The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-13
STREET DEPARTMENT IS DOING GOOD WORK Gafford Talks of His Im-
 pr0vement Programme
 RAINS DO DAMAGE
Street Commissioner States Most No- table Present Work Is Cherting of East Birmingham and Ensley-to-
 East Lake Boulevard

To be crippled financially and working with what is less than normal force when Birmingham was not Greater Bir- mingham, the street department of Bir- mingham is hitting 'em high and strong"
 Frank H. Gafford, street commissioner, fas now employed about six crews that are scattered over the area of Greater Birmingham, working under difficulties 10 get the streets in better shape follow Ing the constant rains of the past few weeks, and he Is also trying to keep up with some pressing improvements.
 With the cooperation of Commissioner James Weatherly. in charge of that de- partment, and other members of the com- mission, Captain Gafford has outlined a programme of work that will eventually give Birmingham some excellent highways aside from those now possessed. He has crews in suburbs as we'll as in the city, no discrimination being shown as to the geographical location of the programme of work.
 In talking yesterday of what is to be done and what Is actually under way, MT. Gafford said:
 Rains Do Damage
 
 as you know, hit us pretty hard. However. we have pulled up and we are after the situation. l have a crew now remov- ing a side of Red mountain. which has provoked constant criticism from resi- dents of the locality affected. Although that is task of the property owner, we are doing the work. We will have it remedied soon.
 "In Princeton alley West End. we are placing innumerable loads or cinders. try ing to better the conditions there. while in various parts of Greater Birmingham we have other crews that arc working hard to get conditions improved.
 "fhe most notable work that our de- partment has undertaken is the cherting of East Birmingham and the construction of the highway between Ensley and East Lake. We will place about 90 cars Of chert and perhaps more, in East Birming- ham before the work Is completed, which will make excellent street conditions in that community. That improvement was rendered necessary on account of the con- stant rains of the past few weeks.
 '"rhe boulevard that we are to arrange will be one of the best, l believe. in this section. It will begin at point near Parker's greenhouses, in Fairview, and will end near RoebuclS Springs. con- meeting at the city limits east with the fine Springville road.
 VIII be otralgnteneu
 "The boulevard will be strengthened up in places and cherted wherever necessary. On to that we will place heavy coating of oil, which will prevent any dust arfs-, ing from the road. That road will con meet the furtherest boundaries of Greater Birmingham, for at Fairview 1t connects with road already bricked, and on the eastern limits fl will connect with another fine boulevard.
 "The city officials are taking consider sblc interest in that roadway, believing that the one sample will result in de- mand for more improved roads, and that the taxpayers will make that work pos sihle for the authorities. The work will be pushed forward with large gang of workmen as early as possible, and we will try to have it completed in no less than GO days. The chert, oil, work and .slag will cost the city In all about sG000. which will be a reasonable, in fact a mod est. price. to pay for what we think will be achieved.
 "This work does not include the work of removing garbage, uncorking sewers and other immediate services that must be rendered daily"