The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-14
LETTERS TO EDITOR
More About Camp Branch Road

To the Editor Of The Age-TIerald:
have very recently read two or three
letters from Mr.. j. S. Montgomery to the
board of revenue and | have read the re-
ply from the board. 1t seems Mr.. Mont
gomery has only gone half way with his
charges, and / wish as a citizen and tax
payer of Jefferson county to PROFOUND a
question two to the board of revenue
in regard to the state highway from
Camp Branch to Bains Bridge
Mr.. Pennington has said the distance
from Camp Branch to the city has been
shortened That admit is true, but Mr.
Pennington has failed to tell the public
that a recent survey from Camp Branch
to the river and the survey the convicts
are working on is shorter than the Refuge
survey. 1t is not the distance, for if it
was Mr.. Pennington nor any other one
of the board could leave out Refuge from
Camp Branch to the river. 1T cannot be
it will cost the county more to build by
way of Refuge. The day the board of
revenue voted on leaving out Refuge tie
citizens of this community had two, If
not more. representatives in the office of
the board, and the county engineer told
them it would cost $500 more to build a
road by way of Refuge; those representa-
tives told the board they would pay the
$500. sa
The Refuge people have the distance
shortened over 1900 feet. and have agreed
to pay the difference in cost to get the
new road through Refuge.
The county has graded the new road
up to Refuge, changed the roadway. dug
up the citizens shade trees, and left peo-
pies land dug in large holes, and the
county has paid out $1,000 to make this
grade which now the board is trying to
abandon.
The first cost was only $500 difference
In the two surveys and the, county has
done $1,000 worth Of work on the Refuge
survey. Now, then, they want to throw
away $1,000 of the county's money to save
$500, when the people of Refuge have.
agreed to pay the $500
l will ask the board of revenue if that
shows they are spending the county's
money to the best advantage If I can
figure right the Refuge survey, with the
$1,000 grading and the $500 from the citizens
would be $1,000 saved to the county SO It
is not the distance and not the cost and
1t is up to the board to make statement
why and for what purpose the change
from the Refuge survey was made There
is only three or four families who live on
tne new survey and scarcely anybody
will be served, while the settlement Of
l am sure it is not the intention of the
board to serve the greatest number of
people or they would not leave Refuge of
the road.
There is a very nice little settlement
at Refuge, with nice church and school.
and 1t looks like to leave out Refuge
would be a blow at Christianity and edu
cation.
ask the people of jefferson county to
come to the rescue of those at Refuge
ana learn the true situation and the
wastefuness of the county's money
building roads where the majority of peo-
pie Will not be benefited
The people at Refuge have an old road
known as the Columbana road. but 10
build new road within a half to one
mile parallel with the old road intersect
ing at Camp Branch and at the river viii,
result in the people at Refuge having no
road at ALL
Mr.. pennington says the people of
Shelby county will come to Birmin-ha m
TO trade on account of it's easy grade
Wen, then, why not shorten the distance
from Camp Branch to the riverq Don't
cut the distance in one place and add It on
IN another. In conclusion / don't favor
impeachment, but do ask for justice ana
demand statement from the board ~
revenue. Very truly,
W. l.. CLARK
Bessemer. Ala. r. f. d. No. 1. Box 242