The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
GOOD ROADS VERY
STRONGLY DEMANDED
Board of Revenue Compliment
ed on Its New Move
ROADS IN BAD CONDITION
With County conVicts at Work on the
Highways the System of Roads
Would Ee Greatly Improved.
The Effect In Values.

The proposed plan of the board Of reve-
nue. looking to the working of part of
the county convicts on the public roads
is attracting attention throughout the
county and from expressions given by
farmers, warehousemen. merchants and
the public generally 1t Is apparent mat
the people favor the plan. The board Is
being eomplimented in every part or the
county for the progressive spirit 1t has
shown.
At the cotton warehouse on Second ave-
nue.. near Twenty-fourth street, yesterday
a large number of farmers gathered after
having their cotton weighed and turned
over to tho warehouse. The question of
public roads was preached and they all
seemed happy over the prospects OF an
improvement
Roads Now Bad.
"The roads have been pretty bad for
the last two years." said Mr.. Waldrop,
who had just brought in three bales
of cotton, a distance of nineteen miles,
but you know we have been so used
to bad roads that we don't pay much at
tention to it. 1t looks as If there hasn't
been much work done on them during the
last two years and we will certainly be
glad to see them improved. | don't know
much about the convict plan, but out
our way, we are willing to most any
thing that will make the roads better.
We could get into town much quicker
and sometimes 1t will keep us from
having to stay over all night"
The question was asked the crowd If
there had been much complaint Of late
about the roads.
NO, l haven't heard much kicking"
said young man as he broke into
laugh Because we are SO used to it
there amt much room to kick. We've got
so now that we don't pay much attention
to the roads, but just go along as IL we
couldn't help it. All the kicking was
done about two years ago, but as 1t
didn't do any good we Just go on and
wait for something to be done"
M. KauI Talks.
1t is not only the farmers that are
kicking about the roads. Citizens of Bir-
mingham have also entered a protest.
II would like to see the board put the
convicts on the road and keep the work
up until we had a great system said
John L. Kaul, the well-known lumber
man. THE roads of the county are in a
deplorable condition and repair work is
almost imperative.
IF the past system has proven unsuc-
cessful I am eager that the board of
revenue try the convict system ana see
IL something cannot be done Nothing can
be of more benefit to a county tina cub
lie roads. They are not only a convent a1ce
but will cause property to Increase in
value. The increase in the value of
property alone would more than pay for
the cost of repairing. l want to see this
thing pushed along. We need good roads
and must have them. 1t looks as IL we
have a progressive board and l believe
they will leave nothing undone to give
the citizens of jefferson county a great
system of public roads"
"There is no questioning the fact that
our roads are in bad shape said William
Walker, the attorney, land l am glad
| to see that the board of revenue has
taken the matter up In earnest. 1 think
the plan of working 100 convlcts on the
road is an admirable one. What we need
is good roads and the board of reve-
nue. seems disposed to give them to us.
| think the board is entitled to much cred
it for the spirit shown In this matter
and I sincerely hope they will be sue
cessful."