The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-26
SEN. WEST SPEAKS
AT CIVIC FORUM
AGAINST DIVISION
Division of Jefferson Meets
With DisapprOval = Pro-
posed Line Would Cut
Out Heart of County

of Jefferson county. The ques-
ton of the division of Jefferson
and the formation of Pettus
county seemed to meet with
general disapproval.
large number of citizens from Bes-
semer and other points, including War
| rior were present, and representatives
| from each expressed their views in the
time allotted them after Senator West
speech. The senator spoke for thirty
minutes and the rest of time was devoted
| to the asking of questions by the au-
| dience concerning the matter and to the
presentation of three minute speeches c.
l.. Harold, president OF the civic asso-
ciatiun, presided and introduced Senator
West.
"Bessemer people claim they have
| never had a square deal from Birming-
ham" said the senator They have
claimed it for years, and ! cant see
whereuron they base their charges. Bes-
semer has the best facilities that Jeffer-
| son county can afford. They have
| courthouse. tax assessor and collector
offices and the board Of revenue and
beard of education meets there at regu-
lar intervals. Why do they wish for
the heart of jefferson county?
| DIVIDING LINE
Now the proposed dividing line be-
tween the counties would mean nothing
when YOU drove across in an automobile,
but YOU can't drive Legislature across
successfully and when YOU attempt set
thing qestions that would arise from two
counties you will find that that line
will have something to do with your
procedure The thing Tor US to do is to
think before we make that line
Birmingham, jefferson county and
the state of Alabama have been petition
ing Congress for years to open a way
from Birmingham to the Warrior river.
At vast oux dreams are almost realized,
and now are we going to allow zigzag
line dividing jefferson county to inter-
fere with it? You will find that that line
will assuredly interfere with Birming-
hams right-of-way to the Warrior
river.
Again, line could not have been
drawn that would have more completely
cut out the heart of the district than
the one proposed. The richest industrial
portion OF the Birmingham valley, in
Guiding Fairfield and Ensley, is to be
sliced off jefferson county"
Senator West contended that the move
ment was not an issue and that the peo-
pie of Jefferso county had not been con.
suited about the matter. He provoked
Applause when he declared that he was
wllinr to leave it to vote of the peo-
pie of Jefferson county had not been con-
necessary he would make application for
Ian amendment to the constitution asking
for a. referendum of this county in order
Il that they might take action on II.
IF the question is not submitted to
the county" he continued, "it should be
submitted to delegations from Bessemer
and Birmingham. and the people should
get together in conscientious discussion
of the proposed division at once"
"I am not prejudiced against either
side" he concluded, blu, am anxious to
assist in any way possible to help both
Bessemer and Birmingham. In my con-
scientous opinion, / believe that l am
taking the stand for the betterment OF
both places. United we stand, divided
we fall"
Following Senator Vests speech ques-
lions rapidly arose from the floor.
What would become of the property
constituting that dividing line IL the divi-
sion was made?" was the first question
asked, whereupon Mr.. West replied that
he understood Mr.. WEIGH had provided
in the bill now before the Legislature for
joint commission to take care of that
: part of it,
THREE-MINUTE SPEECHES
5 Those who made three minute
speeches were Commissioner Henry
l
mer II. M. Abercrombie, Attorney
Estes of Betsemer, w. M. Malone OF
: Warrior Borden Burr and others, while
, T. II. Motion. being unable to be pres
! ,ent, sent his views in a letter which
was read by c. l.. Harold.
t Commissioner Burruss advocated the
getting together of Birmingham ant
Bessemer citizens, If each would con
cede to what is right, and be sincere
and fair about the proposition. adding
that dividing line might be formed
that would prove satisfactory to both
9 IF they are not fair and equitable
he said. "this fight may go on TO
iyears, and The people had best com'
| together and agree to division
Judge Gwin contended that Birming
= ham always wanted the cream" add
. ing that he believed Bessemer wa
entitled to county and that 1t woult
Q not hurt Birmingham. He used othe
l cities containing separate counties a.
: an example.
w. N. Malone contended that If JEFF
= ferson county was going to be divided
. that Warrior wanted a slice and tina
: the people there were in favor o
u Warrior being the county seat of tina
> particular slice.
about the only thing Birmingham
will have left will hA the courthouse
. after Bessemer gets through with tn
. county," said Borden Burr. who point
!, ed out by a map that the dividing
/, line in some places would come a
. near as five and one-half miles OF tn
= court house and within one-fourth mil
: of the city limits.
T. H. NOTIONS VIEWS
T. H. Motion said in his letter il
part: TT seems to me that the prop
osition for the division of Jefferso
r county now is more unpopular tina
ever I regard 1t a piece of downright
audacity on the part of the Besseme
: politicians to plan to take off terri
S tory up to the very corporate limits
) Birmingham. However, it appears tina
~ with the assistance or few dream
: ers and mer dare char~e as imprac
v teal the movement has some fore
e and there is a possibility of 1t beinl
carried through the legislature.
'If this question had been an issu
!. in the campaign for members OF IN
. legislature not one in favor OF tn
!. ! scheme would have been elected an