The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-02
THATCHER TALKS
 AT CHALKv|LL= Grows Eloquent in His Plea
 For Better Roads MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY Says Bad Roads Tax in United States Amounts to More Than S3,00O,O0O Day-He Will Speak at
 Huffman Tonight

l Charles W. Thatcher, the good roads ad- vocate. spoke twice yesterday at Chalk vile. thus opening the campaign for the $1 100000 bond issue in Jefferson county Tonight he will speak in Huffman, where the people of the whole neighborhood. in cluding Mt. Pinson, will gather to see the
 apostle. with his peculiar outfit, and to hear him present the subject in his own ingenious style.
 A large assemblage was present last night to hear him at Chalkvlle.
 More than usual enthusiasm was mani fested The good roads apostle was en- tertained at the home of J. D. Carlisle. l MT. Thatchers address was in part as follows:
 "The most oppressive and burdensome tax that the farmer endures today is the bad roads tax. A careful estimate by ex- perts on the subject shows that the bad roads tax amounts to more than s3,OO0,000 day to the farmers of the United States about s1. COOL GOO year.
 This is a sufficient sum of money to construct 100000 miles of permanent dust less highway 50 feet in width. according to the most progressive methods of road con struction. This would mean 20 highways from the Atlantic to the Pacific and 20 from the north to the south. The expen- allure of this s1,0O0,O0O,O00 would create l $10, 900, ,00O, 600 of property wealth, shower | gold into the lap of every man, woman and child, break the shackles of ignor- ance, place the farmer and laborer on the | aire and give to them a far happier home over which would futter the pure white dove of peace.
 "The money circulation of the masses would be increased 2Oa0 per cent. The | farmer and laborer wound travel in their automobiles wearing white stand-up col- lars and your sons and daughters would be attending the best colleges in the land.
 l Awake, ye honest sons of the soil, shake off the stupor of long sleep; a | great inheritance awaits you. And it is not a bubble that will burst as did the bubble of Jones from the balmy, dream like air of Jamaica. But it is the | real genuine goods that will not fade away at the first washing and shrink to | nothingness and become as the filmy air. Your sons and daughters are just as dear to you as those cf the city man. Are not | they just as worthy of enjoying the lux uries of paradise as children brought up | after the hothouse variety of the city? Become more self respecting, de- mand your own and you will become | the rulers of men instead of humble burden bearers. God intended that the men and women who feed the nation and create industrial wealth should live as kings and queens and wear purple and fine linen.
 During the long days of winter many farmers spend their time about the cracking, cheerful fire grumbling at | the city fellow who rides in the au- tomobile. If this farmer Is asked to attend a lecture upon some progress sive subject he commences to draw up his face, squirm like some reptile and In mumbling tones complains of his rheumatism. A few days after ward when almost drawn double, his boy comes in and says, Pap, circus will be In town tomorrow The decrepit | farmer jumps up with a cry of joy leaps over a 10-rail fence and takes across lots for fear he will not be In town in time to see the parade go by. Present company excepted of course.
 | iHCoc IlooopdCh ldIlu6TS live lar up in the sticks of Georgia. We farm CTS, miners and mill men here in Jeff ferson have injected in our veins the germs of progress. We all want the million dollar bond issue for the finest | highway system In the world because 1t will bring us wealth, happiness and make us more worthy subjects for l heaven.
 The farmer and the Iaboring man | 6c ai their right to have them and that the same will benefit every man, woman | and child in the wealthiest county in the state-the peerless Jefferson. The | farmer and the laborer live close to | nature; they are not so much annoyed | by the artificial and the conventional side of life. Their daily surroundings | naturally develop large sympathetic hearts and when humanity is In trou- ble they rush headlong. like the good Samaritan who anointed the wounds | of the unfortunate traveller with oil and whispered soft words of sympathy and brought roses to his checks. My dear people, your beloved peer less Jefferson today is in a more pit fable condition than this suffering tray | eler in Capernium. Your resourceful county for which you entertain such deep affection is in dire trouble. Pass through its valley, climb over it's hills and you will find it grooming, grooming under the heavy burden of bad roa ds. | "A constant flow of tears has worEed | furrows over its clouded features gummed with mud; the scars of adver- sity, brought on by this overbearing bad roads reign, cover it's decrepit body. Rush friends, rush fath CTS and mothers to the help. By sending men to the legislature who will urge good roads legislation; create a high way commission like Massachusetts, Yer mont and New York and many other prosperous states, regardless of polit- fcal affiliations, vote for the right men linen who will fearlessly execute your wishes. And then the million dollar bond issue Is sure to follow for Jeffer- | son county and the most magnificest highways of the world will be can structed, transforming the land into a paradise with sunshine all the live long day"