The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-08
Feature of StateAssocia- ton Yesterday. TOLD OF DEVELOPMENT
 OF CARRIER SERVICE, Association Endorsed Good Roads
 Amendment. Large Attendnnce Marks the sixth An- nuai Convention of the Alabama Rural Letter Carriers Associa- tion---Another session
 wnI Be Held Today.

Working with the question of great est interest to the State and country as their main theme. the sixth annual convention of the Alabama Rural Let ter Carriers Association convened Mon day morning in the Federal building to listen to prominent speakers addresses on the subject of good roads, arrange business for next year. attend to the business of the appointing a committees on credentials, and hear papers read by various members.
 The chief matter of interest was the address of United States Senator John H. Bankhead who spoke at some length about good roads. The Sena- tor began by telling of the beginning of the work in 1892 when as the barest experiment sf5,O00 was appropriated for installation of a few carriers. One of the first carriers was appointed from Fayette, Alabama, and from the first it was seen that only success could be the result of the undertaking. in spite of several amusing incidents that arose. The first of these was that the carrier was not in uniform and it was hard to convince some of the rural dwellers he was government offi- cial. People were 10th to see a letter they had taken infinite pains in com piling, handed out to total stranger, but in a week or so when answers came they took confidence and from then on 1t was plain sailing. Except that every now and then as confidence grew the patrons of the route would get the idea that the carrier was an express man as well. and one instance occurred where . darky put postage stamp on either horn of bad bull and handed the tether rope to the car- rier. It was the Federal governments representative, was all the darky could see, and that was sufficient to him.
 Development of Service.
 Senator Bankhead told the story of the development of the service, how year after year 1t grew. how publica- tions on agricultural subjects were subscribed to by the farmers and how the effect of these periodicals was seen in the improvement of farms, dairys and roads. How at first. slowly, but afterward in ever increasing volume. the papers of the State began to reach the great populace. lending their touch of up-to -dateness and education to all parts Of the State. The government appropriations grew, the routes were Heightened. branch routes established, often at the expense Of the community desiring mail, but opening up new territory, gathering populaee that attracted a railway. making business, prosperity, competel.ce.
 ''It has now reached a point" the
  five the States should take hand in the matter, the Lord helps those who hein themseIves,' and if you will par don the ssmiIe, the United states gov ernment will help States that show an Interest in the work. Leaving every thing else aside, 1t is question oh nolicy. 1t means future wealth, popu- lation.
 "Tha law as proposed will not raise 4ssces. the Constitution prevents tnaL but when property values Woes uP ~
 "Aiabarna is the richest 52,e00 square r,,ia. ,n these United States,A for nat uraI Advantages no other State IS our enuaI with huge deposits \or coal. trnr gold marble, cement, vaSt tracts of lumber. a splendid agricultural de- veionment. and water power enQush lo drive the mills of the State.
 ~ have advocated the econoEy V, 4ransnortatton all through my pd%lt1caA IiSe thrown my heart anu soul VNneo fha nroxnotion of improvementsVor riyarn and harbors. advocated the ny ing of new railroads, for the wea 2, edvancement and happiness Of W neople of a country depend entirely l communication and means of rapid a
 cheap transportation.
 Great Water Power.
 'toften at night when was fighting' for benefits for the rivers of the coun- kry have sat and wondered why bentficent Providence put shoals and falls in the rivers, but I know nowb the coal supply of the world. the ex- perts say, is very limited; half cen tury, and it will be gone. or so hard