The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-31
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
WORK BEGUN ON
SCENIC ROAD TO
MT. VERNON
Motorists May Ride Along
Potomac to Old Mansion
OF Nations Father.

BIZ NEA Serrice
WASHINGTON, May 31.-Work
has been stal ted on one of the
shortest highways in the United
States. Although only fifteen miles
long, it will traverse a territory rich
in historic interest, taking motorists
from the seat of the country's gov
eminent, Washington, to the home
Of its first President, George Wash
ington's old mansion at Mt. Vernon.
Built on a right-of- 200 feet
wide, the Mt. Vernon Memorial
highway will follow the course of
the historic Potomac river through
little towns and villages made ia
nous by the father of our country.
Legislative action for construction
was taken In May, 1928, and by the
time the road is ready for dedica-
ton on Feb. %, 1882 the 2O0th
anniversary of WashingtL rs birth, it
is estimated that $4,5oO,000, the
amount authorized for its con-
struction, will have been spent.
Proposed 40 Years Ago
The first movement for the con-
struction of this highway was
taken by Virginia nearly forty
years ago.
The road, as planned then, was
to be sixty feet wide with seventy
feet to be allowed on each side for
landScaping. A mile was to be
allotted each of the original thir-
teen states, so each might have an
opportunity for special memorials.
Actual construction started last
October, when fills along the road
were leveled off. Now the road is
beginning to shape into one of the
most modern in the country, its
plans calling for a wide highway
embodying the use of ramps,
bridges and bypasses.
Tourists in the capital city can
reach the highways easily. 1t be-
gins at Columbia island in the Po-
tornac river at point opposite the
Lincoln memorial.
Connected With City
1t is connected with the city by the
Arlington memorial bridge. A short
distance TO the east is Arlington
Memorial cemetery, where the re-
mains Of many Of the nations
prominent men are inferred.
Here the road follows the river
south and across Boundary Channel
bridges and Reaches Run into Ar
Ington, the birthplace of Nellie
Gusts, adopted daughter Of George
Washington and his wife and home
of the StuartS.
At Four-Mile Run a bridge is to be
built across the river Land around
this place was bought by WASH
ington in TITS and surveyed by him
in 1785.
From here the road follows the
old Alexandria canal, engineered by
Washington, into the historic town
of Alexandria.
Revolutionary Relics in Homes
Many old homes and relics of the
revolutionary period are to be found
here, including the George Wash
ington national Masonic memorial.
Then on to cross fill and bridge
at Hunting creek, where Washing
ton and his friends used to hunt
fox, and into Wellington, Va, where
Tobias Lear, Washington's Secre-
tary, lived.
Across Hunting creek is the old
Mansion house farm, where Wash
ington lived from 1747 to 1873. This
house will be one of the landmarks
to tourists when the road is COM
pleted.
On to Mt. Vernon
From Wellington, the road con-
tinues on the Mt. Vernon, pass
ing historic Fl. Hunt en- route, and
crossing Little Hunting creek.
National landmarks and natural
beauty spots along the highway are
to be retained. Historic trees and
other features are to be guarded
by board fences during course Of
construction, and the highway will