The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
DAVIS FAVORED
BOLIGEE ROUTE
IN OLD REPORT
Issued Statement On The
Gainesville Detour In
January Of 1921

The federal bureau of public roads,
on the report of two of its engineers,
has rejected the Clinton-Gainesv,i de-
tour in Greene county and Endorsed the
direct route through Boligee and Epes
to connect Eutaw with Livingston.
Those who have sponsored the Gaines
vile detour have said that the major
ity of people in Greene county favored
the detour and that majority of peo-
pie in the county would be served by it.
Although the federal opinion always
chooses the direct and feasible route
in the view that such routes are most
economical and serve the wider need,
yet, on this question. Federal Engineer
Davis, in his January, 1921, report on
the Gainesville detour, says:
Whore local people will be served by
the Boligee route. =. There seems to
be no local condition which would have
] Important bearing on the route by
Gainesville, consequently, the govern
! ing factors; would seem to be the cost
of construction and the convenience to
the through traffic TO be served Mr..
Davis, believing the route between
Livingston and Eutaw, via Epes and
Bolisee, be the ore to participate in
federal aid, rather than the route via
Gainesville.
Wells Comments
In February, 1924. Federal Engineer
Wells said of the Epes-Boligee route ::
1T will IN time carry a very hea1y
traffic, both through and locA, and it
Is believed that in addition to other
features stated above, the saving of IA
miles of travel and its direct routing
favor the selection of the Boligee route
In preference to the Clinton route, and
it is therefore recommended that Route
No. is run via Boligee and Epes.'
While Federal Engineer Davis shows
that about 400 people live on the detour
and more than 900 on the direct route.
Assistant State Highway Engineer Nc
Gala says in his report of February
Is, 1924 ::
My own impression, from hearing the
people in both sections talk. is that
probably one,third of the county is in
favor of the Boligee route and two
thirds in favor of the Gainesville
route
In regard to the difference in dis
lance between the two routes, while
Engineer Wells says that it is ~
miles, Engineer McCalla says that the
detour by Gainesville is six miles fur
ther than the distance via Boligee and
Epes.'
States Conclusion
Nc McCalfa conclusion is Under
these conditions, it seems to me that
the best interest of the state highway
program at large will be conserved by
adopting the Eutaw. Clinton. Gaines
vile route as part of the connection
between Eutaw and Livingston and the
Clinton-Aliceyille route as a part of
the connection between Carrollton and
Eutaw and Livingston"
In regard to the projected CaDrollton-
Livingston connection Engineer Nc
Donald, chief of the federal bureau of
public roads, in an interview given. out
March 80, said:
There seems to be no logical reason
for designating an intercounty-s
road between Livingston and Carroll
ton via Gainesville. Also there seems
TO be, no local condition which would
have important bearing on the location
of the route via Gainesville. 1t was
simply impossible for the federal bu-
reau to agree to detour embracing ~
miles on a direct route which will con-
rect Birmingham, Meridian and New
Orleans, and become one of the impor-
tant highways of that section of the
country
Whereas Engineer McCalla gives no
estimate of costs as between the two
routes, Engineer Wells says:
If the improvement of the Roligee
route involves the use of imported ma
terials, the cost of hauling will be ma
terially reduced. as this route just
mentioned almost parallels the main line
OF the A. G. 5. railroad"
Engineer Davis says: 1.-The Boligee
route will cost only about 80 per cent
as much as the Gainesville route The
same engineer estimates the net cost of
the Boligee Route at '$30T.50O and that
of the Gainesville detour at 500 900.
or difference of $191 500 in favor of
the more direct route.