Oxford eagle., 1918-08-29
The GREAT NATIONAL
HIGHWAY BY OXFORD
Bill introduced By Congressman
Stephens To Make This Road a
Military Highway.

birmingham, Ala, Aug. 28.J. A.
| Rountree. Secretary Of Rankhead
National Highway Association has
Just returned from a trip in North
Carolina, inspecting the Rankhead
National Highway through the state
and also attending = meeting of the
Board Of Directors. which met in
Charlotte, n & for the purpose Of
adopting the Pathfinder report on
the Mashington-to- Atlanta division.
Secretary Rountnee reports that the
meeting of the directors was largely
attended fun Of enthusiasm and inter
est A great deal Of business of i'm
poTtance connected with the building
Of this great highway was transacted
and steps taken 10 urge Congress TO
pass bill TO Immediately build the
Bankhead Highway from Washington
10 Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis.
making II military road And also
provides for building Of the road from
Memphis, West, when route is de-
cided.
The report Of the pathfinding com
mittee, which was composed of j.
Oliver LaGorce, Chairman. Editor
American Geographical Magazine; A.
g. Batchelder, Executive Chairman.
Alerican Automobile Association;
Morris c. Eldridge. United States
Government Engineer, was carefully
considered by the Board Of Directors.
The report was full Of information
and recommended that wha. is known
as the Piedmont Route from Greens
bono. y. C, via Reidsville, Danville,
Lynehburg, and Mannassa be adopted
as an automobile route Of the Bank
head Highway TO Washington. and
that the route via Greensboro, Dur
ham. Raleigh, Neuse, Franklinton,
Oxford. Soudan. in North Carolina,
Clarksville. Baskerville. Skelton,
Grandy, I.awrenceville, W2-field.
South Hill, Petersburg, Richmond.
Ashland, SpOtsylvania, Frederickburg
DumfrieS, Occoquan, AccotInk. Alex
andria. TO Washington 10 be designat-
ed as The Military route Of the Bank
head Highway. After considering all
phases of the report j. was the unani
nous decision Of the directors that the
Military route from Washington,
Fredericksburg. Richmond, Peters-
burg. Raleigh route should be adopfed-
There being no contest over the route
from Greensboro 20 Atlanta Is recon- /
mended by the Pathfinders which
passes throagh High Point. Thomas
vile. lexington. salisbury. Kama
polls. Concord. Newell. Charlotte.
Gastonia. Blacksburg. Gafncy, Dray
ton. IN North Carolina, Spartanburg,
Greer. Greenville. Piedmont. William
town. Anderson. III South Carolina
Har1well. RoySton. lila. Athens. Bu
garr. Stratham, Winder. Auburn,
Lawrcaceville. Stone Mountain, De
cstur. Atlanta
Secretary Rountree reports the
greatest interest and keenest rivalry
in building the Rankhead Highway
from Washington 10 Atlanta. also the
strongest influences II work 20 have
the Government 10 take over this
great National Highway a. q military
road from the fact that II Is military
necessity in handling troops, ammuni-
ton and supplies from one military
post 10 another. a K passes through
the Military posts AZ Fort Meyer, Ac-
eotink. Oocuquan, Richmond. Peters
burg. Charlotte. Spartanburg, Green
vile. Atlanta. Anniston. on through
Birmingham TO Memphis
President Plowman and Secretary
Rountree, together with q special
committee viii visit Washington Sept
9th. 10 hold a conference with Sena-
tor Bankhead, Senator Chamberlain.
Chairman Of the Senate Military com
mittee. Congressman Dent, Chairman
of the House Military Committee,
Congressman Stephens, who has al
ready introduced bill in Congress to
accept and build the Highway as a
Military road. This committee VIII
present the strongest arguments
possible and endeavor TO secure
| favorable report on their mission.