The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-10
DIR. LOVELADY ALSO
MAKES STATEMENT
FOR ENTIRE BOARD
Camp Branch Road Is Explained and
Pennington and Loyelady Assert
That Entire Matter Was Done
With Knowledge and APP
proyal of Full Board

statements regarding the new road at
Canp Branch are slanderous and false,
La awrence n. Pennington. a member an
swers the card of Mr.. Montgomery as
published in The Age Herald Monday
Mr.. Pennington gives reasons why the
rev road is being constructed and states
the work was commenced with the full
knowledge and consent of all the mem
bers of the board. He asserts that Mr..
Montgomery iS actuated by personal IN
terest rather than public spirit or patriot
ism, and insists that the board of rev.
ensue is better Judge of the needs of the
county than Mr.. Montgomery.
Dr. r. F. I.ovelady. speaking for the
entire membership of the board, also
gives out a statement in reference to the
action of the board in determining upon
the construction of the new road and the
reasons why it is being constructed.
Pennington Answers Montgomery
Mr. Penningtons statement Is as fol-
lows:
'1n answer to Mr.. Montgomery's ar
ticle in The Age Herald of the Sth inst,
regarding the new per cent road, In
course of construction by the county con-
victs 1t is sufficient to say that the
hoard was informed by the road engineer
of the county that the new road shortens
the distance to the city by one and one
fourth miles: .hat 1t is a 6 per cent grade,
Mr.. Montgomery to the contrary not
withsta nding. and a much better and
shorter route to the county line than the
old road.
This road Is being constructed mainly
for the purpose of making it one of the
trunk roads leading to the county line,
in order to there connect with the trunk
line being built by the county commis-
sioners of Shelby. The advantage OF TINS
road to this county will be that many
people along its route, even in Shelby
county, will coine to Birmingham to trade
when this road is finished because of its
easy grades, and the people in jefferson
county along its route. and near II, VIII
be afforded much shorter and easier
highway TO this city over which to bring
to market vegetables and other crops
Change of COnvicts
..As to the cause of the change of the
cor.yicts from the work beyond Camp
Branch to the work said road from
said branch back towards Birmingham.
will state that it was done In order tha1
the convicts could be kept at work while
the board had under consideration
changes in the road on that part or II
between Camp Pranc.l and Baptist Hill.
The order to so change the conVlcts was
done with the knowledge of the fun board,
with the exception of Major Cameron,
who was absent in Mobile at the time.
and who now heartily concurs in the ac-
ton of the board in that matter.
'.The insinuaton made by Mr.. Mont
gonery. that | have acted from motives
other than the good of the county, is
utterly without foundation in fact. The
1e tltion for this road was received by
a majority of the board. Mr. MeGeever
not voting because he stated to the board
at the time, he had small piece of land
en- that road. No other member of the
board has any land either on or near
said road, or is any way interested other
wise than for the best interest of the
county as he sees 1t.
Board in Position to Judge
"As TO the statement of Mr.. Montgom-
cry that the new road is given prefer
eIce over road work that is badly needed,
1t is sufficient to say that probably the
board of revenue is a better judge of
that matter than Mr.. Montgomery. Ger
taihly the board Of revenue has the dis
cretion. to say what roads 1t will estab
IlSH, anu WHAT IOduS II Will WOTk, Will
out being answerable to Mr.. Montgom-
cry for the exercise of that discretion.
pertinent inquiry arises: Why Is it that
Mr.. Montgomery assumes such superior
patriotism in this matter? Is 1t because
he has land on the old road (Which he
has) which causes him to take such vita,
interest in assailng the new road. or is
1t because he is really taking the well
fare of the county to heart in this mat
ter?
Challenges Impeachment
"As far as the suggestion made by Mr..
Montgomery is concerned that some one
should start Impeachment proceedings
against any member of the board misus-
ing his office, I have simply to say that
Mr. Montgomery can himself institute i'm
pea chment proceedings against any mem
ber if he sees fit to do so, by first
giving bond to pay court costs II he Is
unsuccessful / say that if Mr. Mont gom.
cry knows any reason why any member
of the board of revenue should be i'm
pea ched, 1t Is his duty to do so. | not
only call upon him to do So as he has
made such an insinuation. but challenge
fim to do So II he believes what he has
stated to be true he Will do so, otherwise
the good people OF this community will
know that his statements and insinus-
items are utterly false, and slanderous
and deserve no considera ton at my hands
LAWRENCE II. PENNINGTON.'
Statement From Board of Revenue
Dr. Lovelady's statement, issued for the
board as a whole, is a follows:
"A petition was received by the board of
revenue some time In March. asking the
board to grant a new road from Camp
Branch to the top of Shades mountain,
connecting with the per cent road
This petition was received, viewers ap-
pointed. Mr.. Montgomery and a number
of citizens from that community came
before the board opposing this new road
About 10 days two weeks after Mr.
Montgomery and the delegation had been
before the board, another delegation came
before the board. one of which was ir
the delegation that Mr.. Montgomery head
ed, and stated that they understood from
Mr. Montgomery that the Old Lower Co
lumbiana that goes by Mr.. Montgomery
house was to be discontinued but after
| finding out that such was not the case
| they favored the new road.
New Road Established
'"rhis new road, as Understood, does MOI
go by Mr.. Montgomery's house. but leave.
him off the road about one-half mile
The viewers made their report some tim'