The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-15
MILLIONS PAID
 FUR GOOD ROADS Movement In the South Greater
 Than Ever Before LAND VALUES INCREASE Improved Roads Add To Wealth of State and People and Farmers
 Are Ones Who Reap Most
 Direct Benefit.

Savannah, November 14.-(Special.)- Figures just gathered from IA states show an unprecedented movement throughout the south and west for improved high ways. Contracts proposed or already en- tered on call for the expenditure of be- tween s25.Ooo.ooO and sso.0OO.OOO.
 But for the intense prejudice against au- tomobles 1t Is estimated fully $8o,000,0 GOO would now be available for better roads. oina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louis iana and Oklahoma state convicts are be- ing largely used.
 In parts of Missouri the money from saloon licenses is appropriated for the purpose.
 In Kentucky the county courts set apart a certain sum to be matched with equal amounts by citizens
 In Alabama the new roads are paid for, half by the county and half by the community
 In some parishes of Louisiana the police jury fees pay for new roads.
 Gradual Improvement.
 There Is a notable lack of county en- gineers and much incompetent supervision. in all parts of the south. But in the az gregate a tremendous amount of work is being done. Grades have been reduced roads have been clayed. iron or steel bridges have replaced wooden ones and sewer drainage has been installed in the low places.
 In Kentucky s25.o00 year in each county is being raised by taxation for gradual improvement. The owners of tim har 1o joip if, putting good roads through the hill regions.
 Drouth in parts of Texas, three crop failures in succession in districts in Mis- souri and the boil weevil in Mississippi have delayed bond issues or other pro- visions.
 The latest years figures for actual expenditures in the south for improved roads are as follows: Alabama, s1,576,00o; Arkansas. s1, 100000; Florida, $57S, ,000; Geor- gia, s2 100, GOO: Louisiana, s952, 900; Missouri, $S73, ,000; Mississippi, s1,615,o0o; North Car olina, s1,359, ,O00; Oklahoma, 5000; South Carolina. s74s.O0O; Tennessee, $1iGP 00o3 Texas, s4,13S.000: Virginia, $6SS,000; West Virginia, sS93,000
 More than e7O0 miles of the roads were improved with gravel About TOGO were bettered with stone.
 Billions TOT f1i9nWays.
 Thirty-odd counties in the adjoining states of Virginia, North Carolina, Geor- gia and South Carolina are cooperating in the building of continuous highway 750 miles in length.
 It is to be known as the Capital High way" and will connect Richmond, Ral- eigh, Columbia and Atlanta. From Rich mond 1t leads to Washington.
 Since the new roads were built in Meek lenburg county, North Carolina. the value of farm lands there has risen from s15 an acre to $100 an acre.
 More than 400 convicts are now ern- pIoyed In improving southern high ways.
 More than S. .7200oO has been expended in the United States on so-called good roads Over s1o0 miles have been im- proved with special materials.
 There are now 43,450 miles of macadam roads and 124. 46s miles of gravel roads.
 About s7o,0oo.ooo a year is now being spent in the whole country in the work of improving old roads and building new ones.