Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press., 1926-11-25

to one hundred and twenty five, and
it stretched out for mile or more,
In these cars travelled five hundred
of the leading men and women of the
cities represented, which included del
egations from Atlanta, Macon, Haw'
kinsville, Abbeville, Fitzgerald, ociila
Douglas, Nichols, Wagefoss and Folk,
staEi. S4 = Sk a.
+ THE motorcade was particularly
noteworthy for what it was designed
i to do, and that was to celebrate The
COMPLETION of the splendid paved high
way from Waycross to Jacksonville,
distance of 80 miles of which about
half is in Georgia. ( !.
Inspired byyJournal- Herald Tour Z
It is an interesting fact that The
Journal-Herald tour of 1911 was the
inspiration for both, the Central Dixie
highway and for the motorcade OF
Monday. Isidor Gelders, editor OF
the Fitzgerald Leader Enterprise, who
with his paper sponsored both the
highway andSthe motorcade, said to-
day that it was the Journal-Herald
tour which gave him his idea of real
highway from Macon to Jacksonville
through what was then practically
impossible sand beds and swamps.
''I made my first scouting trip in
1872" said Mr.. Gelders. "The Jour-
nal-Herald tour had been run over
the National highway, which was
the conception of Major John S. Co.
hen, editor of the Journal, and which
had been secuted out and connected
up by The Journal and the Herald
during the years of 1908, 1909 and
1910. This was the first move to-
ward real interstate highway to be
made in the eastern part of the Unit
ed States, and it was Major Cohen's
vision which away back in those days,
nearly twenty years ago, foresaw the
important part the automobile travel
was destined to play in the affairs
l.of this country. Thus The Journal
was the pioneer good roads advocate
of this section of the country, and it
has consistently boosted good roads
ever since.
"When made my first scouting
trip from Fitzgerald to Jacksonville
in 1912 over what is now one Of the
best and most easily travelled high
ways in the south, it required 81
hours to make the trip and both me
in when we arrived here. Monday
and the automobile were about all
we made the same trip in about SIX
hours. and we did not hurry at all.
Besides, every minute of the journey,
as well as every foot of the distance,
was without inconvenience and was
altogether enjoyable"
More Paving Planned
That section of the road from
Fitzgerald to Waycross is in the main
of sand and gravel, and Mr.. Gelders
saws both it and the section between
Fitzgerald and Macon will be paved
within the next two or three years.
The Central Dixie highway, which
connects with the National Dixie
highway at Macon, is 256 miles in
length, Macon being one terminus and
Jacksonville the other. 1t is con-
tended by it's boosters that this high
way is forty miles shorter than any
other route from Macon to Jackson
vile.
Along practically the entire route
crowds gathered Monday to witness
the epoch-making motorcade and
to wave greetings to the tourists and
in a majority of the cities and towns
the schools took a recess so that the
school children might greet the tour
lists.
Welcoming delegations from Way
cross and Folkston met the motor
cade several miles north OF these
cities. The tourists spent hall
hour at Waycross and an hour and a
half at Folkston, where the board OF
trade and the woman's club served a
delightful luncheon to the members
of the motorcade. Here, too, several
short speeches were delivered, all
touching upon the significance OF
the occasion. These were delivered
bv Thomas Wrench and l.. E. NAL
lard. of Flokston; Isidor Gelders, OF
Fitzgerald; Judge Harry D. Reed, of
Waycross; Frank T. Reynolds, of At
lanta; W. T. Anderson, OF Macon;
Mavor John T. Alsop, of Jacksonville,
and F. o. Miller of the same city
A brief stop was made at the st.
Marv's river, which is the dividing
line between Georgia and Florida
and where the two states are arrang-
ing to construct a modern concrete
bridge, instead of the present old
wooden bridge, which is toll bridge.
The new bridge, which it 81 said Will
he built next year, will be a free
bridge.
Welcomed to jacksonville.
A reception committee OF promi-
CONTINUED. on Society Page)