Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-23
Large Atlanta Party Partici-
pateS in Victory Drive eS-
tivitieS at Popular Island
Resort
BY RALPH SMITH
(Staff Correspondent of The JOurnall

(Staff Correspondent of The JOurnaD
SAVANNAH, Ga, June 21.-Tybee
Light and Rabun Gap, of which
poets and politicians have sung and
ranted, were linked in enduring
ties today with the formal opening
Of Victory drive, connecting the
popular island resort with the
mainland of Georgia. The occasion
was marked by a jubilee of rejoic-
ing that justly ranks with the many
notable celebrations for which Sa-
vannah and Chatham county are ia
nous. BY proclamation of Mayor
| Seabrook, business in the city was
suspended, and all hands turned out
acclaim the opening of Victory drive
as one of the most important de-
| velopments in the modern annals of
southeast Georgia.
The city folk were assisted in the
demonstration by hundreds of visi'
tors from other sections. of the state,
and there were, too, representations
! from South Carolina. A hundred or
more well-knoWn Atlantians attend
ed the formal ceremonies and will
linger in Savannah and at Tybee
during the three days of entertain
ment that are to follow. Most OF
them motored from the Gate city
! via Augusta, and arrived here
about noon today.
Procession to Tybee
The days festivities opened at II
o'clock, with an automobile parade
! from Savannah to Tybee. The cars
formed at Victory drive and Waters
avenue, in front of the beautiful
home of Editor Pleasant A. Stovall,
of the Savannah Press, former min
, lister to Switzerland. The process.
sion to Tybee was impressive and
| inspiring, and the motorists were en-
| thuSiastic over the wonders of the
connecting link between the main
land and Tybee.
The booming of the most historic
gun in the United States set the
procession in motion. The signal
was fired from Washington cannon,
which was presented to Chatham
artillery by George Washington.
Manned by picked crews from bat
terieS A and c, commanded by Cap.
tain Frank Lee Hardy and Lieuten-
ant M. p. Carter, the booming of the
cannon was answered by Big
Duke" Savannah's historic fire bell.
Locomotives in the railroad yards,
craft in the Savannah harbor and
Industrial plants answered the chal-
lenge Of the cannon and fire bell, so
that the automobiles moved on
Tybee amid din of deafening noise.
The procession was headed by
members of the Chatham county
board of commissioners, Oliver T.
Bacon, chairman; A. B. Moore, Ar
thur w. Soloman, Albert Wylly and
M. V. Davis.
Chairman John N. Holder, of the
state highway commission, rode with
Chairman Bacon. Mayor Seabrook
and members of the Savannah city
council were in the cars that follow
ed Immediately, and thereafter came
the members of the Savannah Au-
tomobile club and their guests.
The ceremonies at Tybee were
marked by the presentation of sets
of silver goblets to County Superin-
tendent of Work West and County
Engineer Brown. The presentation
was made by J. Ferris Cam, on be-
half of the town of Tybee, in appre-
citation of the work done by Messrs.
West and Brown on the highway.
Parking arrangements for auto
mobiles at Tybee were in charge of
the Eighth United States infantry
from Fort Screven and were well
nigh perfect. A lieutenant with 200
soldiers directed the cars and saw
that orderly arrangement was main
tanned.
History of Project
Formal ceremonies at Tybee be-
gan at o'clock. Here Chairman
Bacon, of the county board, related
the history of the development of
the highway to the island. The con-
tract for the construction of the
highway was let on July 10, 1920
Previous to letting the contracts.
the people of Chatham county had