The Hattiesburg news., 1913-06-16
FIVE MILES IN BEAT ONE, OUT
HARDY STREET TO THE NOR
/, NAL, SCHEDULED.
mr.. TATUM OPPOSES PLAN
Twelve Miles In Beat Three Approved.
President Joe Cook, of the Normal
College, Makes Telling Plea for
Normal Road.

With vote of three to two the first
report of the Forrest county highway
commission submitted to the board Of
supervisors on Saturday for adoption
was approved in so far as it relates
to the first installment OF public roads
proposed to be worked in beats
one and three, except a half mile
stretch of road on the dividing line
between beats two and three which
was eliminated.
The commission was ready with its
plans, specifications, blue prints and
profiles for seventeen miles of road,
five in beat one and twelve in beat
three, when the board met about II
O'Clock Saturday morning, but nothing
was done until after recess for dinner.
When the report was taken up it de-
veloped that there was a strong prob
ability that two of the five miles plan
ned for beat one would have to be ex-
cepted before the board would ap-
prove the plans. This two-mile stretch
is that part of Hardy street leading
from Hamper Park to the Lamar coun-
ty line.
The opposition to the building Of the
two miles of highway on Hardy street
arose from an objection interposed by
w. S. F. Tatum who argued that there
is an unfulfilled agreement whereby
Messrs. Camp, Montague and Ross are
under pledge to build a good road
from the city to the Normal college.
M Tatum was before the board with
A. by of the alleged contract and it
~ Aed probable that on his suggestion
Tie road in question would be eliminat-
ed from the commission plans until
some move, by suit or otherwise, was
instituted to compel those liable on the
alleged contract to fulfill their agree
ment. At this juncture Joe Cook, pres
ident Of the Normal college, appeared
as stated that having learned that
some how it had 'gotten in the air"
that the road in which the Normal
college is so vitality interested was
not to be included in plans to be adopt
ed at this time, he begged the board
not to penalize the college for what
some other body or bodies had done
or failed to do. Several questions
were asked Mr. Cook, one by Mr.. Ia
tum being as to whether or not he had
ever considered Fourth street as a
more desirable approach to the Nor
NAL college than Hardy street? Mr..
Cooks reply was that he had not, be-
cause the college had been planned to
front on Hardy and he did not favor
back door approaches for public build
ings.
Mr.. Cook and Mr.. Tatum then re-
tired and the board was about to take
up the matter for a vote when upon
suggestion of a member of the board
Mr.. Cook again came before them and
asked permission to present some
facts about the college he thought they
ought to know. Upon permission pc
ing given him to speak, Mr.. Cook, in
most earnest and persuasive man
ner, told of what the Normal College
Peans to Hattiesburg and Forrest
county; spoke of its being monu-
T mental tribute to the generosity of the
people OF this county; stated many
sthings the college had done and pre-
2 dicted the great things 1t would do;
! told Of how fostering spirit manifest
ed by the people of this county toward
the college Is certain to be rewarded
by liberal appropriations from the
state for the enlargement and mainte-
nance of the college; said that the
time is coming when this plant will
represent a value of $2,000,000 and
there win be 1000 students attending
the college. He told of the present
condition of the road to the college. Of
how that condition places a heavy
mud tax on the business men Of the
city. which must be borne by them
with lessened profits on what they sell
az 4 eaded to the price. must fall On