The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-24
COUNTY ROADS ARE
 CAUSING COMMENT Morris Avenue Drummers Say
 Highways Are Bad ALL OF ONE OPINION
The Roads Discussion Is Creating Widespread Interest in All Parts of Jefferson County-Certain
 Bad Roads Specified.

| The people of Jefferson are greatly in 1 earnest regarding the question of better roads. On every side and from men in every walk of life the cry is going up for an improvement of the public highways. The travelling statesmen, who necessarily use the roads more than any other class of citizens, say the public roads are in bad condition.
 A number of Morris avenue salesmen who travel thorugh the rural districts of Jefferson county were asked yesterday about the roads, and without one excep- ton they all spoke in uncomplimentary terms of the condition of the roads. c. c. Reeves who travels over the west ern part of the county for the Robert son Grocery company. in speaking of the public highways, said: "I think the roads of Jefferson county, at least the ones that l travel over every day, are in a miserable condition. The way in which they are kept up-or rather not kept up is positively shameful Every week I ride over the roads between Pratt City and Brooksde and Brookside and Bloss- burg and they are almost impossible. The situation is bound to grow worse dur ing the coming winter unless immediate steps are taken to put them in shape.
 q believe that the movement for bet ter roads in this county will accomplish good In the past week have seen fruits of the present agitation. The superVlsors are beginning to repair and improve the Jasner road between Pratt City and Rroolxside. and If they will continue this work for several weeks they Will se. 'he roads in decent shape
 B. M. Harper. salesman for Collins & Co.. said: q want to register KICK against the way the Fifth avenue road mas been allowed to get out of repair go out this road every week and the condi- tions have gradually been growing Worse' I can't see the logic in the way the hoies and ruts in the roads are allowed 'o so unrepaired until they become so bad that travel is made uncomfortable
 Steve Mayfeld, salesman for the May field Manufacturing company and Celery Cola company said, The road or Jef ferson county are simply in a shameiui condition. Recently I have traveied over every road in the county and they do not compare with the roads Of Montsoh- cry county. We have better facilities TOT road-making than Montgomery ana We have more miles of macadamized foads' but they are not kept up well. Ihe only road in the county that I can speak well of is the Oxmoor macadamlzed road. That road is worthy of a compliment, but the haIr condition. Is terrible"
 Thomas L. Woodruff, salesman for the R. F. Roden Grocery company, said' While the roads generally are very pao and have been woefully neglected l think a good word could be put In for one or two roads In the county. The one lead- ing from Irondale to Trussville Is in fine shape but the one from Birmingham to Irondale has certainly been neglected. The Jasper road from Pratt cliy 10 Brookside is in a very bad shape. me Warrior road has been sadly sighted and the Powderly road in some places is very bad. Summing up the whole roads s1tn- ation and taking in consideration every public highway in the county. l should say that a few hundred, or certainly a few thousand dollars spent rightly in repairing the holes and washes would relieve the present conditions wonder fully"
 ]. A. Morton, salesman for Collins and Company said, "rhe people of Jefferson county are untitled to better roads than they have now. l go through the western part of the county and some of the roads are almost impossible. Unless they are shortly improved. conditions are going to beserious this winter. Take the road leading from Dolomite. Wylam and the road leading from Brighton to Dolomite; these have been neglected. They are get- ting worse every day and should have immediate attention.
 w D. Holmes. well known shoe sales man. who has travelled over the Jefferson roads a great deal during the past few weeks. said:
 While the roads of this county are undoubtedly in bad condition as a whole, still I think that worse places will be found inside the limits of several muni- cipalites in the county. The authorities of several of these towns have allowed the roads to get very much out of re- pair