The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-13
Emmet O'Neal Hopes to Have Great Advances Made
 During His Term
CRAFTS SUGGESTION TO
 GET AID FROM STATE
Fully 300 Delegates Are Expected to He Enrolled Today-Prominent Men of State Among the
 Speakers Yesterday

A total of 400 delegates rom all parts of Alabama were enrolled for the first days session of the convention of the Alabama Good Roads association, which opened yesterday morning at 10 o'clock in the council chamber at the city hall. Delegates were still arriving and register ing up to last night and 1t Is expected that fully 800 will have been enrolled by today.
 The session yesterday morning was taken up with the addresses of welcome made by representatives of various or ganzations, the response to the addresses by President John Craft of the State Good Roads association, and reports of the committee on constitution and by laws, and of J. A. Rountree, secretary of the association. After an address by J. A. Wilkerson, state commissioner of agri- culture, on "Alabama's Road System '' the convention adjourned until 1:3O o'clock for luncheon.
 The feature of the afternoon session yesterday was the address of Governor elect Emmet O'Neal, who outlined the policy he will follow during his admin istration in regard to the good roads question.
 Four other addresses featured the aft ernoon session, those of Probate Judge w. s. Forman of St. Clair county; Dr. w. F. Prouty, chief assistant of the state geological survey; W. s. Keller, road en- gineer of Dallas county, and H. K. Mill ner, member of the executive committee of the state association from Washing ton county.
 Session in Detail
 The convention was called to order yes terday morning by John w O'Neill, president of the Jefferson County Good Roads association, who delivered the ad- dress of welcome on behalf of the as- sociation, instead of Maj. F. Y. Anderson, who was scheduled to speak but could not be present.
 We have organized Precinct Good Roads association In 67 precincts through out Jefferson county" said MT. O'Neill, "and they have all passed Resolutions good roads. If the legislature, next Jan uary, changes this law. we will have million dollar good roads bond election, and it will carry.
 Under the able leadership of Job Going. president of the Board of Revenue of Jefferson county, the county is now constructing some of the finest roads in the south.
 Jefferson County Good Roads associa- tion and all our commercial bodies have passed resolutions requesting the state to carry out the intent of the Overton amendment to the constitution and estab- fish a state highway commission; the head to be the best road engineer that can be procured in the country and the highway commission to have mandatory power over all public highway construc- ton in the state.
 AS president of the Jefferson County Good Roads association and chairman of arrangement committee, I welcome you.
 T congratulate your worthy president, MT. John Craft, and your secretary, MT. J. A Rountree, for their successful ef- forts in gathering together the largest and most enthusiastic good roads con vention ever held in Alabama
 Going Delivers Address
 The address of welcome on behalf of the Board of Revenue was next de- livered by Job Going, president of the board. Thirty years ago there were not over 225 miles of road in the whole of Jefferson county said MT. Going, and they mostly were nothing but or Hrct mile of macadam road was built. To- day we have 1250 miles of road Of which there are $50 or 400 miles oI macadam." MT. Going welcomed the delegates heartily to the Imperial county of Jefferson"
 Mayor Culpepper Exum made one of his usual happy speeches of welcome on behalf of the city. The saying that all roads lead to Rome is obsolete . said the mayor. All roads now lead to Birmingham and Birmingham will certainly welcome enthusiastically the efforts of men like the assembled dele gates to improve those roads,"
 President A. H. Ford of the Cham Der of Commerce welcomed the dele gates on behalf of that organization, declaring that he felt great personal interest in what Is being done for tn e betterment of Alabama roads and ad- ded his personal welcome to that or the Chamber of Commerce, whose mem- bers, he said, are as much in favor or good roads for Jefferson county as he.
 B. H. Cooper representing the Board of Trade, stated that he was certain all merchants were earnestly in favor of road improvement. Trade would not be so concentrated in cities, he said, IT good highways afforded the necessary facilities in the country. He declared the Board of Trade believed that what Is good for Jefferson county Is good for Birmingham and for this reason, if for no other, was sincere In its well come to the good roads delegates
 On behalf of the Birmingham Motor club, George T. Brazelton stated that all autoists will welcome enthusiastic ally any movement for the improve ment of highways, and said he be- lieyed no other class would cooperate with the farmers In the movement more readily than automobile owners.
 President Crafts Address
 The address of John Craft of Mobile, president of the state association, who is presiding at the convention, fol- lowed the addresses of welcome. The subject assigned for Mir. Crafts ad- dress was 'The Purposes, Past and Flu ture Work of the Alabama Good Roads Association" President Crafts address was typical of the spirit of the move ment for better roads In Alabama. He said, among other things:
 "The Alabama Good Roads ,associa- ton which is now engaged in solving one of the most important problems Of polkscal economy of the age will be enab d to establish with the interest that N manifested a system of perma nentlv built highways which will radi- ate from our historic capital on the banks of the placid Alabama and to