The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-21

| about $50 miles from Tuscaloosa, the
actual running time between the two
cities was about 10 hours.
Great Highway Planned
| In some respects the trip which En-
eineer Keller took today was one of
the most important he has made since
he began his tour of the state, his prin-
cipal purpose being to plan highway
| that will connect eastern and western
Alabama by way of Birmingham. The
greater part of the roads travelled to-
day showed that the plan is both prac-
ticable and feasible for long stretches
of road were run over by the highway
| touring car that are in excellent con-
dition. The road between Tuscaloosa
and Birmingham needs little improve
ment the greater part of the highway
connecting these cities being in such
condition as to allow a touring car 10
| make 20 miles an hour without danger.
The routes out of Birmingham towards
| Talladega Is also good for distance
of about 2S miles, though the remain
| ing distance can only be covered by
slow travelling. In extent, Birmingham
| is about equally separated from Tusca-
| loosa and Talladega and If about 30
miles of good roads were built IN 81.
| Clair and Talladega counties 1t would
be possible to go from Birmingham to
Talladega in nearly as short time as
| from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa.
| Clay and Coosa Roads Bad
! According to the observations of the
state engineer today the roads over
which he travelled which showed the
| least attention were found in Clay
and Coosa counties. On the other hand
nearly all of the road Travelled in Tai
1ladega county was in a fair condition
| particularly the highway connecting
| Talladega and Sylacauga. This road
! was the best the state highway touring
| car ran over today Five miles of this
road out of Talladega was constructed
by state aid. Talladega is also con-
nected with Admission by an excellent
highway which is one of the best in
the state The road just over the ST.
Clair line, however, is poor and the
scouting party made slow time in COW
| ering the IA miles that lie between the
| county line and Talladega. Engineer
| Keller was met at Talladega by Pro-
bate Judge ]. T. Camp and other promi-
nent citizens of the town, all OF whom
depressed deep interest in the contem-
plated highway through that section
| of the state.
Judge Camp escorted the state en-
gineer out of Talladega for distance
of five or six miles. The state engineer
made an early start this morning out of
Tuscaloosa and arrived in Birmingham
shortly after o'clock. After a brief
wait in Birmingham the highway tour
ing car struck out in an easterly direc-
tion towards Leeds and Pell City and
reached the latter place about 1880
o'clock though the actual running time
was about two hours and so minutes.
Scouts Save Passenger Train
A feature of the trip to Pell City was
the discovery of a fire on a Southern
railway bridge just out of Leeds.
Sparks from a passing engine had
ignited one of the cross ties on the
bridge and Engineer Keller Immediately
formed rescue party upon discovering
the danger. Driver Barr ascended to the
bridge and was in the act of pourin &
, water from his cap on the flames when
; the westbound Southern passenger train
was heard in the distance. Mr.. Barr i'm
mediately tagged the train and the fire
was quickly eXtinguished by water
from the engine, which stopped upon
observing the signal. The highway
touring car then proceeded on towards
Cooks Springs. Eden and Pell City, at
which place brief stop was made for
lunch.
From Pell City the highway party
struck out for Truss ferry on the Coosa
| river and the touring car was taken
across into Talladega county. For a
distance of four or five miles the scout
ing car ran over bad roads in Talladego
though the highway leading into the
city was in good condition, which OBJ
tanned until near the clay county line.
Altogether the state highway car
Travelled over about 80 miles of good
road in Talladego county.
The distance covered by State En-
gineer Keller on his trip today was 30
miles In Tuscaloosa county, 52.2 miles
in jefferson. PAS in ST. Clair, AZ miles in
Talladega, "a miles in Clay, and 60
miles in Coosa county. 1t is the pur-
pose of Mr.. Keller to make the eastern
trip as for as West Point Ga, travel
ing by way of Alexander City, Dadeville
and Lafayette. This will give an east
ern highway leading out of Birming-
ham as far as West Point. Ga, where
a good road leads to Atlanta
The western highway will go from
Birmingham to Tuscaloosa and from
that city probably to Meridian, Miss,
by way of Carrolton.
West Point, Ca, Today
The itinery which Mr.. Keller has
planned for tomorrow includes a trip
to West Point Ga and run back
to Montgomery by way of Opelika,
Tuskegee and Auburn. He expects to
| reach Montgomery tomorrow night
Monday morning the state engineer will
start on trip to Meridian The entire
trip which the state touring car Gov
cred today was made without accident.
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