The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-01
WHAT ALABAMA IS | DOING IN BUILDING BETTER HIGHWAYS State Has 42,000 Miles Of Roads With 2789 Miles
 Improved MANY OF THE COUNTIES ARE DOING HARD WORK Sumter Is the Banner County of the State, With TAO Miles of Roads,
 500 of Which Are lm- -
 proved.
BY WALTER HARPER.

About two weeks ago The Age-Herald mailed a circular letter to every probate judge In the state of Alabama asking for Information on the building of good roads. list of questions was inclosed with the letter suggesting the line of in formation desired, such as the mileage of improved and unimproved highways, cost of building and amount of moneys appro- priated for their building
 The prompt responses from almost all the officials indicates the very live in- terest that is being taken in the ques- ton in almost every county in the state. There are indeed but few counties In the state that are not either actually build ing improved highways or are eontem- plating such Improvements.
 Estimates based on the information at hand give a total mileage of public roads in Alabama of 42,oOO. Improved mileage reported is 27s9. This will cover prob ably the mileage of improved roads in the state. There is considerable differ ence of opinion as to what constitutes really improved road. There are many degrees and the actual condition is hard to find.
 Less Than 800 Miles.
 There Is probably less than 800 miles of substantially built highways in the state that would be pronounced as im- proved by good roads expert
 But 1t must be remembered that most of the Improvements reported have been made In the last four years. The work of building roads in Alabama has Just
  mended for the work that has been &C., complished in this direction.
 Several of the stronger counties have voted bonds for various amounts for the purpose of improving the roads in a sub stantial way and this work is now be- ing pushed in Morgan, Limestone, Bullock and several of the other counties. These roads when completed will be In a meas ure permanent and will form a fine nucleus for the general movement that promises to extend to every part of Ala bama. Every permanent road that is built in the state anywhere Is an impera- tive demand for it's continuation to the county line and then across the next county and then across the state
 Have Bond Issues.
 Other counties are agitating the ques- tion of issuing bonds and educating the people up to a proper sentiment. The people of Calhoun county are asking for an issue of s3OoOOO or s4oOoOO and an cleo ton on the proposition will probably be called at an early date. The people of Tallapoosa county are interested and are asking for an opportunity to vote on the question. And so 1t is on down the line with but very few exceptions.
 Jefferson county shows a total public road mileage of 1850 with $50 miles im- proved. Jefferson has a bond issue of $200,000 for the improvement of roads, The cost of building is given at $3000 per mile.
 Montgomery has a total mileage of 65O with 36.15 miles improved. This Is more than 50 per cent. Montgomery county has issued S675,000 bonds for road building The cost of building is given at from $1OJ0 to s6000 per mile. Montgomery has just sold a new issue of $l5o,o00 in bonds for road purposes. The board of revenue of this county employs an engineer and con tracts most of the work. Montgomery will try the working of its conVicts on the roads next year.
 In Pike County.
 Pike county has total of 300 miles of public roads with 200 miles improved. Bonds to the amount of $150,000 have been sold for the construction of these roads. Sand and clay are used and the cost is given as $625 per mile The county con- victs are used on the roads as well as free labor. Pike county boasts of some of the prettiest and best roads in the state and is pushing the improvement to every part of the county as rapidly as possible. The commissioners are now contemplating the sale of an additional s50,0O0 in bonds for road purposes.
 Baldwin has 4S7 miles of public road. of which 9s miles have been improved. Money for road purposes Is raised by a special levy of 1 mill on taxable prop erty and by a per capita road tax of s4. The county Is level and has good clay subsoil Good roads are secured by grading and draining thoroughly The cost of building is s150 to $175 per mile.
 In Cherokee County.
 Cherokee county comes forward with 125 miles of improved road out of total mileage of 800. The commissioners appro- priate $S000 annually to the building of roads and for repairs. The cost of build isg is estimated at S750 per mle Gravel and chert are used.
 Conecuh reports 60 miles of improved roads out of a total of 500 miles The 
 ment. Clay and sand are used in the construction. The cost per mile Is 1850.
 Colbert county Is building 100 miles of improved roads with bond issue of $2O0,- GOO.
 Dekalb county has 25 miles of improved roads out of a total of 500 miles. The av- craze cost of construction is $47b per mile. Chert and gravel are used. The people turned down a proposition for a bond issue, but the friends of good roads are hopeful that more favorable senti- ment will be developed
 Builds Without Bonds.
 Etowah county has built 100 miles of im- proved roads without bond issue. Con- victs are used in the building. The coun- ty commissioners want more convicts for this purpose. The cost of building convicts is about S700 per mile. Chert, gravel and slag are used.
 Hale county reports no modern" roads, but the people are agitatihg the question of a bond issue for this purpose. The prospect is favorable. The first long step to the building of good roads is the real ization by county that 1t has no