The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-19

"I do not hesitate to say that the pur- chase of that gravel pit was the most scandalous swindIe ever perpetrated on the citizens of Montgomery.
 Giving a representative of The AoVfr- tiser authority to quote him, Alderman A. Roemer, Chairman of the Committee on Streets of the City Council, yesterday re- opened the gravel pit discussion, which was a live wire last summer, with the foregoing sensational declaration.
 The Fourth Ward Alderman had just re- turned from the citys gravel pit near Pickett Springs, which he had visited for the first time.
 In company with Mayor Carr, Alderman c, P. Mcintyre of the Committee on Streets, and Major E. F.. Winters. Gen eral Manager of the Montgomery Traction Company, Alderman Roemer went to the gravel pit yesterday morning for the pur- pose of Investigating the feasibility of hauling gravel to the city in electric cars over the tracks of the Traction Company, whose terminus is at Pickett Springs.
 Indignation Bubb1ed.
 Alderman Roemer was bubbling over with indignation at the result of his in- vestigation.
 T shall recommend to the Council" he said, that the gravel pit be abandoned. It is of no use to the city. In my opinion it is not worth $500. l have no word of censure for MT. John Carter, who sold his property to the city for $S,00O, but the men who bought it for the city ought to be ashamed of themselves. Of course we've got to pay for 1t; in fact we have already made a payment on it, but the city cannot do anything with it"
 It will be remembered that the purchase of the gravel pit was the sensation of last summer. It was charged that bribes had been offered City Engineer D. w. Ford and Campbell Jones, Superintendent of Streets, in connection with the sale and a select committed of the Council spent sev- eral days Investigating these reports. The result of the investigation was vindica- tion of all parties concerned and the Council completed the transaction where by the gravel pit was purchased from MT Carter for $S,O00.
 When Alderman Roemer, upon the or ganization of the new City Council, was made Chairman of the Committee on Streets, he immediately began to interest himself in the work of improving the thOroughfares of Montgomery. His CO., workers on the Committee are Alderman c. P. Mcintyre and Alderman W. M Teague.
 Within the past few days the Committee members and Mayor Carr have inspected the work unQer way on several streets. It was found that gravel was needed and the Committed took up with the manage ment of the Traction Company the matter of hauling the gravel from the Carter pit to the city. It was proposed to have dump cars built so that the gravel could be un- loaded in the streets at any point desired. The plan contemplated the hauling of the gravel at night so as not to interfere with traffic on the lines of the Traction Com pany.
 Dispelled His Hopes.
 But Alderman Roemer declares the visit to the gravel pit dispelled all of his cher ished hopes
 he said, ''it would be out of the question for us to get it to the city. The pit is nearly a mile from the terminus of the Traction Company and Major Winters said 1t would cost $l0OOO to build track to connect 1t with his line. His company would expect the city to build this track and to furnish the cars for hauling the gravel, This the city could not afford to do.
 If We had d good spur track into the pit from the main line of the Western Railroad we might get the gravel over that line, but We would then have to haul it from the cars in town
 ''In my judgment there is not enough gravel in that pit for us to fool with. I am in favor of securing gravel from a pit owned by Col. B. L. Holt It is on what