The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-15

Mississippi River Scenic highway has
long since passed theTefrom, II II has
ever occupied the dream stage, and your
board OF directors is today at this the
first annua convention OF the assoCia-
ton. reporting the ground work and
specification for the building and com-
pletion Of this gigantic transcontinental
good roads project" said Mr.. Pierson.
More Than Paper Road.
THE Mississippi River Scenic high
way is one Of the greatest good roads
projects in the United States today,
II is logical, II is sentimental; II is big
and broad and Of vital importance to
the 20 sG1es OF this great valley, be-
cause II Taps The very heart Of the
nation. Up TO date much Of tho work
has been propaganda, but this educa-
tional work was "a very necessary part
of the structure. Thus far the cities
Of st, Louis, Quincy and Memphis have
borne their share, II not practically all
Of the expenses OF the national organi-
cation of the highway"
Here Mr.. Pierson urged that some
plan he adopted for adequately and
cqultably financing tho highway assocl-
alton, and the employment Of an ex-
perienccd publicity and promotion eX-
pert to continue the propaganda for
the completion OF the highway from
end to end,
we must make Of the Mississippi
river scenic highway much more than
a paper road" he said,
we must follow the lead Of the gal
liant South In this matter, and your
president wants TO report that he has
visited towns on the highway from
| New Orleans north 10 Iowa In the past
few weeks and he has found more get
up-and-Eet' in grand old Arkansas. up
to-datc Tennessee. fine old Mississippi
and lively Louisiana than he found In
some Of the Northern states. The edu-
catinnal work 40 far conducted In the
national organization has inspired the
South so that bond issues and the let
ting Of road contracts are quito the
order Of the day IN the sunny South,
Not Marked in South.
THE highway has not been marked
from st, Louis south 10 New Orleans.
This should be done Immediately,
Prom st, Louis 10 81, Paul the high
way has been marked and much i'm
proved, particularly In Iowa and Min
nosota.
There has been more traffic over
the Mississippi river scenic highway
from st, Louis north to st, Paul this
year than ever before,
ut Is proper this time To record that
a large measure of the success Of the
Mississippi River Scenic highway from
st. Louis south to New Orleans IL due
to the city Of Memphis and the town
OF st, Franclsyille, La First Nlce-presI-
dent w. II, Hayley is the able general
who put the highway through the South
with the assistance OF capable men like
Thomas b, King and sam Calhoun. of
Memphis, ], II, Matthews, of ST, Fran
| c~lsvilie, La T. " Wensel, of Natchez,
Miss president OF the Southern di-
VNrInns t.nnptra - ATNRlla 80 thu Afn,.t
Orleans association Of commerce and
others,
"Wo must also recognize the great
work done In Iowa by u. q. Fairfield,
OF Muscatine; w, IL. Holsteen and A.
| @. Oberle and G $. Marshal, OF Wa
because men like julius Kespohl, George
MeAdams, Rudolph Tenk, Thomas A.
Scherer, j, J. Moriarty, Loren Cox, Y.
II Evans, George ID, LoVE w. Il. Eddy,
all Of Quincy, III; Henry Scarborough,
Of payson, ILL.,, and II, c, MeCarroll.
OF kinderhooh and eliza Williams, Of
Pittsfield; r. N. Lightfoot, Carl j..
Of Sc, Louis, have given OF their time
and money to this cause,
Acting under the authority invested
In me by the board of directors | have
70 report that with the chairman OF
the committee who Is acting as our
| NNhli9tlt I liuillshN ~ oIltI tIs vi lNllltN ,
ILL.,, the highway has been Incorporated
under the laws OF Missouri and | would
recommend that steps be taken imme-
diately TO register In each OF the states
that arc traversed by the highway,
with regard 20 the financing Of the or
ganisation you are Informed that up
20 date the national organization has
been financed in the main by a few
Individuals
The address OF welcome to the visit
Ing delegates was delivered by Sam
I. Calhoun, representing Mayor Frank
]. Monteverde Mr., Calhoun was in
troduced by Mr. King as Sam Cal
houn, tho loquacious,"
Delta Building Fast.
The active interest which the South
ern division Of the scenic highway from
Momphie to New Orleans Ia taking IN
its construction was reported wodnes-
day morning by T. V, WenseL Of
Natchez, Miss, and j. X, Matthews, of
st, Francisyille, Lac. secretary and
treasurer of the division, Branch or
ganization has been formed and leaders
elected. they said, in the following Mis-
sissippi counties through which the
highway passes; Washington, W. A.
Morgan, Greenvellle; ~lssaquena, O, H.
Keep, Grace; Warren, b, u, Field. Vicks-
burg; Claiborne, j, NJ. McGruder, Port
Gibson: jefferson, l.. l.. Posey, Fayette,
Adams, ", r, Rhodes; Wilkerson, S. A,
Rothchild, Woodville, DeSoto, +, {
I Holmes, fernando. Tunica. Coahoma
| and Bolivar counties. Mississippi, have
not yet reported formal organization &c
! MIR, Wensel, but L. w. Mashburn, roae
engineer for Coahoma and Tuuica coun.
: ties, who is attending the convention
stated that contracts had been let am,
partially executed for the whole Length
qf the highway through Tuuica, an,
that all Of the Coahoma link has bee,
constructed with the exception Of thre
4 miles. lie said he also understood tha
IL miles of the Bolivar link have beer
constructed,
In each Of these counties where til
organization OF units Of the highway ma
been perfected, road bonds have alread
!" been voted or they are being urged.