Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-07-10
GRASSLAND TELLS
OF QUARRY DEAL
HAWKlNSClTED
rw,Iaips His Part In Transaction
Geo. Wneatley Speaks For
Son-In-Law

Panlving to the Times-Recorder's
teIegraphed query for statement
from him regarding the published
charge of Joe Hawkins, of Amerlcus,
former district highway engineer,
that he had informed the latter that
he had made a personal profit OF
$4,000 through the sale of the Ell
bert county granite quarry to state
highway department, W. A. Cross
land. federal highway engineer for
Georgia, denies any profit from the
transaction, and explains his relation
ship with the property. His reply
came late Saturday afternoon, after
the last edition for that day had been
rrinted and circulated. The fact
that he had been out Of Atlanta de-
layed the reply.
In his message Mr.. Grassland, WHO
has been a frequent visitor here in
connection with highway building and
inspection under federal aid says that
he formerly owned an interest in the
quarry and had at one time planned
to resign from the federal highway
department to devote his time to the
quarry which was to produce and sell
crushed stone to the state. Later
an offer to buy the quarry was made
by the state. He says he did not
consider it a good proposition, but
his associates did, and he sold his
interests to them, because he felt
in his official connection with high
way affairs he could not properly be
connected with deal with the state
department.
He asserts that the payment for
his interest in the quarry by hi
associates, made before the sale to
the state was consummated, was the
only remuneration he ever received
out of the transaction; that he did
not assist in making the sale to the
state, and did not approve the sale
to the state, purchases by the state
not being subject to his approval.
A full record of the transaction is on
file in the Bureau of Public Roads, in
Washington, he says. His telegram
to the Times Recorder follows:
The Telegram.
Il neither earned nor received a
commission on the sale of the quarry
to the state. | owned an interest in
a proposed company purposing to
produce and sell crushed stone to the
state and other customers, but op-
eratlons were not to begin until aft
ter my resignation from the Bureau
Of Public Roads. The state highway
department proposed to purchase the
property and develop it. Its offer
was regarded as good one by my as
soclates but not by me. | told them
| could not sell anything to the state
because of my position, realizing
mat my connection with the Bureau
OF Public Roads prevented me from
Joining them in making the sale.
lney made an offer to buy me out,
winch l accepted, and this was abso-
iuteIy the only remuneration receiv-
cd by me. They then sold the prop
erIy to the state. did not assist in
making the sale, / did not approve
OF sale as stated.
Purchases by the highway depart
ment are not subpect to my approval.
Full record of the whole transaction
Is on tIIc in the Bureau of Public
Roads, Washington, D. c."
Speaks for Hawkins.
george D. Wheatley, of Americus,
.iather-ln-law of Joe Hawkins, who
Is absent from this city, today gave
out the following statement in de-
lehse Of the latter in the Grassland
lIo"CroVersy when the dispute was
brought to his attention:
Having read and considered the
dIucie emanating recently from
0amse A. HolIoman correspondent,
appearing in the Atlanta Constitu-
uoh to the effect that 'one Joe Haw-
Al"s' OF Americus had been discharg-
~ from the service of the state high
way department, and had since been
:. OaIIerlng the seeds of poison
throughout the state l want to char
scterize that statement as as unonaIi-
lieu o.su lle' for in bringing to light
over his own signature specific acts
Wy certain parties, surely connected
'on %,'n the state highway department,
one Joseph Hawkins acted with con,
b,s"y!ous tbo nous regard for the interests of
viea sie clClzenship of his state and in
wbIa b,II.'ation Of his own good name
ie aT III service of the department.
kin N view of the fact that Mr.. Haw-
Stat ,,t was summarily discharged bv
l.. I.ase ten Highway Engineer Neel, close.
na,l, ~ following the mere mention Of his
bia a'Ie i' before the legislature. without
FL t',' iI knowledge as a possible suecessor e'or
,,fsi ~ ar' Neel, and that with scarceIv
out ;v'snF ;,. authority, absolutely With
pesrs 1"Ss u. or sufficient cause, there ap-
discboo iS no real reason for Hawkins,
sons '"age I other than prudential rea-
suns on the part of MIR. Neel. He He