The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
THATCHER TO AID
GOOD ROADS FIGHT
Remains in Jefferson Until
After Election
TALKS ABOUT HIGHWAYS
VIII Start Today for Rural Sections
Where He VIII Urge Farmers to
Support Men Pledged to Good
Roads Work
TALKS ABOUT HIGHWAYS

The Jefferson County GOOD RoaoS az
ISOLATION is very much interested In Or
ganizing good roads clubs in every pre-
cinct in Jefferson county and making an
active canvass to- create sentiment for
a million dollar bond issue as well as to
arouse the people to see that the men
elected to the legislature this year VIII
enact law making the good roads con-
stitutional amendment effective. In order
to create this sentiment a conference OF
good roads advocates and member or
the executive committee of the Jefferson
County Good Roads association met yes
terday and induced Charles w. Thacher.
the good roads apostle, to remain IN
Jefferson county and surrounding coun-
ties for the next six weeks and canvass
and organize good roads clubs. the
committee was very enthusiastic over in
ducing Mr.. Thatcher to remain here In
Birmingham and Alabama and assist In
creating the desired enthusiasm for
bond issue and good roads legislation.
Mr.. Thatcher will start in tomorrow
morning to visit the rural districts of
Jefferson county. He will make speeches
along the highways and byways, max
ing appointments for the organization Of
good roads clubs. Mr.. Thacher will be
assisted in his work by President John
w. o'Neill and Secretary ]. A. Rountree
of the Jefferson County Good Roads as
ISOLATION; George T. Brazleton, secretary
of the Birmingham Motor club, and other
Birmingham men and good roads advo-
Gates. In making appointments Mr..
Thacher will be assisted by other good
roads advocates in this work.
1t is hoped that the farmers and the
people living in the rural districts Will
take an interest In this movement and
extend every courtesy and assistance pos
sible to Mr.. Thatcher. Mr.. Thatcher Is
quite enthusiastic and his whole soul is
in the work and has been for the past
five years, during which time he has
travelled over 25,000 miles in his wagon,
drawn by his two burros and accom-
panied by his mascot, Dick. He has the
enthusiastic backing of the officers and
members of the County Good Roads as
ISOLATION.
Mr. Thatcher comes with splendid Gre
dentials and letters from the Ohio Good
Roads association, while other organiza-
lions recommended him.
Mr. Thatcher in the following interview
makes a strong appeal for the develop
ment of good roads in Jefferson county:
John w. ONeill. president, and j.
Asa Rountree, secretary of the Jefferson
County Good Roads association. have
fathered great progressive movement
In undertaking to educate the citizens or
their county to recognize the ncaicui-
able value of a mllion-dollar bond issue
to be expended In the construction of
highways planned after the most mod
ern methods.
ut required very little effort on the
part of these men to persuade me to
aid them in a campaign which means
more for the county OF Jefferson than
any enterprise set on foot, local or other
wise, except the lakes to gulf boulevard
from Detroit to New Orleans.
1.-The progress of the city and county
has been seriously affected by the nom
existence of sufficient sum to construct
the necessary roadways. The county in
which Cleveland, O., Is located Is now ex-
pending 81, 000, 900 on their highways. Are
not the citizens of Jefferson county just
as worthy of the rarest fruits of paradise
as the people Of Cleveland and vicinity ?
Real estate several miles from the center
of this city has enhanced In value 1000
per cent in many instances. The West
End boulevard has recently been con-
structed from the city limits of C1eve-
land to the border of the county. Some
land containing choice building sites
fronting on Lake Erie at the border of
Coyahoga county, Ohio, outside this beau
tiful city. jumped from 5000 an acre to
more than $4,000.
by the expenditure of 100000 in one
county in Ohio they have increased their
property values more than $500, 100000
I'm Jefferson county every citizen would
be perfectly satisfied II by the expendi-
ture of 100000 OF the peoples money
$500 900 of property wealth would be
created And this, too, without penny's
people.
1.-The children and the ems chill
dren of the present gene ! will pay
Off this 100000 bond iss ID no ono
will ever know the differ enDe. For in
stance, suppose as an Illustration $780,
900 worth of Jefferson county bonds were
placed on the market and sold This ST.
100000 would be showered into the laps of
every man, woman and child in the con-
struction of wide, smooth, perfectly mod
eled highways, such as are found around
Atlanta. Employment would be supplied
to all idle men causing the dark cloud of
poverty to disappear from our midst.
With more money In the generous hands
of labor there would be an increased de-
mand in farm products at least 80 per
cent In the next five years.
1.-The farmer would be enriched as well
by an increase In farm lands from 100 to
500 per cent or in other words, his bank
account will show up in property wealth
from twice to five times greater than at
the present time.
ia there single sane man in the re-
sourceful county Of Jefferson who would
refuse an increase in business capital
from 100 to 500 per cent IL nothing more is
Invested than at present? I WILL and 1
am sure all men will, promptly answer
no.
Now that the question will naturally
arise, how are we going to pay off this
million-dollar bond issue without an in
crease of tax to the farmers? This can
be maue perfectly clear in a few simple
words, which will be plainly understood
by the humblest citizen.
Simply take the money that you are
already expanding on roads, except the
~etainance of a sufficient amount for
Dad sustainance, and yearly pay off the
mount of the bonded indebtedness, and
feel sure this will be cheering news
O all good citizens.
Picture In your minds Greater Biz