is actually building 32 miles of con- crete road. which will be a. division of the Bankhead highway. Anderson county, South Carolina, has voted and issued s20OO00 worth of bonds to build it's roads Every indication, states MT Rountree, points to the fact that the Bankhead highway from Atlanta, Bir- mingham. Memphis and to Little Rock Ark will be a well-built road and a reality within the next 12 months.