The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-22
Lumber Men Think COnvicts Should Be Put to Work
 on County Highways
Dk. M'COY SUBMITS PLAN
 FOR SPENDING SURPLUS
Thinks Money Paid By Cities Should Be Used on Roads Connecting Various Municipalities of
 Greater Birmingham.


 the county convicts on the roads is conl- ing to a head in a few days. The numer- ous citizens of the city and county who are demanding that the convict labor be immediately placed where it can do the most good are doing their work well, and the direct demand Is being made on the board.
 On the other hand, those who oppose the idea, who think it would result in a loss to the county, and are desirous of basing their actions on facts and figures have been nquiring closely about the old rec ords when convicts were in use. Mem bers of the board are working on these figures now, and before many days will be ready to say whether they will yield to the demand that is constantly being made upon them by business and professional men.
 T. II. Johnson, a well known lumber dealer, who is in touch with the people of the county, said yesterday: "The plan is an excellent one. I believe in it. Cor porations and everyone grants that con- vict labor is better and more effective than any other kind. The idea of turning down such proposition, and all the time paying free labor 1.5O per day, when even skilled labor is not drawing that much these days, is preposterous. I cannot un- derstand the logic of it. I hope the board will see the error of it's way and adopt a system that is working well in other counties.''
 Fee System Basis of Evil.
 F. H. Lathrop, another lumber dealer, said: ''The fee system is at the bottom of every court house evil in our county. Abolish that and there will be very little objection to the convict plan. With the fee system abolished, the county would soon be on it's feet and could do with the convicts as it willed. They are the only logical labor for the improvement of our pad highways"
 Said H. II. Shell: q have noticed the arguments both pro and con on the sys- tenn which you advocate, and as yet I have not heard one that changes my be- lief that it is a capital idea. If the con- tract provides that they can be used im- mediately, I do not see why the board will not yield and use the cheapest and best labor for the best interest of the most people in Jefferson county.
 'I am glad to see you pushing the idea, and hope to see it bear fruit
 How To Spend Fund.
 pr. J. H. Mccoy. president of Birming- ham college, had this to say:
 ''In the treasury of Jefferson county are more than $150,o00 available for public roads and bridges. Largely more than half this sum was paid by Birmingham m and the municipalities round about It. Under the old law not penny of their majority contribution was required to be expended within their limits. The injus- tice of this was recognized by the last legislature in the act which required that one-half the road and bridge taxes paid by the cities and towns should be turned over to the municipality paying the tax for use on the municipal roads and bridges.
 But this just and wholesome act has been construed away, and the practical question now is. how can we use this road fund to secure the most benefit, ap- portioned in the most equitable way among the people who have paid it? Not merely the indirect benefit which a city gets from good roads among the farms, but the greatest direct advantage to the lnulNluudl payer OI lHe tdkeS
 "Manifestly by linking these municipal ities together with great thoroughfares through the intervening space.
 By road is not here meant a 20-foot right-of-way. with streak of gravel in the middle, but a grand highway or boulevard at least 40 feet wide It is scarce four miles to Ensley and Pratt City over the Owenton hills. for instance, and one road would connect with both cities. Along such central road would pour an ever increasing traffic, measuring by it's increase the ever growing great ness of Birmingham.
 'fThe vacant and intervening territory between the municipalities of this valley should be improved to the limit of the county's resources between now and Oc- tober 1, 1909. The people and the prop erty owners who have piled up our im- mense road fund should demand that it be expended where it will do the most good. Now is the time to build a com prehensive system of great central con- meeting thoroughfares between the towns so soon to be welded into one, and the Board of Revenue can do nothing of more substantial benefit to more of the tax payers"