The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-14
B|G GANGS HARD AT WORK 0N THE ROADS Lovelady Says Bridges With
 stood Rains FARMERS TALK OF WORK Say Roads Are in Fair Condition With Exception of Spots Which Can
 Be Repaired With Very Little Expense v
FARMERS TALK OF WORK

It was stated yesterday that the maxi mum number of men employed by the Board of Revenue are working with might and main to replace the roads of Jef- ferson county in their normal condition.
 The recent rains and the consequent washing of roads. especially those re- gently filed or repaired. have caused com plaints to come to the board from every part of the county. The members of the Board of Revenue speak highly of the working crews and one of them yester- day said every energy was being ex- erted to get the roads in shape for the countrymen. The season Is now at hand when the farmers most need good roads The bridges and underpasses have with stood the heavy rains remarkably well. Not a single complaint has been received as to bridges being washed away. For this reason it Is claimed the repairs will be better and more quickly made than In the past, when the working crews were required to spend time repairing the bridges. This item of time will be saved.
 Dr. R. F. Lovelady, a member of the Board of Revenue, said last night that while the complaints of bad roads were general and from every class of people, the Board of Revenue was using every effort to repair them. Dr. Loveady said the highest number of men that has been employed in some time is now en- gagged in the repair work.
 'At that, the roads are not so bad said Dr. Lovelady. Jefferson county is outstripped in roads by many counties os the south, but we have provided the detriment
 we have received many complaints of roads, but not one of bridges being washed away Tn fact, we have been commended upon the standard of bridges that we have constructed in the county.
 "The principal cause of the roads wash ing, other than the incessant rains, Is the hilly nature of the county. We re- ceive many more complaints from the high places than from any other section.
 These roads are naturally situated dis advantageously and 1t requires a genius
 to fix them so they will not be washed
 by the rains.
 However, the water has been carried off we'll in the low places and those few places which have washed to any con- siderable extent are now receiving atten-
 ton. We have a large gang at work and hope to have thea roads in pretty
 fair shape soon''
 P. J. Rickes, a prominent strawberry
 raiser and also extensive farmer, who resides about four miles from Wy
 lam, who was in town yesterday, said
 the roads were In pretty fair condition
 considering everything.
 Out our way" said MT. Rickles, "the
 rains have washed the lanes pretty bad
 ly. The repair gang was near our place last week and repaired the roads very | well. However, the work seems to be | unable to withstand rains. find that | nearly all the repairs on a lane called the Birmingham-Toadv road have
 been washed half in two The sand placed In the low places washed away
 with the rains. The water empted into farmers field and did some little dam | age. Notwithstanding this, we have lit- | tle trouble travelling. Our roads are not the worst I have seen, but could be made better. I cannot but commend the bridge and overpass constructions of the coun- ty officials. They have withstood every
 rain and have carried off the water in fine shape"
 J. H. Mayer from Beat ', who visited Birmingham yesterday. said: "I have tried to get the board members to visit our neighborhood to inspect our roads per | sonally. As yet l have been unable to get them to go. However, I hope to. When they personally inspect our condi- tions have no doubt but that some action will be taken to make our high ways better. I do not claim that all | our roads are bad. but many points are badly in need of working and I would
 be pleased very much to lose sufficient time from my own work to show the
 members the true state of affairs They have dealt with us pretty well, but a | large amount of work remains to be done. ''The recent rains caused quite little | damage The roadways have washed. believe if some high-grade heavy gravel could be found to be used in the place of the lighter material, better results could be obtained The present materials are too light and wash easily. I believe # more stable material had been used during the past few weeks the recent rains would not have caused half the
 damage that really did result The re- pair crews were in our neighborhood re- gently and did some good work How ever, they overlooked bad place near my home, which if repaired now would not require a heavy expense In the fu- ture.''