The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-11
MOTOR|ZATIONOF
TRUNK HIGHWAYS
RAPIDLY NEARING
tcontinued From First PaEs.1

ington, and which is mapped for a dis
lance Of 5000 miles, has been definitely
routed to Memphis. 1t viii cross the
river here and strike southwest through
Texas to Los Angeles. The govern
ment purposes to make it a great mill
tary highway, and IS environments are
already established on 1t.
The next big highway is the Jeffer-
son Davis highway. This road, a great
deal of construction on which has al
ready been done, in a preliminary way.
begins at Paducah, with an arm exA
tending to Louisville, and parallels the
Mississippi down through Memphis and
the larger towns of Mississippi to New
Orleans. Its length is 600 miles.
The third road is the Muscle Shoals
highway, now being laid out between
Memphis and Muscle Shoals by way Of
Corinth and Holly Springs.
II may be readily seen that from an
economic standpoint these roads, giving
Memphis transeontinental highway ia
cilities north and south, east and west,
and a short line special in addition, are
of intestimable value. But to enjoy the
future he South must get busy.
As T. B. King, chairman Of the
Chamber of Commercs~good roads come
mittee, puts it:
1.-THE southern portion of the United
States is so richly endowed by nature
| lldt IL L6lluS " 0IICOuIdBt l6lndIBy Un
the part Of her people-it seems to fos-
ter a contentment that is closely kin
to idleness If not ~laziness.
I'VE are calling upon the federal gov
eminent for aid in building and main
tanning public highways. The great
majority Of bills that have been intro
duoed in congress looking toward that
end have provided for appropriations
from the federal treasury in proportion
to the work that has already been don't
or is in immediate prospect of being
done in the states seeking federal aid.
This means that where little or
nothing has been accomplished in the
way of improving highways that scanty
aid will be bestowed, n In this re-
spect the Middle West and north nave
already made great progress, q progress
that has put them far in advance OF
the South.
"The old law, where much is given
much is required is memorable, and it
is time for the people Of the South
to realize that fact as never before, and
to put forth greater energy for the de-
velopment of that which has fallen nat.
urally into their hands"
So far as interstate highways are con-
cerned, Tennessee is apparently mark
ing time, awaiting action by the legisS,
lature, on which 1t Is hoped to secure
a federal allotment. Mississippi has
gone the Volunteer, state zone better; T.
i has already provided highway improve
ment funds totaling hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars, and there is today a
bond issue Of 81, 900, 600 lying in Mis-
sissippi banks for road construction in
Coahoma, Leflore, Washington and De-
Soto counties, which is only awaiting
favorable weather and shipping facil-
tiles.
Heretofore one of the big drawbacks
to construction of this vast network OF
highways was not the lack Of federal
support so much as the absence Of any
system In their promotion. There Is
the Dixie highway, north and south
route; the Lincoln highway, a tr%anscon-
tinental route from east to west
through the heart Of the country the
Bankhead highway, the Jefferson Davis
highway and a score or more less pre-
tentious. They were launched almost
simultaneously, but exploited separately
with the result that good roads ccnven-
tons became as numerous as Tiles in
the summer time. There was no unity
of purpose between them. Each assa@l
citation tried to Guido the others
all Of them found the shedding. H.
This was forcibly brought out a. Aas
conference on highway developr "
held in Chicago last month, under
auspices of the Highway Industries ="
sociation and the American Association
of State Highway Officials. The con-
sensus of opinion at this conference
which was attended by highway enthu-
siasts from all over the country, was
That a federal highway commission
be established.
That a national highway system be
established.
That the present federal aid to the
states be continued and increased.
Legislation touching these suggestions
has been drawn, but its passage de.
ponds largely on unified continent
throughout the country and Individual
support in it's behalf on the part OF
interested representatives in congress.