The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-12

Fayette. May n.-(special )-zsamuel- c. Lancaster consulting engineer of the goods roads division of the department of agriculture, who is accompanying Con gressman R. ?. Hobson in tour of the Sixth district, said yesterday that he had never in his long and varied expe- rienee gotten so much of real value out of or more fully enjoyed any other trip as he has out of this tour.
 "The people in every section of the district where we have been," said Mr Lancaster, are showing such deep in terest in the work that 1t Is really in spring to talk to them. They seem to fully realize the great importance of the improvements suggested in the dis eusslons and are thrsting for informa- tion.
 Captain Hobson has certainly hit upon plan of real benc.-1 to his people that will make him famous. There is great room for development along all lines dis cussed in his district and the people are certainly ready for the work that has begun.
 Nothing like this has ever been at tempted before by any congressman or senator in the United States and I am of the opinion that the success of Cap tain Hobson's undertaking will be an inspiration to many of his colleagues to go and do likewise
 The trip conducted with teams started at Aliceville in Pickens county last Mon day, and the first week closed at Fay cite today at noon. little more than 140 miles have been covered and from two to three meetings have been given every day.
 On account of very heavy rains during the first three uays of the week the roads have been almost impossible in many places and many difficulties have been experienced, but the great interest shown by the people all along the line has urged the party to push along eagerly and earnestly from station to station. Indeed the hampered progress long muddy drives have been enlivened by a con- stant flow of song, personal pleasantres and the recounting of experiences that have frightened the way and made the experience one of real pleasure
 The ardor of Captain Hobsons charac- teristic enthusiasm early in the week in fected every other member of the party and this has been constantly increased by the interest of the people all along the way.
 Though the party is principally made up of high officials in the governmental departments they have all adopted them7 selves to the conditions and people they have encountered most admirably.
 Captain Hobson has proven that he can tie up a broken trace as neatly as the mountain boy from Lamar and Dr. Bon steel, In charge of the division of soil survey, takes great delight in discussing the nature of the "crickn bottom with the hardy farmer along the way, while MT. Lancaster takes every opportunity to cuss the muddy, miry roads In a language that Is easily understood and fully appreciated by the steer-driver with a load of lumber
 R. S. Wilson from the division of cot ton culture, is rabid enthusiast in his line and is always in demand as the central figure in a group of farmers be- fore and after the set meetings. Some of his outdoor, informal meetings are all most as large as the indoor meetings anu his popularity is believed to have en- gendered some little envy among other members of the party. He often lets his meals grow cold so reluctant is he to leave the discussion of the subject in which he is so deeply interested and the farmers are just as reluctant to let him go.
 Sam Lancaster is the largest man in the crowd with a heart and soul as big as Texas, and wears a smile that does not even change tension when the bad roads threaten to swallow carriage, horses and all. He has an ineXhautible fund or amusing anecdotes and inter- esting experiences gathered during his travels in all states of the union and never tires in lelating them to the peo- pie both off and on the rostrum.
 William S. Hall the forestry man, who has just been put in charge of the Appa- lachian and White mountain reservation Investigation committee comes to the people with comparatively a new propo- sition, and the new gospel he is preach ing is a revelation to the people.
 In his plea for the preservation of tim Der, he has brought much unrest to the agents of lumber interests who have been buying timber lands in this section in some instances at monstrously low fig ures In some places the facts and fig ures given by MT. Hall have produced a feeling akin to indignation against pur- chasers of timber interests,
 More than one timber man has been heard to express his satisfaction that Captain Hobsons tour was not begun, six