The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-01
II. s. BOARD
DENIES AID
FOR DETOUR
Federal Bureau Condemns
Plan After Two
Surveys
NO LOGICAL REASON,
ENGINEERS REPORT
State Might Act Indepen-
IDENTIFY, Macdonald
Declares
$161,50O ESTIMATED
AS COST VARIATION
Simply Impossible For National
Body To Agree To Plan.
Is Final Word
$161,50O ESTIMATED
AS COST VARIATION
WASHINGTON BUREAU


WASHINGTON, March 31.-De.
spite the fact that the federal bureau
of roads, in 1921, declined to extend
federal aid in constructing detour by
the way of Clinton and Gainesville
on the proposed highway connecting
Eutaw and Livingston, the highway
department of Alabama in January.
1924, made formal recommendation
point on this highway, Thomas II. Nc
Donald, chief of the bureau of roads,
declared today.
In order that the recommendation
Of the state highway commission might
be concurred in if possible, the federal
bureau ordered another survey. In
February this survey was made by Fl.
G. Wells, engineer of the federal bu-
reau, and in practically all respects.
the adverse decision of the federal bu-
reau in 1921, was sustained. Because
of that development, the recommended
ton of the state commission was with
drawn, according to Mr.. Mcdonald.
Reports Made Public
The chief of the federal bureau made
public today the result of the survey
made by F. A. Davis in 1921. and H.
G. Wells in 1924. The recommendation
of the state commission, which was
subsequently withdrawn, was not made
public. Mr.. Mcdonald was particularly
anxious, he said, that it be not init
mated in this correspondence that the
federal bureau is critical of any project
which the state on its own initiative
might enter upon.
| The criticisms of the proposed detour
sade BY DaJis Vi 1871 J, al fet,ea 5esl
| BY Wells in 1924, Is seamisgiy ;ieadly
to the project which the state, through
the highway commission would under
take at the present time. The detour
by Clinton and Gainesville wherein is
tbs home of John A. Rogers. chairman
of the commission, is declared By
longer than the direct route as adopted
by the government.
Davis said: Gainesville with a
population of about 400 is the only
town on this route. There seems to
be no logical reason for designating an
intercOunty seat road between Livings-
ton and Carrollton via Gainesville
Also there seems to be no local cOndi-
ton which would have important bear
ing on the location of the route via
Gainesville"
Costs Differ
The cost of the direct route was
estimated at 1887 500; of the route
with the proposed detour, $4,000.
In the opinion of the federal bureau,
according to Mcdonald today, this re-
port was conclusive. Instantly, the
proposed detour was rejected 1t APP
pears, however, that the highway COM
mission of Alabama was most insist
emit that the route be constructed with
the Gainesville detour.. aud SO recon-
mended in January, 1924, to the fed
eral bureau.
Mr.. Mcdonald stated today that TO
meet the recommendation if possible.
or to give every consideration to the
recommendation of the state highway
commission. lie determined to order
another survey. This was made by
Engineer Wells who was found the
facts just as Davis, three years before,
had found and reported them.
Estate Might Act
Mcdonald was interested in ascer.
tanning the nature of the controversy
raging in Alabama between the people
and Chairman Rogers Of the highway
commission. When it was explained
that the bulk Of the population appar
emily was unable to appreciate the
alleged ACCESSIBILITY Of the state ex.
pending the money of the taxpayers in
undertaking that which the federal
government had found inexpedient and
unreasonable, namely the construction Of
road by the home of the chairma
of the commission, Mcdonald inter
posed a statement to the effect that
whereas the federal government could
not legally undertake the construction
there might be reasons why the stata
on its own initiative, could do so.
He declined to speculate, however,
on such imaginary reasons and added
at was simply impossible for the
federal bureau to agree to a detour em
bracing ~ miles on a direct route
which will connect Birmingham, Meri-
dian and New Orleans, and become one
of the important highways of that sec.
ton of the country"