The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-17
ISSUES PROCLAMATION URGING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BY WHICH STATE COULD ISSUE BONDS TO BUILD GOOD ROADS

Montgomery, September 6-(Special.)- Believing that the state should have part in the cost of public highways, and that the burden of such improvements, which are not temporary, but enduring, should be borne not alone by present genera tions, Acting Governor Henry B. Gray to- day issued a proclamation in which he urged the idea of an amendment to the constitution by which the state would have the right to issue bonds of this class. The proclamation calls upon all good citizens to attend the convention of the Alabama Good Roads association, De- tober 12-14, in Birmingham.
 It is recognized by all that good roads are a necessity and that without them the country cannot be brought up to a high state of development and produce tiveness, that the ability to get about easily is a social and educational ques- tion. and religious. and that the state, as the law now is, and will be under the Overton amendment can do but little to aid the counties. It is thus made plain that some plan must be devised to work out the systems. and the acting execu 
 tical observation and experience in mat ters of this kind, looks to state bonds as a solution of 1t.
 This plan is new, no one having the temerity to so frankly and plainly urge such action by the state as such. In times gone by there was trouble in the help that was given to rail lines. and the new constitution made it impossible for the state to again have part in such en- terprise. However, the times have changed, and the demand is such that it must be met, and the men who are in- terested are looking about to provide the most practical method. It is regarded by a great many that the bond idea will be the solution, and that in this way the people may have the roads with a distri- button of the burdens.
 The Proclamation
 The proclamation follows:
 'Whereas The people of Alabama be- lieve in using their best efforts for the { upbuilding of the state and the develop ment and utilization of her natural re- sources; and,
 ..Whereas A better system of highways ! is necessary to such development in or s der that farmers and others may the better market their products, and they land their children more conveniently tfdNel 10 ana IIOil lHe SCIOOl, and home; and,
 .'Whereas the appropriations for con- x struction and maintenance of highways under the recently adopted constitutional amendment must necessarily be small on account of the limited revenue of the state, and our determination to take no backward step in the appropriations for education and Confederate veterans; and,
 Whereas, The benefits accruing from improved highways are in no Wise tenn porary, but are enduring, growing with the years and,
 .Whereas, The experience of our peo- ple both in municipal and county gov ernment, has clearly demonstrated that ( the only feasible way of permanently inn proving at once all the main thorough fares is by the issuance of bonds; and
 "Whereas, This is the wise and just 2 way, for only in this way is 1t possible x to give the benefits to the whole state ' at the same time and to distribute the I. burden throughout the years; and, rWhereas, It is to the interest of the x state that it's best thought carefully con x sider the advisability of the adoption of fA an amendment to the constitution provid- Iains for the issuance of state bonds for ltsuch purpose.
 Now, therefore, I, Henry B. Gray, act ling governor of Alabama. do hereby is- ssue my proclamation calling attention to the annual convention of the Alabama Mood Roads association which will be \ held in Birmingham on October 12, 13 and A to which will be appointed delegates from the various counties of the state,