The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-03-30

vile, 400; Mt. Hebron, so, and Gin
ton, Is.
Excellent farm lands, some rolling
and level and other billy, are traversed
by both roads.
Total distance from Livingston to
Eutaw by the southern or A. G. s.
route is 80 miles, including the stretch
from the cross roads to Livingston,
distance of approximately nine miles,
Total distance from Livingston to
Eutaw by the northern or Gainesville
route, is SO miles.
Scathing denunciation of Mr.. Rogers
as member of the state highway COM
mission was voiced by Seth Ander-
son, mayor of Epes.
DenOunces Rogers .
at is inconceivable," he stated. "that
Mr.. Rogers could approve the Gaines
vile route for any purpose other than
personal gain.
He has from the start been vio-
lently opposed to the southern route,
even though the federal law specifi-
cally states that no federal money shall
be used on a state highway project
except that project traverse the most
direct or possible route between the
towns in question. That very point
has eliminated the Gainesville route
from participation in federal aid.
I'VE are making no unwarranted
accusations against Mr.. Rogers" Mr..
Anderson continued, but it is well
known that he owns many thousand
acres of land on or in close proximity
to the northern route. That he would
benefit directly should the project car
ry, is not the question we are debating,
but we are violently opposed to Mr..
Rogers engineering a plan whereby he
will receive a personal benefit to the
detriment of the best interests of the
state and the people along the pro-
posed route south. Should the Gaines
vile" route be proved the logical one,
then certainly there would be no OBJ
lection on the part of the people of
Epes or of any of the other towns
OIL the southern route to have Mr.. Rog-
ers' property enhanced in value.
Want Only Fair, Deal
The people who live and transact
business along the route south, are
asking only a fair deal from the state
highway commission \and from Gov
Brandon. We want the road, not only
because We feel we are entitled to it.
but because we know that it serves
much greater number of persons and
is several miles shorter.
Engineers have told us that the
route by way of Epes mad Boligee can
be constructed for around 100000
less than the northern route. Half of
the total sum shall be fOrthcom-
ing from the government provided the
route south is chosen. Is there any
excuse the highway commissioners or
the governor can offer, in the face of
such overwhelming odds, for squander-
ing the peoples money by construct
ing this northern route wholly from
state funds as is necessary in this
case,
w. ]. Willis, banker and prominent
landowner of Epes. is one of the
leading and most tireless workers for
the southern route. Mr.. Willis de-
clares without mincing of words that
rank discrimination is being shown in
the selection of the GAINESVILLE route
by the highway commissioners.
''Epes, Boligee and Allison. with
population triple that of the GAINESVILLE
route are determined that no such ac-
ton shall so through as has been in
vertising for bids for the route by way
of GAINESVILLE" Mr.. Willis stated.
Our merchants are learning more
and more to depend upon the motor
truck for a prompt and efficient de-
livery of goods from wholesale centers.
! Tuscaloosa and Meridian wholesale
houses could, if the route is constructed
/ by Boligee, furnish an even better serv-
ice to this, the most densely populated
section. AS it is quite n volume of
business is now handled in that man
ner," Mr.. Willis stated
1--WE know we have a bitter fight
on hand and we are facing the situa-
ton with that fact clearly established
John Rogers motto is rule or ruin
and his head is set ON the GAINESVILLE
route He will resort to almost any
method to accomplish his end if for no
other reason" Mr.. Willis said.
Road Material Handy
Three large deposits of gravel soil
are directly on the Boligee route. an
investigation proved. This gravel is
in close proximity to the road and