Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1915 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts ot the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. DIXIE APPROVES "AIR LINE." Chicago-Indianapolis Boosters Cheered at Highway Conference by Support for Proposed Cut to Windy City. Chattanooga, Tenn., May 19.The delegates representing the Chi-cago-Indianapolis Air Line, who arrived in Chattanooga this morning to attend the Dixie highway conference were very much encouraged when they entered the lobby of the Hotel Patten. The Chattanooga Automobile Club has already prepared an immense map of the proposed Dixie highway. Each of the larger cities through which the proposed highway was run was shown by an electric light. The Air Line was the only route shown north of Indianapolis, both Lebanon, Lafayette and Rensselaer being indicated by electric lights. The delegates were assured by many southerners that this map represented their sentiments. Practically all persons interviewed stated that they believed the route should go to Chicago via the shortest route from Indianapolis, which means the Air Line route. The only state commissioners in the city today were Messrs, Belcher and Saxon of Florida and Fisher and Taggart of Indiana. Both Belcher and Saxon stated that they would vote to refuse the Michigan delega tion a place on the commission, and that they were for Chicago as the northern terminus. The Air Line delegation is doing great work lining up many persons in favor of the route. Councils of war are held three times dally, when future work is planned. The Chicago-Indianapolis Air Line Dixie Route Association has prepared a beautiful book, giving maps of the route to Chicago they favor, descriptions of the roadway, bridges, culverts, etc., and containing pledges from every board of county commissioners, city councils and mayors and county highway superintendents that if the route is brought their way they will put the road in such condition as the Dixie commissioners wish and forever maintain it that way.

These pledges have been made matter of record of the official proceedings. The Air Line route is 194 miles long between Chicago and Indianapolis,