The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-10
u H. BANKHEAD AND R. H. CLARKE SPEAK Address Voters of Jefferson County at Court House TALK TRANSFORMATION Clarke Takes Issue With Bankhead on Improvement of Dirt Roads By
 Federal Government-can-
 didates Pay Assessments.
TALK TRANSFORMATION

 night.
 Congressman Oscar w. Underwood pre- sided over the meeting and introduced the l speakers
 Congressman Bankhead, who spoke first referred to the great industrial and man. 1 ufacturing importance of Alabama and especially of the Birmingham district and stressed the great importance of trans 1 portation to the welfare and prosperity of | all the people,
 He referred to the necessity for water transportation, showing how much 1 cheaper this Is than either railroads or l dirt roads. In part he said: "Birming- ham, to meet it's competitors must have water transportation to the gulf and thereby to the ports of the world.
 "At the short session of congress $75,- 0OO, 900 will be appropriated for rivers and harbors Improvements in this country and believe that enough of that will go to the Warrior river to open it to naviga-l tion from the fork to Mobile. I have done all in my power to secure this and other appropriations for the Warrior and other streams in this state.
 The Panama Canal.
 After the completion of the Panama canal I believe the greatest coaling sta- ton in the world will be located near Fort Morgan at Mobile bay. We must prepare to reach this station with our coal and be able to compete with Pittsburg. To be able to do this we must have water transportation.
 "The opening of the Warrior river will not be within itself sufficient. We must have a canal connecting Birmingham with the river and this is entirely practi- cable, the government engineers having already made surveys and reporting fay- orably on the project
 "Pittsburg is asking for an appropria- ton for a nine-foot channel and Chicago is before congress with a plan for s6O,- 1000 for a canal to the Mississippi river. Birmingham has just as much right to an appropriation for a canal to the War 1 rior and we can get 1t through intelligent and persistent efforts.
 # elected and have an opportunity to serve in the Senate I will work for these Improvements.
 Road Improvement
 Another great need of this country Is good dirt roads and the government should assist the states in the work of build 1 ing them Ninety per cent of the products i of this country is hauled over these roads and it is estimated by the department of agriculture that $1,50OOO0 is lost every day i by reason of the bad condition of the roads.
 ''The improvement of these roads Is just as much In the province of the govern ment and is just as practicable as the rural free delivery mail system and feel safe in the prediction that in less than five years the government will take 1 the matter in hand and will be building roads Indeed bills have already been introduced along these lines that have received favorable consideration.
 Alabama and the Birmingham district are confronted by propositions not the- ories in these issues and ask you for the power of attorney to fight for your rights and needs in Congress-
 Clarke Speaks. 1 After his introduction MT. Clarke of Mobile paid a glowing tribute to the Bir- mingham spirit, that in seasons of finan- cial stress bore up bravely and faced the world with the courage and determna- tion-that wins.
 1 He agreed with Congressman Bankhead on his river and harbor improvement prop osition reviewing his own work in Com gress as member of the rivers and har- bor committee, when he helped to secure the first effective appropriations for Ala bama rivers. He also referred to the Van Hoose canal proposition, stating that he had helped in securing the survey and was still interested in it's construction. | He took issue with Congressman Bank | head on the good roads proposition on the ground that the south would receive but little or no show in the distribution of appropriations against the claims of the north and west.
 Both speakers were given an attentive hearing and were frequently applauded. In Macon County. "I do not understand the reports made | In some of the newspapers to the effect l that many changes are being made in Macon county from B. B. Conner to Ir. R. M Cunningham for governor said 1 H. P Merritt, nominee for the state senate in that county, who was in the 1 city few days ago.
 "I believe I understand the temper and sentiments of the people in my county and feel confident that Cunningham will not receive more than one hundred votes in the county. MT. Conner is very strong 1 in my section and will carry Macon coun- 1 ty almost unanimously" Pays First Assessment. w. E. Urquhart, candidate for the leg islature from Jefferson county, was the first candidate for any office to file his application with the chairman of the sub committee of the county and pay the required assessment of s25.
 Chairman J. A. Aird received Mir Urquhart's check yesterday morning.
 According to the order of the sub-com-