The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-18
Scouts Given Enthusiastic
Reception Upon Arrival
In Huntsville
SMOOTH SAILING OVER
ROADS IN LIMESTONE
Trip Made TO Tennessee Line Over
Excellent Pike-MadisOn Spends
Entire State Appropria-
tion on Roads
nv L. s. RETTY

by Va >. bhlIh
Huntsville. June 1.-(Special)--As one
of the pioneers of the state in road build
ing, Madison county may be said to pos
sess as strong sentiment in favor of a
state highway as any county in Alabama
This fact was clearly demonstrated this
fafternoon upon the arrival in Huntsville
of State Engineer W. s Keller and his
party of state scouts, who came here
from Athens TO inspect the roads of Mad
ison county. Immediately upon their ar
rival the state scouting party were met
at the hotel here by State Senator Rob-
ert h. Sprasins, chairman of the high
way commission; G. Walter Jones. county
Cooney, president of the Huntsville Cham
citizens of the city.
Cordial Welcome to Scouts
The Huntsville party were just prepar-
ing TO ride out in automobiles to meet
the state scouts when the latter arrived,
the highway touring car having reached
the city earlier than was anticipated. The
welcome accorded the visitors was of a
most cordial nature, and arrangements
were at once made for trip in automo-
biles TO the Tennessee line. a distance Of
about 20 miles. The road leading from
Huntsville to Lincoln county in Tennes-
see is all macadamized with the excep-
ton of a short stretch of highway, not
more than three miles in extent Much
of this road was built by state aid, while
tie remainins stretch was constructed by
the county. This pike road is one of the
best the state highway scouts have yet
Travelled over. and il the other roads OF
the county are as good as represented,
Madison county should rank among the
foremost of the state in the character OF
its roads.
The road leading into Huntsville from
Athens is nearly as good as the pike ex-
tending to the Tennessee line. over the
former highway the distance is about Is
niles from the Limestone county line, and
this distance was covered by the state
scouting car in about 40 minutes. How
ever, the entire road between Athens and
Huntsville is in good condition. The
distance between the two cities is 2S
miles and the trip was made in one hour
and 10 minutes. the entire road between
the two places being good with the ex-
ception of short stretch of a few miles.
Madison county has spent its entire
state appropriation in the construction of
good roads, making $4,000 which the
county has drawn out of the treasury
under the provisions OF the state high
way law. In addition to the aid which
has been received from the state, the
county within the past two years has
spent thousands of dollars from its dis
pensary fund. 1t is declared that the
annual revenue from this source which
has been applied to ROAD Improvement
during the last Two years has been IN
the neighborhood of $4,000.
Good Roads Sentiment Strong
That there Is the strongest possible
sentiment in Madison county In favor cs
road building is shown by the fact that
various property owners of the county
have within the past six months offered
to work and grade % miles of roads
abutting ON their property on condition
that the county will gravel these roads.
The county commissioners have accepted
this offer. and the roads are now under
construction. Regarding the proposed
state highway which is in contemplation
through this section of the state, and
in whose interest Engineer Keller is
making preliminary survey to be pre-
sented to the highway commission.
Madison Anxious for Highway
Citizens of Madison county are very
desirous of having branch of the high
way extend through this county, and
have given the state engineer every as
surance of their SUI port and cooperation
in the building of this road if such shall
be embraced in his recommendation Sem
ator Spragins accompanied the state
highway scouts this afternoon on the
trip to the Tennessee line. As good
roads enthusiast, Senator Spragins is
one of the greatest in the state, and he
has been instrumental In creating a
large sentiment in the county In favor
of better highways. On the trip to the
Tennessee line Senator Spraens pointed
out to the highway scouts many Of the
fine farms that have made this section
of the state famous for its fertility and
productiveness, and called attention 20
the healthy condition of the crops, the
prosperous condition of the farm house.
and to various other features of interest
to the scouting party.
Scouts in Gadsden Today
Engineer Keller and his party will leave
early tomorrow morning for Gadsden and
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