The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-23
.SOWELL CALLS FOR THE LAST PAYMENT Randolph County Still Owes
 the State S226.15 IS THE OLD RAILROAD CASE Cherokee Developing Company Plans to Furnish 25,oOO Horse Power to
 Birmingham for Manufac-
 turing Purposes.
IS THE OLD RAILROAD CASE

Montgomery, July 22-(speeial )-Audi- l tor SowelI IS writing today for the last payment of amounts due the state on | account of old railroad securities for which the counties of Chambers, Lee, l Randolph and Tallapoosa became respon- sible way back in the days of reconstrue- tion. This amount Is $22615. due by Ran dolph, the final obligation of the five counties in a controversy that involved the state and caused several special acts l of the legislature to be passed.
 These obligations were incurred in the building or promotion of what is now the Central of Georgia from Opelka to Roanoke. and the Central of Georgia from Columbus, Ga, to Birmingham. So hot did the fight become once that the counties refused to pay the interests County officers were abolished and the taxes collected by the state, apportioning back the amounts due the counties. The matter was then taken to the United States court and no end of litigation fol- lowed.
 Settlement Reached.
 Finally, in the session of the leglsla- ture of 1883, tl-e sta.e took the matter in hand and appointed a way for settle ment of all the claims. A commissioner was provided for to look into the obliga- tion and find what would have to be paid to settle all controversy. It was ascertained that the following amounts were due, or should be paid to get the difficulty cleared up: Chambers. ST. 5Ss.61; Lee. $41.955.66; Randolph, $36 296.01; Tallapoosa. s3S, GoO26.
 The state then provided for the pay ment of these amounts and allowed the counties to pay it back in ten years, ex- cept Randolph county. which was all lowed fifteen years. This $22615, written for by Chief Clerk Cook in the auditors office, will be the end, 1t having been fifteen years since the trade with the counties was consummated. Because of this trouble these counties were known for some time as "the strangulated coun- ties"
 Power for Birmingham.
 Notification of an increase in the capi- tai and an election of officers of the Cher okee Development and Manufacturing company was filed yesterday with the secretary of state.
 This is the company which is projecting plans for the construction of an immense water power plant at Cherokee Bluff Tal- lapoosa county on the Tallapoosa river, for the purpose of furnishing 25,O00 horse PONti u IolIHlllSHdIu IOT IldnuIdCLuTln& purposes.
 The meeting of the stockholders of the company at which the capital stock was increased from s5O000 to $10O,000 was held Thursday at the office of Hon. Thomas H. Watts in Montgomery
 It is stated that the meeting was held for the purpose of filling vacancies in the office of president and treasurer, to elect a new board of directors, to consider what AfH u14x 1.1 c1a the capital stock to $10O000
 All of the stockholders of the corpo- ration were present at the meeting either in person or by proxy. It was agreed to raise the capital stock to $100,000 and to devote the additional $50,0O0 of stock to the purchase of an undivided half interest in the properties of the company from Salle A. Jones of Montgomery
 The officers of the corporation were fix ed as follows: A president, secretary, treasurer and a general manager. off, cers elected were Thomas H. Watts, pres ident; Jack Thorington, secretary; James F. 8. Pinekard treasurer, and Henry c. Jones general manager. Board of drec- tors, Messrs. Pinckard. Jones and Watts.
 In an interview recently 1t will be re- membered General Manager Jones said that the company was negotiating with eastern capitalists and indicated that
 
 early date.
 Talking Good Roads.
 Commissioner of Agriculture Poole and President of the State Convict Board Car michael wandered down into the office of Secretary to the Supreme Court Leon McCord. this afternoon. and began to talk good roads. It is not known just how the conversation started, but they were well into 1t when the correspond ent of the ge-Herald walked in. Inas- much as they were agreed, there was no controversy, but there was a great deal of practical discussion. Judge Carmichael told of place in south Alabama that lad cost the county in which it was to be found a quarter of a million dollars. It was small hill. insignificant looking, | but capable of eating up money in just | that generous way
 | He explained it this way It was too steep to get over with as big a load as most of the other country roads would 1 carry. and the amount of freight had to be lessened to it's restrictions. It was calculated that the cost had run up into the big money'' indicated as d result of 1 being forced to thus reduce the loads. | Just like a chain," ventured Mir Poole: mo stronger than its weakest link" Yes, and they cut that hill down for about $27, l am told" concluded the head oA tlle SoHNicl department. InlS was told to illustrate how little sometimes is nec- essary to provide good roads If the people will only think about them and realize i their value.
 Fight for Judgeship. 1 Things are drawing to d finish in the race Tor the Eighth circuit judgeship re- gently resigned Hon. Osceola Kyle who became one of the Panama zone judges by appointment of President Roosevelt. Prominent among the candidates is D. W. Speake of Morgan, brother of the late Judge Speake, who once presided over the same Judicial territory, and whose nephew, son of the late judge, is judge or the Sixteenth circuit He is opposed by Marion West. also of Decatur F. L. St. John and George H. Parker, both of Cullman. All have had delegations to see the governor from time to time since Judge Kyle wired his resignation from washington last week. It is expected that the appointment will be made tomorrow. IL IS also expected that a successor to Judge J. Colvin Wood resigned, in Lowndes county, will also be named by the middle of next week.
 Capital Notes. | The following tax collectors have set- tied with the state auditor: M. F. Ussery, Randolph; D. z. Goodlet, Calhoun; J. r.