The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-30
PRATTV|LLE WINS. P0|NT IN DISPUTE OVER ROAD ROUTE.
Under Engineers Proposal Road Between Montgomery
 And Verbena Be Closed
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU 1
 THE AGE-HERALD ! Mont tROmery Ala May 20


 Construction of the Birmingham Montgomery highway by way of Reese's ferry rather than the old Louisville and Nashville railroad bridge was recommended by A. E. > >Loder, district engineer of the federal
 lreau of public roads, in letter to Ane bureau which was submitted to "A ne state highway commission on Tuesday afternoon.
 This decision gave an advantage to citizens of Prattville in the contest for the location of the highway, which has become a memorable one in Alabama. Persons residing in the Prattville territory have insisted that concrete bridge be constructed at Reese's ferry and that the high way pass through a large territory heretofore undeveloped. Residents of Elmore county have urged the construction of the road near the present route, using the bridge aban- doned by the railroad when it's new bridge was completed last year.
 Under the proposal which met the approval of engineer Loder the high way between Montgomery and a point about Verbena will be abandon ed and the new road constructed. This would cut off the states cot ton mill at Speigner and numerous towns along the Louisville and Nashville railroad from the Birming- ham, Montgomery highway. In an- nouncing his decision to the bureau Of public road MT. Loder gave report of his investigations and a state- ment regarding good points which he found in the two routes. After the minute report. MT. Loder expressed the opinion that the Reese's ferry route is preferable to the Louisville and Nashville railroad bridge route. Highway Board Divided.
 Members of the state highway commission have been divided on the two routes. They originally voted to tlace the concrete bridge at Reese's Ferry, but opposition developed fand for many months an effort has been made to convince the commis- sion that it's decision should be re- voked. Opponents of the Reeses fer ry site mustered six votes but those favoring it retained six votes ana every effort to cancel the decision failed.
 As matters now stand, those fa- voring the Reese's ferry site have the decision of the state highway con- mission and the decision of the dis trict engineer. Mir. Loder's report will go to the bureau of public roads at once. It must receive the approval II be made a federal-aid project and construction work can be started.
 O O O
 Want Case Reopened.
 Tuscaloosa's Chamber of Com merce today asked the public service commission to reopen the case in- volving the petition of the Alabama Power company for permission to construct hydro electric plant at lock II on the Warrior river and to permit the submission of arguments in opposition to the proposal.
 The request was made on long dis tance telephone by a committee of the Tuscaloosa commercial organi- zation. which stated that it desired to appear before the commission. De- cision to oppose the petition y was made by the organization at meet 1ng Monday evening and at which Congressman w. B. Oliver urged the people of Tuscaloosa to fight the pe- tition.<