Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-05-11
Big Gathering of Highway Men
At Jacksonville May 26th-27th
Good Road Enthusiasts From MANY
States to Attend Highway Conven-
At Jaxville, May 26-27th

The seventh annual convention of
the board of directors to be held Nav
70 and 9th in Jacksonville, Fla, Ho-
tel Seminole, will be one of the great
est gathering of men officially connect
ed with highway construction in the
history of the Dixie Highway.
The suggestion of H. B. Phillips.
Chairman of the State road Depart
ment of Florida, that men from the
similar departments in states traversed
by the Highway be invited to the
Jacksonville session is being received
with favor
Primary intention back of Mr.. Phil
lips idea is to get together a group of
men who can bring to bear complete
knowledge of road condition and
route and work out a plan for quick
completion OF one highway from the
North into Florida. This would make
1t possible to emphasize definite rout-
ing to tourists and assure them a good
road. One really worthwhile Road
into Florida" has been suggested by
John. Lowell as slogan for the May
meeting, What he had in mind evil
dently. was getting away from present
conditions, whereby rival routes are
contending for the tourist travel and
none of them beyond criticism as to
the equality fthe road.
Another feature event in connection
with the annual meeting will be an
automobile tour from Chattanooga to
Jacksonville. President Alison's in
yltation to the directors to come to
chattanooga and then change from
railroad to automobile transportation
is meeting with such favor that it
seems there will be quite convoy OF
cars to leave here at the appointed time
President. Allison called attention to
the great Improvement that will be
visible in the road, especially to those
directors who went over it on the me-
morable trip in 1915. In those days
1t was quie an accomplishment to
make the trip from Nashville to Chat
tanooga between early morning one
day and dark the following day. To
Atlanta from Chattanooga required
an early start in order to reach the
Georgia metropolis at a late hour in
the night And as for the through
trip from Chattanooga to Jacksonville
it consumed four days of hard driving.
Now it is made in two days.
Frank Hamilton. one of the Michi-
gan directors of the Dixie Highway
writes that he intends to make the
trip. His county has just closed
contract for the last five miles of the
road from\ Traverse city overe the
Mackinaw trail with the exception of
a few short stretches of very minor
importance. The Dixie Highway, he
says, is finished from Traverse City
south along the entire line
Other directors who have at the time
signified their intention of joining
President Allison on this trip are
Thomas Taggert, president of the
French Lick Springs Hotel. Vice-pres-
ident and director for Indiana; J. S.
Hill president of the Hotel Gibson Co.
Cincinnati, director for Ohio; H. B.
Hanger, Richmond, KY; H. T. An
derson, president and editor of Macon
Telegraph; Vice-president and director
for Georgia; Judge Joe L. Earman,
West Palm Beach, and Frank B.
Shuts, president the Miami Herald,
Miami, Directors for Florida.
Of the Chattanooga officers and di-
rectors several have stated that they
will.
Absence in Europe or being on the
way there will prevent three members
of the Dixie Highway directorate from
being present in Jacksonville. Clark
Howell, editor of the Atlanta Consti-
tuition, director for Georgia advises
that he is going to England with his
two sons, Albert and Julian, to join
the third son, Conner, who is finishing
his studies at Oxford. A. F. Sanford
owner of the Knoxville Journal and
Tribune, Tennessee Director is abroad
now and will not return in time.
w. s. Gilreath secretary of the De-
troit Automobile Club and former field
secretary of the Dixie Highway Asso-
citation and w. E. Metzger, on of the
Michigan directors, are planning to
make the trip through from Michigan
to Jacksonville by auto.
Among the Highway Officials who
will attend this meeting are Joe S,
Boggs, state highway engineer of Ken
lucky; H. G. Garrett, chairman of the
Kentucky highway commission, Win
chester, KY; w. w. House, chairman,
of the Tennessee highway commits
sion, w. P. Moore, commissioner of
engineering for Tennessee; F. E. Beard
Chairman Board County Commission
ers, St. Clair County, Port Huron,
Michigan; Chairman John N. Holder,
OF the Georgia State highway board;
R. C. Nicely, member of the Georgia
highway board and w. R. Neel, state
highway engineer of Georgia, who
writes that he is especially pleased at
the date bing late in May, so that
more time will be available for com
pletion of that stretch of the Dixie
I Highway between Waycross and the
Florida state line as he is very anxious
that same be ing God condition for the
trip.
A party of motorists will join chair
man, w. R. Bowen here on the Path
and will motor to Macon to escort the
officers and directors of the Dixie
Highway Association from Macon to
Jacksonville on the morning of the