The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-09
S2,4OO,OOO IS COST
 IF IMP MOVEMENTS
In Addition Nearly 80 Miles
 More Are Under ConStruC- ton Or Contracted

Jefferson county has built nearly s150 miles of roads at a cost of ap proximately s2.4oo,o ,oO0 since Novem- Der, 1920, when the present board Of revenue took office, according 70 an estimate by VI B. Copeland, a board r.ember. Tn addition to this, nearly 60 miles of roads have been con tracted for and in many cases are almost ready for use. This Is be- 1ieved to be the most comprehensive road building program ever under taken In Alabama, and one of -cfle largest ever undertaken by a single county. Practically every town and community in Jefferson county Is now in direct touch by means of first-class roads with the rest of the world.
 Although it Is planned to continue the present program and increase it as need arises, board members feel that, when the projects under con- struction or contracted for are con- pleted, the greatest part of the county's road problem will be behind it, as new roads will need to be built :. only as the present ones wear out and require attention. From now on 1t is thought the chief expense will be that of maintenance. Although the county will derive approximately s2000,00 during the coming year from taxes, it is planned to spend only small percentage of this reve- nue on highways.
 Huffman To St. Clair.
 Among tho roads constructed this year. perhaps the most important, both as to cost and usefulness, is the one from Huffman to the St. C+air county line, a stretch totaling nearly 15 niles in length, on which already $21S.490 has been spent, with approx imately s20,000 still to be voted. This road is still in the construction stage but when completed will form an i'm portant link in a continuous paved road from the county line practically through Jefferson county, with the exception of a short stretch in Br- mingham, which is under city and state control. 1t is planned to have this highway Completed by the first of the year.
 Another important road included In this years program is the one known as the North Bessemer highway built at a cost of S14S,147 and con meeting Fairfield and Bessemer. There is now a first-class highway between Birmingham and North Bes- semer, distance of about 13 miles.
 Following is a list of the roads comleted during the last four years, with mileage and cost:
 AuSSF to Odh GTONe, F nIIeS costing s24,S27 Gold road resurface4.)
 North and south highway through Bessemer. costing 67,40S (paved).
 Bradford to Trafford, 6A miles, costing s30.12O (graded ana paved).
 Docena cutoff. 6 miles, costing s2,076 (graded and resurfaced).
 Ensley to Fairfield, 1s-miie stretch. costing s5s,272 (paved and resurfaced).
 Fairview to Fairfield. 21s miles. costing ssS,ssT (paved).
 Flat Creek to Lamrioo, 2.7 miles, costing S2,t30 (resrrfaced).
 Ground Hog road, 6 niles, costing $16,52o (graded).
 Irondale to Leeds, II miles, costing s59,S42 (resurfacsd).
 Lock IT road, 8 miles. costing S1S,- 15s (graded).
 Leeds to Shelby county line, 26 miles. costing s2o,oo0 (resurfaced and graded).
 Littleton to Lynns Crossing. Sh miles, costing s5,417 (resurfaced).
 Mt. Pinson to Center Point, miles. costing s30,o24 (graded).
 Mt. Olive road, 14 miles, costing STA, 4,944 (resurfaced).
 Mulga Loop road, 13A miles. cost ing S296,743 (resurfaced).
 Mt. Pinson road tNorwood to