The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-09-29
Board Of Revenue Believes
This VIII Be Solution Of
Road Problem In County
WOULD PUT MONEY IN
HANDS OF COMMISSION
Members Believe Election Should Not
Be Called at Once, But That
People Should Be Allowed
to Express Opinion.

After having already expended virtually
a quarter of a million dollars this year
in the construction of new roads and the
improvement of the old highways, the
Board of Revenue has now mapped out,
in very indefinite way, it is true, a plan
which, If carried out will give Jeffer-
son county a network of highways I'M
paralleled in Alabama and a system of
good roads which is probably unex-
celled by anything of the kind in the
entire south.
The plan now held in view by the
commissioners is to issue s1,OO0000 worth
of good roads bonds.
The members of the board state that
with the means at hand they have done
all within their power to give the people
OF Jefferson county the best highways
available. With more than 100000 al
ready expended on the roads and bridges
of the county, the work for the latter
three months of the year will cost ap-
proximately $4,000, and with a quarter of
a million dollars spent the challenge re-
mains to be flung out that the money
has been spent unwisely
At present Jefferson county has about
1900 miles of public highways. OF this
total, approximately 400 miles of the
roads are macadamized. And still from
all sections of the county come cries for
more roads and the commissioners agree
that about 600 miles more of roads of the
various grades are needed to place the
oounty's network of highways in keep
ing with the real demand and make con-
ditions of transportation consistent with
the progress of the county in other re-
spects.
Majority Favor Plan.
Members of the Board of Revenue
or at least a majority of them, are
ready and willing to take up the ques-
ton Of issuing S1,000,000 worth of good
roads bonds and push the matter to a
timely conclusion, provided the people
of Jefferson county really want the addi-
tional roads built and are ready them
selves to take up the matter in bust
ness-like fashion. The matter has been
given the timely consideration of the
commissioners and while they do not be-
lieve that it would be expedient to hold
the election at an early date, arguing
that the people should understand and be
permitted to discuss the matter. they be-
lieve that If Jefferson county as a whole
is to have good roads the big bond issue
is the most practicable and most econom-
ical solution.
A few days ago George Vandiver of
Palos wrote a letter to the editor OF
The Age-Herald in which he suggested
that The Age-Herald present to the Board
of Revenue the matter of issuing 1000
worth of good roads bonds. When the
reporter questioned Cleon B. Rogers. one
of the commissioners, yesterday after
noon, Mr.. Rogers remarked that a subject
which was very near his heart had been
touched. President Job Going of the board
was seen later Both of the men are active
ly Interested in the matter of giving the
county complete network of good roads
and while they frowned down the matter
of issuing 100000 worth Of bonds, deem
ing that amount insufficient, 1t was
learned that the board ~ whole favors