The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-05-06
Appalachian Trail
 Idea Is. Growing
"Maine to Georgia" Slogan Meets With Ready
 Response

Connecticut has millions to spend for better roads in the interest of people who own touring cars, but disposition to put out a penny on footpats for people to walk, regard less of the fact that facts are avail- able from unreliable sources to prove that men, women and chil- dren are being killed in all parts of the state because there Is no place for pedestrians on the state highways where they can go to and from their homes without getting in the path of rapidly moving motor vehicles, frequently in the hands of irresponsible drivers.
 The following article which ap- peared in the New York Times is printed in the hope that the com mitte appointed by Gov. Cross to investigate and report on the need of footpaths on the state roads in Connecticut will submit a favorable report and that its finding will re- ceive the unanomous support of every member of the house and senate:
 Begun nine years ago, the con- struction of the Appalachian Trail. as a footpath for walkers 1.20O miles long from the Appalachian summits and ridges from Maine to Georgia, is now more than half finished and will be so reported at the fifth annual Appalachian Trail Conference, to be held June 12 to IA at Gatlinburg, Tenn.
 This project, which was proposed in 1921 by Benton MacKaye, as an extension of regional planning for wilderness recreation, through the American Institute of Architects, early enlisted the volunteer support of member of outdoor clubs. It was fostered in the beginning by the Commissioners of the Palisades In- terstate Park. who approved the action of their general manager and chief engineer, Major w. A. Welch, in welcoming the construction of the trail across the Hudson High lands section of the park, and in providing means for marking it.. marker, with the AT monogram. and the legend. Appalachian Trail Maine to Georgia" which has be- come the standard emblem of the enterprise.
 Members of the walking clubs of the New York City-Northern New Jersey metropolitan district, who hal been engaged, with the cordial welcome of the commission, in making q region system of trails man sections of the park. turned their energies to the location of the Appalachian Trail across these sec tions, from Bear Mountain Bridge to Arden, and this division of about eighteen miles was completed in 1923, and has since been one of the most popular park trails. Through the courtesy of w. Ayerell Hartman, the trail workers were permitted to mark it across his es- tate from Arden to Greenwood Lake in 1924, making the second division of the route. the Hartman section.
 "Mainc to Georgia"
 Extension. of the Appalachian Trail in various separated portions made necessary standard marker. good everywhere, and Major Welch changed the legend on the first markers, from Palisades Interstate Park Section to Maine to Geor- gia," which is now used all along the way in most of the fourteen States through which the trail passes. i Cumulative interest in the past two years has led to so many new developments and new groups eager to do their share of the work. that it Is probable that the trail will be completely marked within the next five years. a remarkable result con- sidering the roughness and remote ness of many parts of the terrains