The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-10

Asheville. n. c.. Oct. s,-one Of the In
terestlng addresses before the Southern
Appalachian Good Roads Convention here
this week was delivered by G. Grosvenor
Dave, Of Washington. D. C. managing
director Of the Southern Commercial Con-
gress.
To Mr.. Dave vas assigned the task OF
summing up the results Of the convention,
which he did with rare judgment and
skill. A portion OF his speech was de-
voted TO q resume OF what the several
States OF the South have done this year
IN the matter OF road building.
Mr.. Dave said that between the months
OF March and September. this year.
eleven Of the fifteen Southern States have
shown more or less activity. In the ag-
gregate these States have either voted.
or elections are pending with good pros
poets Of an affirmative vote, issues OF
bonds for constructing public highways
amounting 20 Sl7,956.000.
That portion OF Mr. Dawes address IN
which the work Of the States was par
ucularized follows:
Alabama Stands Eighth.
Alabama stands eighth IN the amount
OF bonds voted for between March and
September. 1909. having approved $3.50, 900.
This amount affects only six counties
Montgomery. $4,000; Bullock. 100000;
Calhoun, $4,000; Pike. $4,000; Blount
$4,000. and Walker, $4,000
Perhaps the most significant OF these
is the vote Of Montgomery County. whose
faith is pinned to good roads, and was so
before the automobile had full sway.
Over 100000 has been spent in this coun-
~ on good roads. and now more than 80
per cent are improved. rendering II pos
sible for the trade area OF Montgomery
to increase in the agricultural districts.
1t Is not fair 20 give the impression
that only six counties are alive In Ala
bama. Eighteen counties have shown ac-
tivity and many more viii swing in
shortly. for the State work for good
roads under the leadership Of John Craft
Of Mobile, win receive strong impetus
al a meeting to be held In Birmingham
next week Alabama's only port Mobile
has hitherto been unapproachable by
roads from the State capital. Montgom-
cry. The Commercial Club OF Mobile OF
which John craft is president, is working
for $50 miles OF good roads in Mobile
County itself thirty-hve-mile road 70
Chronicle is already decided on. and a
road southwestward 10 Scranton. Miss,
seems assured. The import OF this Is
clearly shown A few years ago much OF
Mobile County was pine forest. This Is
largely gone. and Mobile realizes the ne
cessity OF getting in touch with the vari-
Gus communities that have sprung up.
Jefferson County. whose chief city IS
Birmingham. has been active during the
past seven months. having undertaken
twenty-seven miles OF county roads. one
OF them presenting great expense and
engineering difficulty - the road across
Red Mountain.
Arkansas Votes No bonds.
Arkansas does not appear to have
voted on any bonds and only six counties
report special activity Lincoln. Clarke,
Carroll. and Baxter viii construct 1l9
miles Of new road. There is, however, a
general stir OF interest in the state, for
Arkansas realizes It's backwardness. Out
OF 96,445 miles OF road reported in 1904
only isl miles were graveled and 50 sur
faced with stone.
THE foci of road activity in that State
are Little Rock and Fort Smith. the bust
ness leaders at both places realizing that
the agricultural and commercial future OF
the State, the rich possibilities OF the
Ozarks along mineral and fruit-growing
lines. cannot be fully developed until
roads are there.
Arkansas is rich in road-maldng ma
terial
THE showing or Florida IS fine In 1900
tee State had something over $4,000 popu-