The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-20
REVENUE BOARDS
INTEREST SOUGHT
FOR GOOD ROADS
NJ
Hargrave Scores Buck
Passing AS Aftermath
Of Meeting At Leeds
SHOULD TAKE STEPS
TO REPAIR HIGHWAY
Roads Also Bad In Other
Sections Of County
Is Pointed Out

AS an aftermath of the political meet
ing in Leeds Friday night, at which the
intolerable condition of the road be-
tween that city and Birmingham was
pointed out and relief demanded, Wal
lace L. Hargrave, candidate for the
board of revenue, declared Saturday
that Initiative and proper interest on
the part of the revenue board could
quickly eliminate existing conditions. !"
"a member of the present board" he
said, passed the buck to the state
highway commission and told the
Leeds people that the state is
solely responsible for the roads
upkeep. That may be true, but the
road is in Jefferson county and the
revenue board should require the state
to either keep it in proper shape or re-
turn it to county control"
Urges Quick Action
Declaring that where there's a will,
there's always a. way" Mr., Hargrave
asserted that the board should take i'm
mediate steps to repair the road and ar
range for the state to foot the bill.
This same situation" he continued.
EXISTED in connection with the Warrior
road. The county made the necessary
improvements and drew on the high
way commission for the amount ex-
pended. The people of Leeds. deserve the
same consideration, for the road they
are complaining about is, without
doubt, one of the worst in the county.
Il went to Leeds in my flivver, and
after being bumped and tossed about
for nearly IS miles, nearly all by pep
was gone when / got there, This is
one of the county's most important high
ways. Thousands of people have to
use it daily. 1t is unthinkable that it
should be allowed to remain longer in
its present condition.
Impressed BY Need
IT am not given to making promises.
but / am impressed with the need of
immediate action and will say with
out hesitation that if / am elected on
the revenue board, one of my first acts
will be move to have something done
about the Leeds road. I win not dis
crinninate in favor of any section of
the county, but / will take steps on
behalf of this community, which un-
doubtedly has been more or less for
gotten.
"In other sections of the county,
road conditions are bad. am from
the western section. in fact, the only
candidate from that section. but if other
sections need relief first, l would vote
to give it to them first. My platform
calls for a countrywide system of per-
manent roads, and stand squarely on
4 that platform.
Should Not Forget
1.-THE board of revenue should not for
get all about the Leeds highway, or any
4 other highway, simply because the state
has jurisdiction over it. 1t should be
+ remembered that the road is within the
limits of Jefferson county, largely for
the use of Jefferson county people. If
A the board of revenue does not look after
"a the public interests in every section of
the county, to whom may the people
& look for relief?
"The Leeds people are prosperous
N and many of them own automobiles.
They do the bulk, of their trading in
Birmingham, but with the highway in
its present condition, they dread to
make the trip. If this situation is al
$ lowed to continue, many of them will
have no use for their automobiles,
They want a decent road, and are en-
~ titled to it. Initiative and proper in
terest by those in authority would
quickly get it for them"
the county in connection with his race
had convinced him that permanent
highways" is the county's greatest need.
'"The Leeds people" he said, <have
been treated badly, but they are not
alone. Other sections need road relief
and it would be my policy to give
it wherever needed, without discrim-
nation, fear or favor.
Could Work Wonders
wonders could be worked with the
money this county gets for road build
ing if it was wisely expended. My
opinion, as a practical road builder,
is that it is crime against the people
to build inferior roads. would never
vote for anything but the highest type,
permanent highways"
The Leeds meeting was the biggest
x political rally of the year, the Bap-
s fist church auditorium being crowded
3 TO the doors with candidates and citi-
Gems.
A Hill Judge, chairman, declared that
Leeds had been forgotten" and de-
manded concrete highway between
that city and Birmingham.
1--WE want a specific statement from
\ each candidate as to his attitude to-
wards this community Mr.. Judge told
the contestants as they lined up for
three minute speeches. The audience
reared with laughter at some of the
answers to his query,
Candidates for offices other than the
revenue board. in some instances, man
Jagged to link their race with the road
tissue. -
Judge ]. B. Arid, of the circuit court,
seeking reelection, smilingly promised
Ito sentence to death" all board mem
bers who failed to give Leeds the
needed relief"
John G. Arnold his opponent, said
be would not hang anybody" but
promised to 'mandamus the revenue
board and make it build the road"
Eley A. Cardwell, candidate for
county treasurer, asserted he would
hold up the pay checks of all board
members who voted against Leeds"
Climax Is Reached
C. L. Spain was quick to connect
The office of coroner, which he seeks,
With the Leeds highway. He caused
lproarious laughter when he declared
IS IF there is an accident on this high
way, | will return a verdict laying
he blame on the revenue board on the
Eround that it was negligent in allow
ne the road to remain in bad shape.
The climax was reached when Mrs.
II. BatsOn. wife of one of the rev.
nue board candidates, arose TO speak
MY husband is out of the county
nd I'm here for him." she said. Il
hedge him to see that Leeds is treated
light. Permanent roads is his platform,
nyway."
Chairman Judge asked Mrs. Batson
she wuold divorce her husband un-