The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-22
pcrara,nu state Roads Meeting

HcEaF1fn2 SthtC ftVe'eS
 CT am very much interested in the Good Roads meeting, which is to take nlaoe in Selma in October" said Percy Clark II wish to make some susgeston in good time with a view to bringing more practical results from these meet ings. We have had an all sufficiency ol nolitical talk from public men, which has come in time to arouse general interest in the matter. But the news papers have done most of this work' and have done it well. When we get definite plan to move on the federal treas ury for aid in building part or nauo''ai highways, we can then well call upon our congressman to get to work
 There is some detail just now that should be brought to their attention In Washington city and which they should all proceed to cooperate In correcung' what is evidently a direct and designed oversight of this state. The agricultural department, through the division having charge of good roads, has issued pull letin, naming certain great highways, which have been tentatively mapped out if not inaugurated in the work or con strifction. Now, although the state or Alabama stands well in the front In the matter of good roads, not only In the propaganda, but in actual work, so that she probably has already as many miles of good road as any other southern state' at least, yet this great department has completely ignored this state in the bull t-. t1 extreme border at Florence, and next, to Memphis. It does, however, name na- tional highway from Louisville, Ky, to Nashville, Tenn, as a part of one sys- tenn Our representatives in Congress should jump on the agricultural depart ment with both feet, for the fact is. there needs to be some kicking out in this department for the public good.
 'I will call attention to one piece of work under the direction of repre- sentative of the national agricultural de- 9artment in the waste of money and the impractical results in the construc- ton of the sample of road on the pro- posed Ensley boulevard. That's enough.
 q notice in a New York paper that Governor Dix has appointed a state su- of highways, William H. Catlin of Port Chester, at salary or s75o0. There are two other members of this commission, Engineer John A. Ben- sel and the superintendent of public work Charles E. Treman. l want to suggest that all of these gentlemen be invited to the Selma meeting and MT. Catlin, particularly. The New York paper states that Mir Catlin has constructed many miles of road in and about the town of Rye, where he has considerable real estate, and that he is considered an expert on the subject of road building. These are the class of men who can give the proposed meeting the tone Of practicability that has been lacking to a degree in the last two or three state meetings. The state of New York. by the way. has at this time under way the expending of some S50,00000 on roads.
 ..The state of Pennsylvania has taken LID a system of paved roads: that Is, roads with a paved brick center flanked by other kinds of roadway for utility pur- poses Now, if some man connected with the practical work of this state could be persuaded to come to the Selma meet ing and talk good practical road build ing, much good would result There have been too many speakers on the pro- gramme and most of these speakers have failed to produce results, and in several cases they have had either business or political axes to grind.
 q think that it is very well as mat ter of public interest and advertisement to invite notable persons, as Governor Harmon and President Taft to the Selma meeting but we do not need all the governors and congressman for the req sons which I have given"