The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-01
CITY T0 COMPLETE NE M HIGH WAY T0. SOUTH BEsSEMER R.
Obstacles and Threats Fail to Stop Project, Commissioner Dickson Declares, and
 Detour Devised

Birmingham will complete the South Bessemer highway. despite re- fusaL of the Birmingham Railway Light and Power company to grant rights-of Away, and in the face of a threat from the county board of revenue that its assistance may be withdrawn. This was learned Thurs day when W. E. Dickson, commits sioner of streets. declared that the city will detour the three quarters of mile being held up by the Bir- mingham Railway. Light and Power company and is obtaining options now for this purpose.
 Fear that all pending city-coanty road projects might be abandoned was dispelled when Commissioner Dickson declared that the city will pursue vigorous course in getting necessary rights-of-way. This will apply to the Gate City route and the Pratt City road that has been in jeopardy, as well as to the South Bessemer highway.
 The action of the city comes after
  unanime usly adopted resolutions de- claring that if progress toward ob- taining rights ofway was not shown by December 15, it would withdraw it's s459,000 appropriation of the S4000,000 bond issue. and apply 1t to the building of roads outside of Greater Birmingham. In it's rese lu- tions, the county board declared that 1t had borne with the city for two years and that it was waxing weary of waiting as well as losing inter est on the s4o0.000.
 Cordial Feelings
 The city had held a lengthy se- ries of conferences with the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power company in which an attempt had been made to obtain the rights-cf- way. Many other matters were in- volved, including car fare and gas rate demands by the city and lit ney regulation demands by the utili- ties company. The conferences came to naught and were abandoned with cersl{aa feelings on both sides bisi with rights-o way, car fares and gas rates quite as definitely unset tied as at the start.
 No negotiations between the city and the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company have been made public since that time.
 It is understood that the city would resort to condemnation action against the utilities company were it not for the fact that it is in receivership and such process would require too much time. The city must get im- mediate results to retain county funds, and 1t will leave the Birming ham Railway, Light and Power ccm- pany out of the matter and obtain rights-of-way from private individ- uals.
 Several Routes Open
 There are several possible routes that the city could take in going around the traction companys terri tory, and Commissioner Dickson would not say which of these would be used. There will be no material change in the length of the road, he said.
 The program of the city and county in working Jointly is to connect up reads within the city with those coming in from the county. All of the work that can be done without the rights-o from the Bir- mingham Railway. Light and Power company Is under construction or under ordinance, and the program ef the city now is to. eliminate the short gaps in these highways now, despite opposition of the company.