The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-17
GOOD ROAD MAKING
ABOUT SYLACAUGA
Commissioner Hammett Dis
cuSSes Plans Under Way
LOOKING TO EFFICIENCY
Idea Is Not So Much to Hurry Building
as to Get Highways Slowly of
the Best Possible
Sort.
LOOKING TO EFFICIENCY
BY WALTER HARPER.

| tunity ne has to do something OF prde-
teal value for his county and community,
and ne is tfreless in his efforts in this di-
rection.
He is a practical business man, sue
cess in his own affairs and is admirably
fitted to manage the affairs of the COM
munity
He does not believe in building roads too
hastily. He advocates a gradual process
that will lead to permanency as well as
| efficiency He was strongly instrumental
in the adoption in his county of a system
of road work that is producing good re-
suits and promises well for the future.
! Commission Responsible.
Each of the four commissioners IN the
county is assigned to the personal super
vision of the roads in HIS district, and
each is taxed with the responsibility
for the condition of his roads.
Each commissioner has a set of modern
road building machinery and the neces-
sary stock and men.
In this way the roads of the county are
kept in fair condition and are being grad
ually improved.
In many places new grades are being
| surveyed around hills and creek basins
are being drained.
Commissioner Hammett drove me out
to mountain south of Sylacauga, where
his crew is now at work cutting and grad
ing new road around the mountain.
The present road, one of the main thor
oughfares leading into the town, goes d.
rectly over the mountain, giving two
heavy grades that at times are almost
impossible.
The new road Is shorter than the old
route If anything and cuts around the hill
on almost level grade. The observer Is
astonished that this route was not chosen
by the original builders of the road
Trail of the Cow.
Mr.. Hammett explains 1t thus: THE
frontiersman's cow came home at night
across the mountain. She followed the
dim trail of the Indian and the wolf The
owner of the COW followed the same trail
on his hunting expeditions. As civiliza-
ton advanced into the wilds of the forest
it followed this same path, and the road
was established. Through some lack of
energy or intelligence the route has never
been changed.
This is but an example of thousands
of similar conditions In the state or Ala
| bama," continued Mr.. Hammett.
Bond Issues.
Some of the counties of the state have
foated large bond issues and have gone
hastily into the building of good roads.
They do not have time to make new sur
yeys around mountains, over rough river
courses and make the necessary condem-
| ne ton of property. 1t takes time for all
| q amounts
| of money are spent in improving road
| beds over grades that could be improved
| by slight changes of route. The change
| of route is often an actual saving as well
| as improvement in the road.
This is the kind of work We are do
! ing in Talladega county. For the next
| few years we will keep the roads in as
good condition as possible and seek the
| Improvement of routes and grades. There
| are but few hills in this part Of the coun-
| ty and most of them can be surrounded
| We are gradually improving the general
condition of the roads all the time, and
! this work will not be lost
1.-TWO or three years from now I shall
| advocate the floating of $250,0O0 or 100000
| bonds to put on the roads.
Permanent Highways.
| with the work of preparation that is
| now being done the money can be spent
| to much greater advantage in making
| permanent highways. BY that time We
| can have all the main roads put on the
| best grades available and have a good
| foundation on which to build.
"Our roads in this section, as you may
| observe are in fairly good condition now
| The sand, gravel and clay formation
| makes a good firm roadbed and dries
readily Thorough drainage is the first
principle Of good roads building, and we
apttIlx 70 dc
Movement General.
| "T am glad to see the general movement
/ in the state and country for better roads
| 1t is very important to the general well
| fare of the people. Good roads are an
inestimable asset to any state or county.
and Taladega will not be found tagging
| in the general upward movement.
| II hope to see the day when automo-
| biles may speed from side to side and end
| to end Of the state of Alabama without
| difficulty. This Is a statewide question,
but 1 believe the counties are the units
upon which the proposition must be
| worked out.
"Talladega county has great and mex
, haustable natural wealth just now in
the beginning of development No county
/ in the state has finer prospects for the fu-
ture, and the advances along all lines of
| development will be rapid In the next few
| years.
Fine Marble Deposits.
1--WE have in two miles of Sylacauga the
finest marble deposits in the world, and
these are being developed by concern
of unlimited resources. This is an in
dustry of which any community in the
United States might well feel proud and
Sylacauga is alive to the Importance
of it.
1.-The county has immeasured possible
ties In water power, mineral timber and
clay We have some of the finest agr-
cultural lands and some of the best farm
ers in the state. Good roads are an alb
solute necessity and we will have them.
Just watch u.s.