The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-21
How [. W. Thatcher Is Working For Great Lakes -tO-GuIf
 Boulevard
WOULD POUR TOURIST MONEY IN SOUTH'S LAP Already 15,ooo Alabamians Have Joined His Novel Clubs To Assist and Work for the Great
 Highway.

Charles w. Thatcher, just about the hottest good roads booster who ever travelled Jefferson county's highways, ar rived in Birmingham late yesterday aft ernoon in his little prairie schooner drawn by two Spanish burros Brim full of his lofty idea of a Lakes to- Gulf boulevard and confident to the utmost of it's final success, Thatcher is here to talk to the people of the movement, which he inaug- urated 2S months ago, and, as he has done in every town of any consequence between Birmingham and Chicago to or ganize a club in the interest of the na- tional boulevard.
 The Apostle of Good Roads," as Thatcher is called, drove into Birmingham shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday after noon. He presented a unique sight. Two little Spanish burros, not much larger than the man himself, drew the canvas covered prairie schooner upon which Thatcher was mounted. A third party a little gray burro, trailed along behind the schooner. The schooner is Thatcher's idomicile, and the little gray burro is his one best friend. The little wagon bears absolutely everything which the good roads apostle needs, and he is at home wherever he can drive to one side of the road.
 Makes lmpromptu Speech.
 Shortly after arriving in town yesterday Thatcher drove down Second avenue and paid The Age-Herald a visit. He had been expected for some time, word hav- ing been received from him from various points in North Alabama When a re- porter approached him for informa ton Thatcher stated that he could best ex- press his thoughts in a speech, and forth with he made use of his wagon as a ros- trum, and stated his mission to the curi- ous crowd which had gathered about the unique outfit.
 thatcher Is man of fine physique, and the outdoor life has given him a pair of lungs which are his power His manner or address yesterday was very attractive, and with his marked oratorical ability he pressed home the thoughts which he brought with him.
 He grasped the attention of some 200 people, who had gathered about him from the first. Many were trying to find who he was. and when he stood up on his wagon seat he told the crowd that he appreciated their curiosity.
 T guess you wonder" he said. "why have these little burros. Boys, those little fellows the three of them and my self during the past 2s months, have covered nearly every state in the union traxy lipo diuto and the little donkeys you may be ac- customed to call them, have never yet been shod. And they are none the worse for it.
 The little fellow there, the little gray one is my dog. He doesn't work, but just simply follows me wherever I go, and there is not enough money in Bir- mingham to buy him from me. He saved my life once, and I shall never part with him until he is dead"
 How 8urro Saved Ills Life.
 Thatcher then told about how in his travels through the Rocky mountains, in Mexico, he was overtaken by a snow storm, and how at dark he rolled up in his blanket and laid down in the snow He said that when he awoke he wa near ly frozen, and to add to his misery found himself lost because of the fact that the snow had covered all of the trails. He said he re.-iembered the words of the Spaniards, that the burro could find his way to camp when a man could not, and so, dividing his blanket with the little burro, started him out He said the burro hot taken in he himself was so weak from the cold that he could not raise a cup of coffee to his lips.
 So, you see, l wouldn't take anything in the world for him. because had 1t not been for him I would not have been here today said the speaker.
 Thatcher then stated his mission. He said that he had come from Chicago in his schooner preaching good roads. His idea is to bring about a movement to have the government build a national boulevard from Detroit to New Orleans, by way of Birmingham, which, he says, can be done for $12,00O,000. He, skilled civil engineer, is making the survey as he goes, calling for a highway 60 feet wide, or 100 feet from fence to fence. He set forth his ideas in the following words:
 Nature Has Made Route.
 ''In following the Jackson Trace from Nashville I have been able to find na- tural route for the Lakes-to-Gulf boule- yard. Nowhere from New York to San Francisco have I found a more perfect course. It seems that nature has made a special provision for this greatest worlds boulevard
 Jackson followed an old Indian trail. And the Indians are natures civil en- gineers The most desirable routes of our transcontinental railroads follow the old trails of the red man.
 Success is greeting the work on every hand where the government boulevard proposition is brought to the attention of the people in an eloquent and intelligent manner. Some 15OOO have been organized into National Boulevard clubs in Jeffer- son, Blount, Calhoun, Marshall, Morgan and Madison counties. Public sentiment is crystalizing in favor of national high ways at a rapid rate.
 And feel sure that the time is not far