The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-04

Alexander City, June 3.-(Special.)- )-The County Rural Carriers association of Tallapoosa county held a meeting of un- usual interest on Monday at Dadeville. After a short business session in the forenoon the visiting carriers were enter tained at luncheon by the three resident carriers from Dadeville.
 At p. m. President R. IT. Carlisle. who has served on Route from Alexander City for three years called the public session to order and introduced Mayor Rylance, who voiced the sentiments of the hospltable town in welcoming the guests. In a short address MT. Rylance alluded to the inadequacy of the present legislation to keep the county roads in good repair and expressed a ready willing ness to do all in his power to help along a good roads movement He also warm ly advocated a good roads organization in the county and spoke of the possi- bility of having Congressman Heflin send a good roads representative to superin- tend the building of one-half mile of i'm proved road if the county would furnish the material and labor.
 President Carlisle in a telling address said that the rural carrier should stand for something besides a mere collector and deliverer of mail. He should be alive to the dignity of his office, and be an advocate of good roads and general agri- cultural improvement. Rural carriers are selected by competitive examination and are intended to be sound business men of good character, fixed habits and sensi- ble of the great responsibility given to them as travelling postoffices.
 He next introduced J. P Oliver, the county superintendent of education In a spirited 10-minute speech MT. Oliver spoke with great emphasis concerning tho value of the carrier in disseminating in- formation, in being a factor in road improvement, and school advancement and noted marked changes for the better that had occurred in Tallapoosa coun- ty since the present complete rural de- livery system was installed.
 Judge sorreI Speaks. Judge sorrel1 of the probate court fcje lowed with a plea for better roads. As one acquainted with every beat In the county of 760 square miles the judge de- plored the present roads and road working system, which he reviewed at length He said the county had over HOO miles of roads and about 125 bridges to keep in repair. some or the DTluSeS, llke the ones over the Tallapoosa river were very long, the longest being 1885 feet. Emphasis was laid on the fact that road machines should be used and greater results se- cured. In some beats there are but two and a half men to the mile, in others six men, and with a limited number of men working with pick and shovel but little could be accomplished. He repeated earnestly that he was ready to use the power of his office to the fullest extent to aid in enforcing the present legisla- ton or in making new legislation.
 The last speaker was Howard C. Smith of the United States bureau of soils, of Washington. D. c. MT. Smith, who had charge of the soil survey of Jefferson county last summer. is at present en- gagged in making a soil survey of Talla- poosa county.
 Howard c. Smith.
 The surveyor began by expressing pleas ure at the hospitality of Dadevile, which was the first town to welcome him after leaving Birmingham The subject of his address was How Some Rural Carriers Double Their Salary"
 In brief predatory discussion of roads he said in part:
 "The roads are derived from soil which in turn is derived from rock Certain roads are better than others because the soil is different. The roads of Tallapoosa. while not highly improved, are naturally better than in some parts of the south, where the soil is so plastery and clayey that roads often become so impossible to wagons that carriers are forced to travel horseback. I have found in the county an abundance of good road build ing material. Sand is everywhere, there is a small mountain of diorite east of Dadeville the hills are covered with gray quartz rocks while the bulk of the coun- l, 1-.Rn1rE are almost as hard as the diamond, are resistant to wear and weathering and only need crushing and placing in order to make cheap. serviceable macadamized road"
 The speaker next compared the condi- tions surrounding the carriers in the northern, western and southern states and by comparison showed that mail could be carried cheaper in the south than north because the carrier here did not need to buy heavy robes. fur over coats, extra heavy clothing and sleigh. Stock can be pastured twice as long here as in Maine and if a carrier plans he can save more here than in most other states Moreover, the carrier owed 1t to himself to protect his health from sun and rain, winds and water; the govern ment not requiring anyone to seriously imperil life or limb in its service. The Texas "broncho" was most universally
 
 bined the qualities of an easy keeper with great endurance
 Character of Horse.
 In discussing the character of horse needed. feed and care, also the factors that determine the length of the route, the soil expert said:
 "A good route 30 miles long is shorter than a poor one 24 miles in length. it is case of travelling 1t at the rate of five or four miles per hour in order to cover the distance in six hours.
 "A stony road 24 miles long is long route, likewise a hilly, clayey or boggy country lengthens the road. "A carrier may shorten his route by careful driving. aiming to save the horse, wagon and harness from wear and tear. A careful driver is he who realizes that a wagon may last one-thrd longer and a horse and harness twice as long if they are cared for on the road and at home Breakage caused by needless driv- ing over rocks, stumps and ditches is ex- while natural wear and tear can be lessened by careful foresight and the