The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-16
DEFEATING THE HIGHWAYS


 Gainesville highway detour sets forth far more graphically than words can do the character of highway administration fos- tered by Chairman Rogers. The dotted line back to the main highway is the route spon- sored by Mir. Rogers. The heavy solid line shows the direct and most economical route both in first cost and in maintenance. Were this the only example of the sort, public con cern might not be unduly aroused. But it is becoming increasingly apparent that such de- tours as this are not the exception but the rule in Mr. Rogers conception of a state highway system. To him state highways seem local and not state affairs, and they are to serve local and not a state purpose. There is evidence of this in Mir. Rogers well known support of similar and even more .glaring detours to serve local, if not private pur- pose, in Hale, Perry and other counties, in spite of the apparent majority disapproval in such counties as Greene, Sumter, Hale and Perry counties, where even the county as we'll as the state purpose is made secondary to some other purpose.
 To be sure, Mir. Rogers cites the fact that this detour was approved by the legislature of 1915. But perhaps he failed sufficiently to emphasize his own activity in bringing about that approval, for it is well-known fact that legislatures, in the absence of defi- nite opposition, are quite prone to grant local requests. Furthermore, MT. Rogers should remember that he is not now acting under resolution of the legislature of 1915, but under a mandate of the people of Ala. bama of 1922. That mandate automatically revokes all law in conflict with it and is not friendly to a policy of detours that eat up the public economy and convenience to serve local purpose.
 It may seem to some that there should be regrettable highway policy. But let them con slider that all these detours mean an extra, costly and needless mileage, the expense of which will subtract approximately and di- rectly from the sums that will be left to spend in other parts of the state. Whatever his purpose may be, the fact is undeniable that Mir. Rogers is sponsoring these detours in counties where a local or secondary purpose would best be served. This is all the more glaring in that he can give no ex- cuse nor Justification either in logic or in engineering opinion for the detours he advo- cates. Neither can successful defense be brought for failure to carry out the will of the people of Alabama, who voted the bonds with the full assurance and under standing that the money would be spent on direct connecting highways and under the cooperative and coordinate supervision of federal highway engineers. This failure is inexcusable and must be resisted by public sentiment in Alabama, for otherwise, a large portion of the state will be deprived of its due highway inheritance, and the whole plan of definite, permanent and efficient high way system for Alabama will be defeated. The federal-aid routes must be adhered to-. The only authorized departure would be to provide direct connection between county seats in such rare and scattering instances as these have not been included in the fed eral-aid program. It is true that federal aid will not be forthcoming at the time some roads are built, but if state construction is confined to federal-aid roads the supervision of the federal highway department will be enjoyed as an additional safeguard.
 To serve a local, a minor and special purpose, majority of the highway commis- sion has apparently determined to fine and tax the people of Alabama forever by the construction of detours that will be an ever lasting expense upon the taxpayers of the state and a manyfold heavier expense upon the multitudes who will be forced to travel these unnecessary extra miles. More than that, the dilution of the highway mileage with heavy extra mileage, means inevitably either that a smaller portion of the state shall have roads, or else that the additional In view of Mir. Rogers advocacy of local and temporary roads to be maintained by coun- ties. it is apparent that inferiority is the probable alternative, and that, after all the highway fund is spent, the state will still have only sorry roads that will continue to be impossible in bad weather and for heavy loads.
 How different that result from what the people were led to expect, from what they voted to establish and which the fund they voted would so we'll lay the foundation for But the highway destiny of this state is still in the uncertain stage; considerations other than those of the greatest good to tho greatest number arc influential; and thu highway prospect of the state is being rapidly dimmed and destroyed. A halt or this sort of thing must be called before it ii too late, and before shortsghted admins trative policy shall have set back the clocl ok IoH ;rb