The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-21

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 my Judgment it is very necessary that
 this amendment should be adopted. In the first place, I think it will only be very short time before the na- tional government will make appropria- tions from the treasury to aid in the building of post roads throughout the country, and 1t Is not probable that tn e national government will build these roads without the mutual assistance Of the state and county governments. In other words. it is probable that the federal government will pass law agreeing to pay one-third of the cost of building good post roads in the
 United States. where the states and counties are willing to expend the oth CT two thirds. When that time comes if Alabama is not in q position to take advantage of the law, the appropria tions will go to tie other states and
 we will have no benefit from them. Constit ltional Prohibition.
 The present constitution of Alabama contains a clause providing that the legislature shall not expend the public moneys in aid of internal improve
 ments. This clause was placed in tho constitution after the days of recon struction when negro rule had nearly ruined the state of Alabama the last constitution has placed the control oi the state government permanently il | the hands of the white people and the dangers that were to be feared from | negro domination and control of our
 legislative bodies no longer exist. What Other States Are Doing. There are few states in the Union 1 that do not now auth orize their legis- l latures to engage in internal improve ments for the development of the na- 1 tural resources of the state. The state I of New York is spending over $50,000.- l 900 on good roads and has spent hun. dreds of millions of dollars on the de- l velopment of the Erie canal. The states of Wyoming and Montana. unde, the Cary act, have spent large sums 1 of money in aid of the irrigation oi l their arid lands, and making them | habitable, and developing the natura l resources of the states. It is folly tc l say that the people of Alabama are not as fully competent to manage tn eii | business and develop the resources of | the state as the people of New York l Montana or Wyoming. The proposi- l tion to amend the constitution and au- thorize the legislature to make appro-
 priations for the purpose of construct l ing good roads does not direct that the legislature must do so; does not say l that the legislature must take away appropriations from other meritorious 1 purposes but 1t merely provides. when l the condition of the treasury will war rant the expenditure of the money that i the state may aid the counties in de-
 veloping their road systems; and, it will also enable the state to take advantage | of any federal law which may be | passed in the near future for the de- velopment of the highways of Amer l ica.
 Constitutionality of Government Aid For many years the objecting critics
 who always stand In the way of prog
 ress and development. have contended | that Congress had no power to aid in l the building of post roads in th1s
 country, Gin passing, let me now say that almost every public road today under our system of rural free deliv- cry routes, has become a post road.) I am as jealous of the rights of the states as any men, and do not believe that the federal government sh ould interfere with them. But the federal government has been granted direct
 powers by the states and 1t is it's duty to exercise these powers to the fullest extent. The constitution of the
 United States grants to the federal government the power to establish postoffices and postroads. Under tn at power we have built postoffices for many years, and there can be no ques-
 tion in my mind that the same power authorizes us to construct postroads throughout the country.
 Too Many Miles To Build.
 Those who obstruct the course ot 1 progress and advancement along this i line also urge that there are two mil lion miles of public roads in America and tn at 1t would be impossible to build and develop this system of roads. In the first place, they overlook the fact that in this estimate of the amount of roads in the United States, every cross road and country lane is included; that it is not necessary for the state, coun- ty or national government to build or develop the neighborhood roads or tn Q cross roads; that a few main lines of thoroughfares In each county extend ing to each section of it, would afford all the facilities needed for cheap transportation, and the neighb orh o cd communities could easily put the neigh borh ood roads and cross roads In a suitable condition to enable their wagons to reach the main thorough . fares. I estimate that instead of tw } million miles of road to be developed in this country, one-fifth of that num- Der, or 100000 miles of good roads would give excellent facilities for travel in every county in the United States, and that the cost of these roads would be returned to the people In d few years in the shape of a saving in the cost of transporting their crops to market.
 What Good Roads Will Do.
 Good roads will move the country into the town and carry the city con- veniences to the farm; they will bring masses, and act as feeders to supply not only carry the farmers crops to to sch ool and their wives to church the doctor to the sick bed. They ad- vance the cause of education, relig ion and humanity no other human instrumentality can aid them.
 Every Mans Duty.
 tation will more than pay for the build- ing of good roads in the first decade. The time has come to blaze the way; the roadways of Alabama are today a disgrace to our civilization and an enormous drain upon our industrial life; they are a clog in the wheel of every social and economic problem we have to face. The hour has come when 1t is the duty of every true son of Ala bama to advocate the building of good roads, 1t Is his duty to do so for his own betterment; it Is his duty to do