The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-18
BETTER METHODS
IN ROAD BUILDING
Government Will Aid Work Be-
ing Done in Mississippi
EXPERTS SEE GOVERNOR
Tax Assessments For the Present
Year Show Healthy Increase In
All Property Throughout the
Whole State.
EXPERTS SEE GOVERNOR

Jackson, Miss, November 17.-(Special)
Vernon NJ. Pierce chief engineer of the
department of public roads at Washing
ton, and j. H. Dodge, also connected
with that bureau, spent the day in Jack
son, and were closteted with Governor
Noel an hour or two Mr.. Dodge has
been on duty in Mississippi some time
and was Joined here by his chief for
the purpose of discussing good roads and
kindred subjects with the governor.
The United States government has
promised to cooperate with the state
of Mississippi In every way possible to
secure better public highways and the
good roads bureau of the department of
agriculture is taking a great deal of in
terest in the matter. Unfortunately for
Mississippi she is hardly prepared to do
the part expected of her. The govern
ment has no funds for work of construc-
ton and finds Mississippi in the same pre-
dicament. Mr.. Pierce assured the gov
ernor that he was ready to cooperate
to the extent of furnishing the super
intendents for such work where under
taken. He will furnish the surveys, the
maps and the drawings and the expert
enced men to assist the state in road
building. but cannot put up the funds
for building the roads, The counties,
towns or state must see to that part of
and no doubt they will have something
to do along that line in the not far
distant future.
It has been demonstrated by the lit
tie town of Brandon that good roads
can be constructed Of clay and sand
when used in the proper proportions and
representatives of other counties who
have made the trip to Brandon to ex-
anime this mile of good road-built over
mile of the worst road in the United
States-are delighted and enthusiastic
They have spread the news and the senti-
ment of the people Of the state Is in
favor of building good roads. regardless
of what they may cost.
Some very interesting figures have just
been compiled and tabulated by the aud
itor of state, showing among other
things the assessed valuation of property
this year and last, the increase or de-
crease by counties, the realty assess
ments, the personally, railroad assess
ments, personal assessments. etc., and
which are worthy of note by others than
Mississippians.
According to this table the realty as
sessments this year is s23l, sSs,5s8, which
is ss.2e4 720 more than last year.
The personal assessment this year 10
s1oS. s2s, 544, which is s2,6lo,S25 less than
last year.
The railroad assessments this year are
s5l, 479O41, which is $2,Sl9,o37 more than
last year.
The net Increase in all assessments for
the current year is 50, 7S,434
The table made up by Auditor smith
shows that in 81 of the counties OF the
state the assessed valuations decreased by
81, sos, 734, and that in the balance Oh the
counties CD the increase amounted to
| SIT. 2S2,16S.
Tbe greatest increase Is noted in Kinds
county. In which is situated the city OF
jackson, the valuations last year being
ZIG. 23S. 578, while this year they are l7,-
ass, 325. an increase of 81, 222 $40.
The greatest decrease in valuation ~
noted In Harrison county, on the gulf
coast, where last year the valuations were
given as $16,119,447, and for this year they
are S14.64S, 052.
II is very noticeable that of those coun-
ties showing a decrease in valuations two
are in the northern portion of the state.
threesin the middle and 16 In the southern
portion This is due, no doubt. to the de-
preston In the timber and lumber mar
~ Ian prTp mi @
and therefore stagnation of business
Those counties outside of the timber and
sawmill region do not seem to have been
affected one way or the other and GER
tainly not to the bad.
Two conyicts both white men, named
Riley and Onermiller, made a break for
the tall timbers and liberty on the Rankin
farm today, but their freedom was short
lived, as the guards were on the alert
Onermiller was shot down before he could
get out of range, and was carried to the
hospital DR.. P. Farley, the surgeon In
charge. happened to be on the farm at
the time on other business and gave the
fellow immediate attention. After pick
ing several bullets out Of the convict's
back he pronounced the wounds not nee
essarily fatal, and does not doubt his
patient will be able to return to work in
a few days.
But the other convict, Riley, managed to
dodge the several loads of buckshot and
made it to the swamp, where the cane.
briars and underbrush are thick and al
most impenetrable.
Jim Walton. master of the hounds"
was soon on the scene. The dogs took up
the trail and after running a mile or
| two 'treed' the game, and when the