The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-05
FROM OTHER SHORES

of the present valuation of the line, the valuation to be agreed upon by com petent parties, Tn my letter at the time went into the various details of the matter, stating the exact conditions un- der which such an agreement could be brought about. This offer has not been withdrswn by the Southern railway, be- ing still in force at the present time" l.. H. Pennington, member of the board or revenue, stated that the question of securing an adequate connection with the Warrior river was receiving the closest attention of the members of the board We have had this problem under con- sideration for sometime, but until we receive the report of County Engineer Clark, we are maintaining an open mind. We are thoroughly cognizant of the im- portance of having road to the river. and we are hopeful that the county, after securing full information, will be able to assist in this most important work
 OWNED BY CITY
 w. E. Leake, vice president of the Ala bama company, who is admitted to be an authority on the mineral wealth of the Warrior coal fields. and the Brming- ham district, is heartily in favor of se- curing adequate connection with the riveE without delay. "The people of Bir- mingham do not realize the importance
 
 even more greatly concerned over the situation than they are. However, I see that at last we are beginning to have a concerted action looking toward the solution of this matter and it seems that we can now hope for proper results. I think the whole proposition should be handled by the city of Birmingham. Other cities under similar circumstances have done even bigger things than would be a1 in x,cfo them can credit their growth and develop ment to just such moves as the proposed Warrior river connection. It will cer- tainly be better for all parties if the road and the wharves are under munich pal control.
 ''The first and most imperative need is the construction of a high grade per manent highway from the city to the river. By all means this should go to the main part of the river as the mat ter of two or three miles on a good road means nothing with 8 motor truck or a railroad. On the main river we can se- cure better sites for wharves and load ing facilities. If we had a fine high way from Birmingham to the river now, with the proper wharves, there would be a tremendous business going to and from here to the river. Of course, I think ar- engagements should be made for rights-of-
 
 imperative need now is the immediate construction of the highway. Not only would all the large merchants and ship pers have their own motor trucks but there would be lines of transfer trucks for use in carrying all kinds of smaller freight. As a matter of fact. there are trucks made now which could easily carry from Birmingham to the river, practically every kind of freight that could be shipped. I think the time has come for action and hope the city will take charge of the entire situation by first extending it's limits to the river and taking in the river frontage that will be needed. This river frontage will become one of the greatest assets Birmingham could have within very short time.'
 Rufe Bivens, member of the board of revenue, is greatly interested in the move ment to get a road to the river. MT. Biyens said County Engineer Clark has been giving a large part of his time for the past two or three months to this mat ter and we are anxiously awaiting his re- port. It will throw light on the situation and will make it much easier for us to reach a proper solution of the problem. The people of Jefferson county may rest assured that the board of revenue is gfv- ing careful consideration to this most inn portant matter and just as soon as we have secured all the information neces- sary we will make known some action