The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-14
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
Birmingham, January

v To the Officers and Members of the Cham
 Der of Commerce, Birmingham, Ala:
 Gentlemen-Your committee on perma- nent highway to the Warrior river begs to report that after several meetings in May. 1915, we called upon the board of revenue of Jefferson county and the city commissioners and requested them to have a joint preliminary survey made to ascer- tain if feasible and practical route could be obtained on ? per cent maximum grade, and the estimated cost of construc- tion of same. The consent of both boards was given, but for financial reasons the investigation was ultimately conducted by the county engineer, MT. George IT. Clark under the direction of the board of revenue.
 On account of the many other duties incumbent upon Mr. Clark. and the phy- sical difficulties in the way, there has been considerable delay in completing the surveys, eliminating the undesirable and impractical routes. and compiling the nec- essary data and maps
 After most painstaking efforts and ex- haustive research MT. Clark has pre- pared his report and maps The same were presented and discussed in an in- formal way at a joint conference of your committee and the board of revenue on Wednesday, January 12, 1916
 MT. Clarke's report, as soon as he can put it on paper, will be formally submit ted to the board and given to the pub lie.
 In substance he finds there are two routes, both going through Ensley the southern route passing out the Possum Valley road and on to Taylor's ferry, be- ing 2o1s miles in length, and the northern route going via Wylam, and on to Nichols shoals about a mile below the head of navigation, and 1S1a miles in length. The estimates, including the grading of the new part of the road approximate $60O,- 900 and S525,000 respectively.
 In selecting a route the questions of first cost, maintenance, terminal facilities docks, wharves and harbor will have to be carefully considered. and further time and investigation will be necessary
 After a general discussion, at the re- quest of your committee, the board of revenue gave it's hearty and emphatic approval of the proposition to build a per- manent highway to the river, and ex- pressed their desire and intention to see that it was undertaken promptly, when the investigations were complete and the people of the county authorize a bond issue to provide the necessary funds
 Your committee makes the following recommendations:
 l. That the Chamber of Commerce ex- press it's appreciation and thanks to the Cofiu oi icNciue TOT the WOrk already done and urge their carrying on as ex- peditiously as possible, the further inves- tigations that may be necessary to reach the proper conclusions in the matter.
 ?, That the Chamber of Commerce put Itself on record as opposed to any tenn porary makeshifts in the construction of the highway, but insists that s'permanen- cy shall be the keynote" in this big un dertaking.
 g. That, inasmuch as the maintenance and repair bills of the county on worn out roads. in all parts of the county. have reached an enormous sum- which could be better expended in paying fn terest on permanent and dependable high ways, that would not require any ex tensive repairs for a great many years therefore, the Chamber of Commerce be- lieves that in calling an election for a bond issue the board of revenue should ask the people of the county to vote a. bond issue of s1,000,000 for good roads. which would include the highway to the river and enable the county to hard surface the main roads in the county and improve the outlying ones
 Your committee feels that this is a question of great moment to the people of this city and district and the Cham Der of Commerce should continue it's eff