The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-19
MANY |NDORSE THE
 SECTION PLAN FOR KEEPING UP ROADS Is Acknowledged As Practical
 and Easily Put Into Opera
 ton In Jefferson 1 MEMBERS OF BOARD HAVE NO COMMENT Drennen Thinks Ramsay Plan So Prac-
 ticaI That the Man Suggesting It Deserves To Be Con- gressman.

The plan suggested yesterday by Frs kline Ramsay for the maintenance of the county highways is receiving widespread commendation Influence is being brought to bear on the members of the Board of Revenue to at least put part of it into operation.
 One member of the board admits that l he thought a plan of that kind was for the best interest of the county, and stat l ed that he, at the suggestion of MT. Minor of Ensley. some time since, tried to get it adopted but failed.
 He points out that it would not be neces- sary to jump right into it, but to take 1t gradually. He would pick out the six to eight mile strips of the best road in the county, supply section man with the ! necessary material, and as each section is placed in first-class condition, increase the number of section hands until finally all of the 325 miles would be under care- ful supervision. His idea is to give every section man a mule and a dump for use | on his roads. Members Remain Silent. An effort was made yesterday to inter- l view the president and members of the
 board on the road question. Only one member was at the court house, he being
 the only member who gives practically all
 his time to the county. It was learned l that the others were out, had not been 1 to the office since last Monday except a few hours Wednesday, and would not meet again until tomorrow.
 | An important ice,,a i,, tba oax+ for members of the Board of Revenue
 promises to be that of earning the Sl25
 salary which is monthly drawn A can
 didate will hardly be elected unless one
 of his platform blanks is giving all his
 business time to the county. It is understood that a resolution has
 been passed by the board, forbidding any
 member to give out a statement for the
 public on the road question which Is now
 under discussion At any rate. the iron
 bound rule is being enforced.
 Citizens Indorse Plan.
 One of the first to indorse MT. Ramsay $
 plan yesterday was Sol Caheen. q think
 1t is excellent" he exclaimed Back thai
 up with a practical engineer and there
 is no reason why our roads should not l be model ones.
 l There is no need of experimenting
 we've been experimenting and wasting
 money entirely too long. If the county
 wants to build good roads, let them imi-
 tate the laws and manner of constructing
 the Massachusetts bikes. No better ex- 1 ample of tried and able engineering could
 be found anywhere. Why not get busy 1 and do something? I am glad to see that l The Age-Herald has dropped the political
 talk and started something which will be of advantage to the county" l Judge J. H. Miller is another wbo
 compliments MT. Ramsay on his idea, "Admirable!' he said. MT. Ramsay is a practical man. and his idea is fine
 l confidently believe that the Board of
 Revenue is bound to come to it. They
 will have it to do, or the people will
 not stand for it.'
 Pascal G. Shook, a practical man co-
 incided exactly with MT. Ramsay. "He
 has found the solution to knotty
 problem. I see no objection to it at all. I indorse everything he said" l number of the candidates for tn e
 board have adopted the plan, and in-
 tend to promise the people to carry if 1 out If elected.
 Alex T. London, in a letter to The Age-Herald, says that Mr. Ramsay's 8
 idea is a fine one, and thinks 1t the l proper remedy for the situation. MT.
 London promises to give the public a closer understanding of the way the money Is being spent under the present system.
 Drennen Thinks It Practical.
 ss w. Melville Drennen, who has long been connected with road enthuiasm l had this to say:
 "The suggestion made by Eskine Ramsay in regard to the maintenance l of the county roads Is the best yet. Mir. Ramsay says the roads should be | divided into six-mile sections with a man in charge of each section and tha at
 man responsible for the condition of 1 every foot of 1t. In other words he would have the county road work or
 ganized just as the roalroads organ 1 ize heir maintenance of way depart ment. And that Is exactly my idea. l This question of good roads is all ab- l sorbing and Ramsay's discussion of 1t l entities him to be reckoned with as l congressional timber.
 | "The road improvement issue is be- fore Congress and the federal govern l ment Is giving much attention to it. In my judgment 1t is more important than 1 railroad legislation; hence I say Ram 1 say, or any other man who takes lead l in road betterment Is worthy of seat l in Congress"