Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-09-25

and Cincinnati. Agreed upon from both
ends to the Polk county, Tennessee
line, this left twenty-five mile gap
to be filled in. Saturday morning
from z to IL o'clock State Highway
Commissioner Testerman, aceompan-
led by Chairman s. L. Higdon, Of the
Polk county court, and Mr.. Reynolds
Attorney Todd and Supt. J. G. Hay
den, of the L. & N. railway, and the
entire Georgia delegation and Polk
county, Tennessee, boosters, Travelled
in autos from Etowah, via Pender-
CAST, Wetmore, Benton, ocoee and Old
Fort to Conasauga, Tennga and into
Georgia. Then the delegation tar
ried to bid each other goodbye, and
the Tennessee officials returned along
part of the old federal road, then to
Ocoee to catch the through train to
Knoxville.
On account Of good limestone for
building all along the route, and plen-
ty Of suitable sand, concrete road is
planned, only the cement being nee
essary to ship in.
The road contemplated is from six
teen to twenty feet in width, and by
reason of levelness of route and ma
terial being all alongside the entire
roadway. the cost is roughly estimat-
ed at from $4,000 to $4,000 a mile;
the funds of Polk county securing 81
from the United tSates and the state
Of Tennessee for every dollar put into
it by the county court. So, if Polk
county votes 100000, as is suggested
by Chairman Higdon, Tennessee and
the federal government will furnish
5000, 900 to build it, and the state
highway department will superintend
the work.
Three or more variations from the
exact line of the old federal road
through this section were considered
but the entire matter Of location de-
pends largely upon the United States
engineers surveys. Chairman Hig-
don also suggests the securing Of all
needed funds to make good road of
the New Mountain highway being now
constructed to Ducktown and Copper
hill, and no doubt the court will ap-
propriate whatever is needed; also the
government forestry department is
under promise by it's officials of funds
to improve the Mountain road and to !
keep it up, as it passes through the
forest reserve, Cherokee
area for over twenty-seven miles Of
the way, reaching the top of the Lit
tie Frog range by easy grades, at an
elevation of 3,O47 feet, being known
as "the highest thoroughfare in Ten
No grade is over 5 per cent.
These combined actions suggested in
sure the favorable action of the coun-
~ court, and thereby insures the mis-
sing link, and the building of the
Jackson highway" along this histor-
c route.
The defeat of bonds in Fannin coun-
", Georgia and the lack of interest in
elmer, Pickens and Cherokee coun-
lies, Georgia, rendered it impossible
% build the Copper Basin route thru
% Atlanta.
The early completion of the Polk
county mountain highway will give
he copper country easy access to
Knoxville, via the federal highway
through Etowah; and the improve
nent of the road from Ocoee dam
70. / along the north shores of the
'arksvile lake to the end of the
fountain road will put Ducktown an ,
ther twelve miles nearer. Chatta-
ooga than the present route by Re-
lance, the latter shortening the dis \
ance of heretofore roads by about {
ourteen miles. The two Federal auto
rucks for road building are to be de-
vered to Chairman Higdon for bring
,g here next Tuesday by Secretary
esterman. Another one is promised
{ the next number appropriated.
harmony of action in the Polk coun-
Y court seems assured, and the Jack {
On federal highway and Mountain
pad will no doubt become available
,r their respective purposes. A