The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-14
WILLIAMS WANTS
MORE GOOD ROADS
Georgia Prison Commissioner
Is Pushing The Work
REORGANIZERS AT WORK
Committee Is Busy on Plans To ne
store Atlanta, Birmingham and
Atlantic to Paying Basis.
Church Dispute.
REORGANIZERS AT WORK

Church Dispute.
Atlanta, May 13-(special.) - Prison
Commissioner Wiley Williams is enthusi-
astic over the question of roads across the
state.
He proposes a road to be known as the
east and west state road, crossing the
state from Augusta to Columbus through
Macon, and another to be known as the
north and south state road running from
Rossville. on the Tennessee line near
Chattanooga, south to Valdosta, in
Lowndes- county.
1t is the belief of Commissioner VIII
liams that these roads can be built large
". if not wholly, through cooperation be-
when the counties which have taken con-
victs from the state for road building pur-
poses.
If the work cannot be completed in
that way" he said, why then the state
can take 1t UP and finish Il with what
evrr surplus convicts we may have. Sup
pose many of the counties turn back their
col victs to the state year from now,
prefeIring not TO use them any longer
Sucn convicts could be easily utilized in
building these state highways.
''The advantages which would come to
the state from such roads as these, with
which roads extending to almost every
part OF the state would connect are too
appni ent to need discussion. They would
oP
a whole, but even more to every county
and community through which they
passed.
IF l can make the other members of
the commission see this matter in the
same light as 1 do, we shall certainly ar
range to push this work just as soon as
the state has any surplus eonvicts on
hand"
Railroad To Be Reorganized.
The reorganization committee of the At
lanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad
company has gotten speedily to work.
Although the railroad and some of its
subsidiary properties have been in the
hands of receivers only since the first of
January, the committee has been named,
has called for deposits of stock and other
securities and is now working on a plan
OF reorganization which will be submitted
to the various interests within a short
time.
If the same rapidity is kept up in the
progress of the reorganization, the pre-
diction made that the Atlanta, Birming-
hahn and Atlantic would be out of the
hands of the courts within a twelve
mcnth may come true.
1t ell depends on whether or not there
is hitch. If the plan proves satisfac-
tory and acceptable, it is thought it
should go through within that time.
The reorganization committee is COM
posed of Frederick Aver and Samuel
Carr. Boston capitalists, who own largely
of the companys securities; John L.
Waterbury, president of the Manhattan
Trust company of New York, and Edwin
Marston, president of the Farmers Loan
and Trust company of New York
Besides the Atlanta, Birmingham and
Atlantic Railroad company, the inter-
ests affected are the Atlanta and Birming-
ham Construction company, the Georgia
Railway Terminal company, the Alabama
Terminal company the Fitzgerald Ocilla
and Broxton Railroad company and the
Birmingham Coal and Iron company.
The committee has invited the cooper
alton of all those interested tn these
properties to join in this movement whose
object Is the protection of their inter-
ests. 1t has filed with the Manhattan
Trust company of New York and the Old
Colony Trust company of Boston, as de-
positores, a protective agreement under
the provisions of which steps will be
taken for the protection of the interests
of all owners and holders of the stocks,
securities, certificates and obligations in
volved.
The committee announces that it is
now engaged In preparing a plan for
the reorganization of the properties which
will be submitted as soon as practicable
to all interests, and in the meantime asks
the prompt deposit of all securities in ac-
cordance with the terms of the protec-
tive agreement.
Church Dispute Arises.
An interesting dispute has arisen in
volving the question as to whether or not
the Atlanta diocese of the Episcopal
church shall acquire a piece of valuable
property in this city, located on Peach
tree street adjoining the new st. Luke's
church.
The property in question is that of the
late Major William H. Smyth, once post
master of Atlanta, and now in possession
of his widow. When St. Luke's church
was built on its present site, there was
an understanding between Bishop c. z.
Nelson and Mrs. Smyth, it is said, that
her homo adjoining the church should
go to the church at her death as an
episcopal residence, the only stipulation
being that in the event of personal neces-
sity she should have the right to with
draw from this agreement and to sell the
While the exact cause of the present
difference is not known, it Is reported
to have grown out of an agreement that
there should be left walkway between
the church and Mrs. Smyths home. This
was done. but 1t is only two feet wide.
1t is said Mrs. Smyth who returned from
Europe to find that this walk was not
such as she thought 1t should have been,
had a misunderstanding with Bishop Mel
son as q result of it.
Whether that had anything to do with
the matter or not she has written the
bishop letter in which she now states
she will be compelled to sell the prop
erty, which means that 1t will pass to
other hands and that the church will lose
it. 1t is said she has also changed the
disposition of it in her will.
Bishop Nelson questions her right to
dispose of the property under the agree
ment, and has placed the matter In the
hands of his attorneys for investiga-
ton.