Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-24
The Jefferson Davis Highway
BY JOHN T. BOIFEUILLET

| " HE proposed Jefferson Davis Highway
across the state of Georgia would be
a splendid memorial to the immortal
cheftain Of the Confederacy. 1t would in
| spire the present generation of Georgians to
| the performance of noble Deeds resulting
! from a knowledge of the life, character and
| services of the great Southerner. and it
would be object lesson in patriotism to
children yet unborn. 1t would also be a sig
nal to the world that the memory of Jeffer-
son Davis will never cease to stir the purest
and tenderest emotions of the South's ma
| ture, and that his name will be embamed
forever among the most sacred treasures of
| the Southern heart. No enterprise could be
undertaken in Georgia around which would
| be wreathed more patriotic sentimnet.
There is a Lincoln Highway stretching from
! ocean to ocean-extending from the city of
New York to San Francisco-a distance of
about $500 miles. 1t was projected by the
| Lincoln Highway Association, as memorial
| to Abraham Lincoln, the president Of the
| United States during the Civil war.
| Why not then this Jefferson Davis High
way, designed to connect the two capitals of
| the Southern Confederacy, via Georgia, and
/ intended by the Jefferson Davis Highway AS
| ISOLATION as a memorial to the first and only
| president of the Confederate States of
| America?
| Markers for the Highway
The route of the Lincoln Highway is
marked with distinctive red, white and
! blue marker, bearing blue IL" on the Gen.
| trail white field. [ have been informed that
| one thousand markers or signs for the pro-
| posed Jefferson Davis Highway have just
| been received at Fitzgerald, Georgia, and
| very soon the work will begin of marking
| the entire route from Fitzgerald west to
!
and east from Fitzgerald to Richmond, Vir-
! ginia, the eastern terminus, ! do not know
! the description of these signs markers.
! Possibly they are in colors and bear the let
| ter 3D." though such markers may not be
| used until the highway has been completed.
| Speaking of highway markers, / know of
! one that has an interesting history and was
| result of an animated and highly inter
| esting debate in Congress between Henry
Clay, of Kentucky, and John Randolph, of
Virginia, on the subject of national aid to
| public road building, a question of nation
! wide and absorbing interest today. Randolph
! opposed such legislation as unconstitutional;
denying to the general government any power
| to make any improvements within the limits
! of any state, without the consent of the state,
| Mr.. Clay claimed the government had the
power under the grant which constituted
| Congress competent to establish postoffices
and postroads The pending measure became
[ law, the road was built and monument
| was erected in Mr.. Clays honor by Virgin
ians. 1t stands in beautiful valley in
| Western Virginia, Immediately by the side
| of the road.
Headquarters at Fitzgerald
The Jefferson Davis Highway Association
has its headquarters at Fitzgerald, Georgia.
! The Association has for it's object the estab-
lshment Of a continuous improved highway
from Vicksburg, Mississippi, the home state
Of the president Of the Confederacy, via
Montgomery, Alabama, the first capital of
the Confederate States, through Georgia,
South Carolina, North Carolina, and on to
Richmond, Virginia, the last capital of the
| Confederacy. Starting, at Fitzgerald and 60
| ing westward toward Vicksburg, among some
| of the places in Georgia through which the
Highway will pass are, Irwinvlle, Ashburn,
! Sylvester, Albany, Dawson and Cuthbert.
Eastward from Fitzgerald, the route passes
through McRae, Vidalia, Lyons Reidsville,
Claxton, Savannah and Augusta
The Highway will pass by the SPOT, near
Irwinvile, Georgia, where Jefferson Davis
was captured on May 10, 1865, by troopers of
the Fourth Michigan Cavalry. With Mr.. Da
Wis at the time of his capture were his wife
and their four children, Postmaster General
Reagan of the COnfederacy Governor Lub-
beck, of Texas, and others.
1t is interesting to note that among some
of the cities outside of Georgia through which
the highway will run are, Eufaula, Montgom-
cry, Selma, Meridian, Jackson, and stopping
at Vicksburg. On the eastern section, Column
bia Raleigh Petersburg, with Richmond as
the terminus.
Cooperation of Six States
According to my understanding Of the
proposition, the jefferson Davis Highway
association does not undertake to construct
and finance the highway, but endeavors to
! to promote and aid in it's building by in
| teresting the local communities, counties
and states through which it is intended to
pass The cooperation of the federal gov
eminent, six states, numerous counties,
scores of towns and cities, automobile as
sociations. road bodies and highway COM
missions is absolutely essential, vitality nee
essary, for the success of the enterprise.
am informed that the association has re-
ceived splendid responses of cooperation
from various sources, and feels repaid for
the labor it has already expended on the
project.
1t was by such cooperation as the JEFF
! fersOn Davis Highway association now seeks
that the great Lincoln highway of $500
miles was constructed. The Lincoln asso-
citation was chartered at Detroit, Mich, in
1913, The highway was dedicated on Jam
| Uary I, 1919. AS one of numerous evil
| dences of cooperation accorded the asso
| iation, was the bridging by the state high
! way department of Utah of the great Amer
! lean desert between Salt Lake City, Utah,
| and Ely, New. The LINCOLN highway starts
! at Times square. Forty-second street and
| Broadway, New York City, and after pass
! ing through eleven states, reaches its ter
minus at Lincoln park, overlooking the Col
| den Gate, San Francisco.
Another Confederate Highway
ic nv sJIob 4bo Toff