The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-13
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC ,. HAsKIN. Direcsor.
Washington. D. @
THE NATIONS SOUTHERN MAIN
STREET.

the Lee highway is concrete evidence
of the progress that is being made in
the enterprise which is to give the
country another transcontinental road
1t is a demonstration of the kind of
cooperation on the part of states and
counties that insures successful the
project fostered by the organization
known as the Lee Highway associa-
ton.
This great artery of travel by motor
has been termed the southern main
street of the United States. Its pro-
motors claim for it that it will be the
finest scenic route from coast to coast
as we'll as the shortest. From Wash
ington to San Diego. Cal, 1t will meas
ure 5000 miles, which is 500 miles
less than any other route. Eventually,
it fs said. the Lee highway will be ex-
tended from Washington Ito New YORK
City and from San Diego to San Fran
cisco. giving it a to.al length of 800
miles.
1t is estimated that the road will
afford highway transportation to at
least 100000 people. approximately
one-seventh OF our continental popula-
ton. This will contribute materially
to the development of a zone at least
100 miles wide turnout its entire
length. This is regarded as of far
more importance than the facility it
will offer to tin-canners and other
tourists to travel from the Atlantic to
the Pacific thru much of the most
beautiful scenery in the country as
well as over a comparatively easy
roadway.
Experts say there is no measuring
the socially beneficent influences of
good roads. and one authority recently
asserted that they really constituted a
counter agent against dangerous
radicalism. The happy homes in
duced by automobiles and good
rodas," he said, are incompatible
with radicalism and unrest"
Whether or not that theory will be
generally accepted, those who are be-
convinced that they are engaged in a
great public service and they are
gratified with the cooperation their
project is receiving. Moreover, they
can point with pride to the progress
that has been made.
Every Mile May Be Used.
Every mile of the road is now a
and can be Travelled any day in the
year-in fact, it is all in daily use.
1t is estimated that approximately so
per cent of it is graded and that all the
necessary bridges and culverts have
been constructed. Some of this road
way is of the type known as water
bound macadam, but this will be re-
placed ultimately with scientifically
built pavement.
From almost every county seat
modern pavement extending in either
direction, and in some instances this
permanent roadway is continuous for
zoo miles. There are of course,
breaks in it's continuity, but the as
ISOLATION is now negotiating a CON-
struction program under which the
road authorities of the various states
and counties will cooperate to close
all the gaps 1t isfhoped this can be
accomplished within the next two
years, assuming that-ecnditions con-
tinue favorable
The Lee Highway runs southwest
from Washington, traversiug the val
ley of Virginia, thence west to cross
the Mississippi river at Memphis.
FROM Memphis it runs to Little Rock.
Ark, and follows the magnificent Red
river valley of southern Oklahoma,
then on thru western Texas, southern
New Mexico, Arizona and California
to San Diego.
The route from the Mississippi on is
practically one of the FIVE tranconti-
mental lines surveyed by order of con-
gress during the period Immediately
preceding the Civil war. when it was
realized that the territory gained as
a result of the Mexican war and by
the acquisition of California could
only be consolidated thru lines of
transportation linking the Pacific
coast to the Mississippi valley and
thence with the Atlantic seaboard. Old
records indicate that this route was
regarded as the most feasible as We'll
as the most desirable, but when the
war between the States came on the
line from Omaha to San Francisco
was adopted for the first railway to be
built across the continent.
Follows Many Streams and Rivers.
The Lee Highway follows beautiful
rivers and streams for more miles
than any other road in the world, it
is claimed, and offers a combina ton
of mountain and valley scenery of I'M
usual beauty and variety. From the
Potomac river southwestward to the
Mississippi the way lies thru q great
intermountain valley which is marked
by the Blue Ridge and Unaka noun
tain ranges on the east and by the
Allegheny-Cum range on the
west. This valley is crossed trans
versely by a series of ridges which
are not high enough to form mountain
barriers, but constitute watersheds for
streams flowing in a northwesterly or
southwesterly direction.
The Valley of Virginia has been a
great thorofare since the early settle
ment of that region. Along it passed
the pioneers from the older sections of
Virginia and other states who settled
the mountainous parts of West Vir-
ginia, northern Tennessee and parts of |
Kentucky. 1t was the shortest route
from Charlotte, North Carolina, to
the railroad was generally used by
southerners who had occasion TO jour-
ney north.
Thus this valley presents a wealth
OF historical interest dating back to
early colonial days. 1t includes bat
tie grounds that were the arenas for
some of the fiercest fighting of the
Civil war, and it has also its nonu- |
mentS to peaceful pursuits and
achievements Notable among the |
latter is an ancient structure standing
a short distance from the Lee High |
way between Staunton and Lexington, |
Virginia, which was the blacksmith |
made the first reaping machine. /
Scenic features of this section include |
the Luray Caverns and the Natural
Bridge, which has been rated as the
most beautiful in the world.
Il.