The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-16
Good Roads Association Comes
 Here in October.
CANDIDATES ARE HEARD
Both O'NcaI and Mallory Would Carry Ont Spirit of Good Roads Amend ment-Stnte Highway Com
 uI issiOn Urged.
Ky HERvEY W. LAIRD.


 on behalf of the Jefferson County Good Roads association and L. A. Whitehead of the Birmingham Motor club. the Ala abama Good Roads asso- citation today voted to hold the next meeting in Birmingham, the dates be- ing October 13. IA and 15.
 H. K. Milner of Birmingham secured the adoption of a resolution to pledge candidates for the legislature to adop tion of the good roads amendment and the carrying out of it's provisions. Candidates for state executive office, that is to say. for governor and o l. tenant governor. were today heard at the meeting of the Alabama Good Roads convention with regard to their posi- tions on the Overton amendment. by which the state may take a hand in good road building and maintenance. All agreed that the spirit of the amend ment should be carried out to the extent that care Of other interests, such as schools and old soldiers. will permit.
 This amendment. presented by State Senator John W. Overton of Randolph | in 1907 and adopted in 1908, provided | that uneer certain conditions the con vict fund is to be used for the build | ng of roads and keeping them up. | Heretofore. under the organic law. there Nas no way by which the state | as such could take part in public i'm provements of this kind.
 Each man today took the position | that the power conferred should be | used with discretion. Those who spoke |
 ere Col. Emmet ONeal and Col. H. E. | D. Mallory, aspirants for governor, -1le n ernor. Perry Thomas for lieutenant | governor, could not be here. but sent a | etter expressing sentiments about as the others.
 To Instruct Legislature.
 Judge E. B. Almon of Colbert pre- sented 8 resolution which was adopted indicating to the legislature the belief | that it should put in effect the amend inent and agreeing to provide a bill to be presented.
 J. A. Rountree, secretary, offered a resolution for a good roads exhibit, to be full In its presentation of the sub ject and all other matters pertaining to road progress, the details to be left with the officers of the association. It was adopted.
 The following were named to pre- pare a bill in line with the resolution that the legislature proceed to make -tie uifieHuuichl OpcTdtlN6. JOHH 1Tdlt president, Mobile; F.. B. Almon, Col bert; w. T. Brown, St. Clair; Hugh Nor row, Jefferson; John W. Overton, Ran dolph, ]. C. Kumpe, Lawrence.
 Following is the text of the resolution presented by Judge Almon:
 The Almon ResoIution.
 Whereas. at the general election in November, 1eJs. the people of Alabama amended their constitution so as to au- horize the state, under appropriate laws, cause the net proceeds from the state convict fund to be applied to the con- struction, repair and maintenance of pub lice roads in the state. and to also make additional appropriations for that pur- pose.
 And, whereas. there has been no legis- la ton enacted putting this amendment l 10 the constitution into force and oper- 1 ation. Ig Therefore, be it resolved by the Good Roads association Of Alabama as follows:
 T. That this amendment to the consti ' tution of Alabama was at least an inn ( piled, if not an expressed instruction i rom the people of Alabama to the legis- lature on this subject. "2. That this association. realizing the many advantages of good public roads. Is heartily in favor of the enactment by the next legislature of Alabama such laws as will put said constitutional amendment into full force and practical operation.
 '3. That this association is in favor of the creation by the next legislature of Alabama of state highway commission.
 A. That this association, at it's regular meeting next October, undertake to agree upon and recommend to the next legisla- ture such bill or bills as it deems wise and proper to put said constitutional amendment into force and to create rta afa h ,trrtxx to aid in this the president of this associa- tion is hereby directed to appoint com mittee of five to prepare and report to | the next meeting of this association such | laws as the committee deems advisable | to carry out the provisions of these reso- ] .utions."
 Colonel O'Neal's Address. In his address before the good roads meetings Col. Emmett O Neal, candidate for governor, said in part: Tt is universally conceded by all who have given any study to the subject that system of good roads lies at the very root and basis of a country's cvili- zation
 "It has been truly said that roads are the veins and arteries by means of which the circulation of the social body is carried on, and that when they are clogged the march of civilization is retarded. Without them there can be no development of the resources the energies and enterprise of a people. | In inventive skill in scientific dscov cry and in industrial pursuits and pro duction, our republic has lead all na- tions; yet our rural roads and highways are probably the poorest of any coun- try that has attained the same stand- ard of civilization The development of the railroads in this country have been marvellous and unprecedented. and | has alone enabled us to maintain our commercial supremacy. The locomo- | tive was almost coeval with our manu- | featuring industry. and has been the chief cause of the rapid development of the country. A great many people assume that the railroad is substi- tute for the good highway. but this as- sumption is absolutely unsound and un- founded Railroads do unauestionably develop country They increase the for production. stimulate industry and enterprise. create new centers of trade and develop cities, towns and villages. Yet this very development itself de- mands and requires more and better highways and roads. They make ne- cessary good roads for the quick and easy distribution of the freights that they deliver and receive.
 Dirt Road Commerce.
 First and last. 90 per cent of the vast
 internal commerce of this country must
 be moved over the dirt roads. These roads l are the feeders of the railroads. and the
 interest manifested in the cause of good
 roads by the great carrief systems of the
 country show that they fealize that their
 prosperity Is intimat2l3 associated with