The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-09
GRADING WORK ON SPEEDWAY BEGINS
 EARLY TOMORROW
Big Formal Celebration Is Being Arranged for Next Saturday Afternoon at
 the Motor Club

A. T. Newell of the Newell Contract. ing company announced yesterday that ne would have a crew of men and a number of wagons and teams on the speedway grounds at the lake of the Birmingham Motor and Country clut Monday. The Birmingham Motor Speed way company has announced that the formal breaking of ground for the speedway will take place on next Sat urday
 Extensive preparations have been made Tor this occasion It is planned 10 have the entire board of city com missioners, a representative body from the Chamber of Commerce the Rotary club, Business Mems league. Hotel Mems assoication and other civic or ganizations on hand. Speeches will be made by several prominent men who are interested in the motor speedway The parade will form in front of the Chamber of Commerce Saturday aft ernoon at o'clock and all those who attend will be furnished with auto mobiles to convey them to the grounds brass band will be engaged to lead the procession
 A huge charge of dynamite will be touched off, probably by Commission CT George B. Ward, and tons of earth will be thrown into the air. It is es timated that crowd of several thou sand will be on hand to see the formal launching of one of the greatest prof. ects that has ever been started fo1 Birmingham. Delegations from sur rounding towns will be on hand and some of the foremost speakers of the state will be present.
 An invitation has been sent to Gov Charles Henderson, who expressed him. self as greatly in favor of the speed way on his recent visit to Birming- ham, and every effort will be brought to bear to have him present on that occasion.
 A. T. Newell stated last night that ne would have one of the largest grad ing outfits on the ground and at work this week.
 "On account of the recent washout or roads in DeKalb county, which had to be repaired immediately, part of our outfit was delayed in getting to work on the speedway contract" said Mr. ~''S"SiA' iCSelVSu u message today over long distance telephone informing me that all the mules and equipment had been started through the country Tor Birmingham. This means that my entire outfit will be on the job with in 72 hours. Nothing will stop us in our efforts to fulfill our contract be- fore the expiration of IA weeks. I be- lieve that we will be able to do all the necessary work in so far as grad ing and excavating are concerned within 90 days time.'
 Charles E. Rice, president of the Bir- mingham Motor and Country club. gen. eral counsel for the Birmingham Mo- tor Speedway company and member of its board of directors, expressed himself as being delighted over the plans that had been made for the of- ficial beginning of construction of the speedway.
 "I have talked to some of the best business men in the state of Alabama in regard to the speedway project" said Mir Rice Without exception ev- eryone has expressed himself as be- ing enthusiastic over the proposition. The building of the Birmingham motor speedway should be looked upon by everyone in Birmingham as an epoch marking period in the progress of the great city. Anyone who stops to an- alyze just what the building of this mammoth speedway means to this city is bound to throw aside petty jealousies and go out and boost and pull for the speedway. which will further develop this district"