The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-15
COLBERT COURT
 HOUSE BURNS DOWN
Original CeSt of Building Was
 S3O,OOO
BIG JOHNSON MEETING
People of Colbert County Meet and Discuss the Best Methods of Im- proving the Public
 Highways.

Tuscumbia, May 14.-(Special) )-The handsome brick court house at Tus- cumbia, built in 1880 at cost of abort $36,00O, was destroyed by fire at o'clock this morning. When the flames were discovered they were bursting from the cupola and the whole of the upper floor was in flames.
 A big Johnson meeting was held in the court room last night and the fire is thought to have been started from the stump of a cigar or from a live wire connected with the electric lights in the cupola.
 The records were kept on the first floor and were all removed by the time the fire reached that part of the building. This is the first big fire in Tuscumbia since the city fire depart ment has been in existence and the chief, J. E. Bowser, and his men made a fine fight, but the fire had gained such headway that the building could not be saved.
 The walls still stand but it will be necessary to rebuild entirely. The buiidiiiS was tIcCltU III looO, WllltC Judge John A. Steele was probate judge. Gen. John D. Rather was presi- dent of the senate and was instrument tai in securing a bond issue for the building. The building was insured for $10,OOO, the insurance being dis tributed among several different com panies.
 Johnson Meeting.
 The Johnson meeting last night in the criminal court room of the Colbert county court house was presided over by J. T. Kirk, a prominent attorney composed of more than 200 voters. It was one of the best attended and most enthusiastic political meetings held here in recent years.
 A. P. Stromme of Minnesota, who is touring the state in the interest of forth his candidates many good quail ties and he was followed by several local speakers, including J. T. Kirk and John D. Rather, Jr. No Johnson organization was formed, but the en- thusiasm for Johnson was very marked and his followers in Colbert county can be depended upon to do much mis- sionary work between now and Mon- day when the primary will be held.
 The meeting had been adjourned only few hours when the court house in which it was held went up in smoke. but the Johnson men vigorously deny that this is an augury of the way thu Johnson boom will go.
 Good Roads Conference.
 crowd of several hundred, in cluding business men, candidates and farmers from all over the county, gath cred at the Colbert county court house yesterday in response to a call by Probate Judge O. G. Simpson for a good roads" convention. The meeting was presided over by Judge Simpson, who stated that it's object was to dis cuss methods of road building and the disposition of 12,00O now in the county treasury for that purpose.
 The speakers were James R. Crow. J. L. Thompson, Aaron Bresler. Judge Chitwood, John Rikard, C. W. Left wich, E. L. Bickley, J. E. Alexander. A. l.. Moody, L T. Pride, J. L. Cross. Rev. J. T. Self and Commissioner Hor- ton.
 The speakers differed widely as to the best methods of working the roads and the distribution of the money, and resolution was passed after much dis cussion, turning the matter over to the county court to deal with as r. thinks best.