Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-30
Highways and Markets
BETTER demonstration Of

70 BETTER demonstration OF the
N value of improved highways could
be cited than the right here in
Atlanta of farmers selling country produce
raised in Milton, Forsyth, Dawson and Lump
kin counties, which are now. connected with
Atlanta by highway constructed by the
State Highway Department.
North Of Atlanta on the west bank of the
Chattahoochee river are a chain of counties
running to the North Carolina line. They are
Milton, Forsyth, Dawson, Lumpkin and
Union. They untouched by a railroad or
electric line. Their roads the kind COM
mon to mountain counties in most of the
southern states. Recently there has been
some considerable local road improvement,
but not enough to give them free access to
the city so near them.
Farmers in all of these counties, with the
exception of Union, are now regularly hauling
country produce to Atlanta by automobiles
and small motor trucks and selling at good
cash prices. The motor trip from Lumpkin
county, in spite of some rough places not
yet finished by the State Highway Depart
ment, can be made in three hours. farm
er living seventy-five miles north of Atlanta
loads his motor vehicle the night before,
starts from home before daylight, and ar
rives in Atlanta in the early forenoon.
This particular route which is one Of
many being constructed by che State High
way Department, runs from Atlanta to the
North Carolina line through the counties
named. Although not completed, and in
spite Of numerous rough places, the farmers
already are making use of it, already "pene-
trating'' a market which Was never open to
them for country produce by reason of its
inaccessibility.
It is safe to saw that the value of every
acre of improved farm land in the above
named five counties-MiltOn, Forsyth, DaW-
son, Lumpkin and Union-will be materially
enhanced by the construction of this one
highway. In fact farm values already are
sal IN Ia INN mo
are well adapted to the production Of a great
variety of truck farm products, dairy products
and fruit few years will witness an aggre-
gate enhancement of land values far greater
than the cost of this mountain highway
Not only from the standpoint of develop
ing the truck farm industry and placing these
mountain counties in easy driving distance of
Atlanta is the mountain highway to pay for
itself, but also from the standpoint of open
ing the mountain country as a summer re-
sort. North Carolina's famous Land of the
Sky is no more beautiful than the mountains
of North Georgia. The topography is much
the same, the fine invigorating air is the
same, the crystal mountain water is the same,
the scenery very similar.
Within twelve months the whole highway
will be open from Atlanta to Asheville, as
the North Carolina State Highway Depart
ment with a bond issue Of $50,000,000) is
building route from Asheville to the. Geor-
gia line to connect with the Georgia route.
a heavy piece of grading across the Blue
Ridge mountains north of Dahlonega, will
complete the work in this state. Automobiles
can then make the trip from Atlanta to Ashe-
vile on a graded, surfaced road, penetrating
a region rich in mineral and agricultural re-
sources, charming in the beauties of its
scenery, invigorating in its climate.
Mountain counties heretofore isolated from
the world, except by slow-moving vehicles,
will fine, themselves IN a great highway of
constant travel by tourists and truck farm
ers. Lands too rugged for cultivation will
make splendid SUNNI camp sites.
Mountain streams and lakes will attract an
army of fishermen.
The Federal Government has bought sew
eral hundred thousand acres of land in north
east Georgia, and is now in process of buying
more, as forest reserve. It's plan is to stop
the cutting of timber except in small annual
allotments to stock the streams and lakes
with fish, and to stock the forests with game
of all kinds. By the time the State High
way Department has completed it's several
routes into the mountains-of which the one
here mentioned is merely single part Of a
general network-the Federal Government
plans are likely to be we'll advanced.