The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-17
Keller and Party Reach
Tuscumbia-Mass Meet
ing Is Held
RINGING ADDRESSES IN
FAVOR OF GOOD ROADS
Engineer Will Recommend State
Highway Through Tennessee Val-
ley, Including Tri- Cities and Ex-
tending Toward Huntsville
BY L. .. BETTy

BY L. g. BETTY
Tuscumbia. June 16.-tspeeial. Speed
ing over eight miles of excellent pike
road from Decatur to the Lawrence
county line and passing through Law
renee county. over fairly good roads by
way of Wheeler. Courtland and the VIII
lage of Town Creek, the state highway
scouting party, under the supervision
of State Engineer w. S. Keller, entered
Colbert county shortly after 10 O'Clock
this morning, and followed the pike road
just off the county line to Leighton and
Tuscumbia. at which place the scouts
were received by a large party of citl-
zens.
The trip from Decatur to Tuseumbia
was accomplished in comparatively
short time The Buick touring car, in
which the party We're travelling. left De
catur at 7:2o o'clock this morning and.
although there We're. several delays on
the way to Tuscumbia the state scouts
entered that city at II 40 o'clock
First Tire Trouble
The first tire trouble the car has had
since leaving Mobile last Monday morn
ing after travelling for a distance of 900
miles, occurred when the party reached
Wheeler in Lawrence county, the home
of General Joe Wheeler. The trip
through the Blount county hills had
worn the casing off the rear Wheels and
puncture occurred just opposite the
home of the famous confederate general.
However, new tire was quickly subsu
tuted by Driver Otto Barr. and the car
proceeded on to Tuscumbia without fur
ther accident
A few miles outside of Tuscumbia the
highway party was met by three auto
mobiles from the city. These machines
contained prominent citizens from the
tr-cities, who had come to meet the state
scouts, and TO extend them a welcome
into their midst. The highway party fol-
| lowed by the Tuscumbia citizens, who
had driven out to meet the state scouts,
then proceeded on TO the city, and drove
up to the county courthouse, where d
mass meeting was held in honor of the
visitors. About 100 or more well known
citizens from Tuscumbia, Sheffield and
Florence were present at the meeting
at the courthouse.
Ovation for Il elier
Judge E. B. Almon of Tuscumbia,
speaker of the house of representatives,
was called to preside over the meeting,
| and in an appropriate address, he intro
duced State Engineer Keller to the au
dience. The ovation which Mr.. Keller re-
ceived upon rising to address the au-
dience was the most conclusive evidence
of the interest and favor with which
citizens of the tri-cities entertain all
questions looking to road building and
highway Improvement The state engi-
neers address was of a timely nature.
lie told them of his trip from Mobile.
described the nature of the roads over
which he had passed. and promised that
he would recommend to the highway
commission that a state highway lead
through the Tennessee valley. taking in
the tri-cties, and extending eastward to
Huntsville and to other places in this
section of the state.
Following Mr.. Keller's address. Judge
J. H. Nathan of Sheffield made a short
talk in which he suggested that there
be appointed a committee of five each
from Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Flor
ence to go to Guin in Marion county
next Monday for the purpose of creating
sentiment in favor of the proposed high
way from Tuscaloosa TO the Tri-Cities,
| distance of 120 miles.
Committees Appointed
Judge Nathans remarks met with
pointed the following committees from
the audience for Tuscumbia: j. +. KirS.
| II. r. Jones, Fred Street J. +. lsbell
and Judge T. b. Almon, the latter
having been selected by tho meeting
of the whole as chairman of the three
committees For Sheffield j. l.. An
drews. Judge j. II. Nathan, H. NJ.
! Bailey, J. IT, Lester and G. +. Almon.
| For Florence, $. w. Frierson, M. i.
| Morrison. Paul Hodges, II. A. Brad
shaw and NJ. w. Camper Practically
every one of the Is members of the
committees appointed from the audience
to represent the Tr-Cities at the Guin
meeting signifed his intention of be-
ing present, all declaring that they
were Interested in the proposed high
way and that they would use their in
fuence TO push the project through to
a successful termination.
Following the mass meeting at the
Colbert county courthouse the high
way scouting party were entertained
at dinner by a number of citizens of
Tuscumbia. At no place in the state
has Engineer Keller and his party met
with "a warmer reception than at Tus-
cumbia. Sentiment in favor of good
roads and the construction of "A state
highway through Colbert county as
part of the system of trunk roads has
crystalized to fever heat in this sec
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