The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-12
AMERICAN TRUST
 TO BUY BUILDING
NEGOTIATIONS UNDER WAY FOR PURCHASE OF PRESENT QUAR- TERS-PRIcE IS SAID TO BE $19o,ooo.

It is said that the American Trust and Savings bank is negotiating for the purchase of the building which it now occupies. It is owned by inter- ests allied with the City National bank of which Ben T. Head is president.
 The property was acquired about year ago by MT. Head and associates for s145,OOO. It is understood that it is now held at something like $780, 900. Both MT. Head and officials of the American Trust and Savings de- clined last night to discuss the pending negotiations but 1t is understood that the trade will be closed today.
 vehicles had been used under the most favorable circumstances for a period of about 100 days
 Some Objections.
 ''The interruptions to the continued use of these vehicles were due mainly to muddy roads and roads which become slippery after showers, thus preventing the tires from tracking or taking the roads, punctured tires, breaking of ma chinery, and to the inability of rural car riers to effect slight repairs, due to a lack of technical knowledge.
 While it was shown that by the use of automobiles or motorcycles rural car riers can reduce the time of serving their routes from one-third to one-half of that required when using horse-drawn Ve- hicles, it was also conclusively shown that the roads have not been brought to that state of perfection necessary to the successful use of autos and motor cycles in serving rural routes, and that autos strong and well enough construct ed to withstand the hard service re- quired of them on the average rural routes are not to be had by rural car riers at a price within their reach.
 "These facts, and the further fact that carriers have not sufficient technical knowledge of the mechanism of motor vehicles to keep them in good order and to repair their defects and Arrangements, have led to the conviction that while an ideal service can be given by the use of motor vehicles when all conditions are propitious, there are too many con tingencies which are likely to arise. neces- sitating their abandonment from time to time and at frequent intervals, thus de- ranging the carriers schedules and caus- ing complaints from patrons of delay in the delivery and collection of mail, and that patrons having postal business to transact personally with the carriers are unable to know when to expect them.
 Good Roads Necessary.
 ''While in some localities where roads of the highest class are maintained, it is possible for carriers to use motor ve- hicles practically throughout the year, the tine has not yet come when, gen. orally speaking, an efficient service can be rendered through the use of the mo- tor vehicles as is now being given through the use of horse-drawn vehicles.
 '.The demand for good roads which has been engendered and stimulated by the introduction of rural delivery is spread ing to all parts of the United States, resulting in increased appropriations for highway improvements and the building of more and better roads each year than ever before, and 1t may be not alto gether an Utopian dream to hope that some day the conditions will be such as to permit the constant use of motor ve- ciles in the delivery or mali on rural routes and the bringing of the service to the very highest possible point of eff ciency."