The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-12

ERALD, WEDNESDAY, JC bill. Your president was also present while the bill was before the legis- lature and did all in his power to see 1t successfully through.
 The fight in this regard has just started, however. With monopoly such as the Birmingham Water Works company now enjoys 1t is too much to expect that the outrageous water rates will be reduced. Nothing is lett but public ownership of the water piani afidr this body should keep it's shoulder to the wheel for this ultimate end.
 Inquiries and Committees
 During the past year thousands of inquiries have been received concern : ir 2 Birmingham, Jefferson county ana Alabama All of these have been duly answered and firmly believe that good to the city will result.
 Delegates have been appointed dur irs the year to numerous conventions and gath erings throughout the United States.
 Tn conclusion I want to say that there is great field for such an or g. nization as this. Not only can the merchants. by maintaining this organ ization, be of great help to one an | other, but they can accomplish many reforms for the city in general lle Board of Trade has not been backWaro ncr shy about tackling any problem Tn tls past and I believe that the future holds even more in the line or actual achievement.
 T want to thank every member oi the body for the loyal support given me during my term of office. All have sl own, willingness to cooperate tna' has been very pleasing and gratifying to me personally
 Report on Good Roads
 The report of good roads committee made by Chairman John W. O'Nelll Was as follows:
 Your chairman was elected president of Jefferson County Good Roads associa- tion. Board of Trade adopted resolution recommended by Jefferson County Gooo Roads association asking Board of Reve' nue to call an election to vote on I,eO,0N bond issue; over 5000 citizens signed petl' ton requesting an election ovote on issue by county of S1,00O,OO0 bonds for construc' ton of good roads. President Job Going Board of Revenue, states that nearly $1, ,0O0O00 will be collected within the nex' four years from road taxes to be expended on roads. At invitation of Jefferson Coun- ty Good Roads association, Birmingham Board of Trade and other commercial bodies, Alabama Good Roads association convened at city hall, october 12, IS, H. 1910. Sixty-seven counties were repre- scented by S69 delegates.
 Addresses and papers were made and read before the convention by the most practical men in the state, including Gov. Emmet O'Neal In which he outlined his good road policies; former Commissioner N Prouty, chief assistant of state geological, survey; W. S. Keller, road engineer of Dallas county; H. K. Milner of Washing ton county; w. S. Forman, probate judge of St. Clair county; Senators Bankhead and Johnston, Ex-Governof Conner, Con- gressman Burnett and others. Your chair man was elected first vice president Ala bama Good Roads association.
 "As president of the Jefferson County Good Roads association, who had charge of arrangement and entertainment of this convention, I desire to thank particularly J. A. Rountree, secretary; r. Y. Anderson, Job Going, c. B. Rogers and other mem bers of the committee for the splendid entertainment given the convention.
 Your chairman attended joint con- ference of committee from the senate and house and executive committee of Ala
 
 up the present law establishing a high way commission and defining its powers and duties The state appropriated SEA- 900; this Is 5000 to each county; each county Is to add as much more. The work Is to be done under the personal supervision of the state highway en- gineer. The new law is the beginning or great reform, and 1t will no doubt lead to construction of roads in Alabama as good as now being built in the progress sive states.
 Jefferson County Good Roads associa- ton, Board of Trade and other commer- cial bodies, through Senator Bankhead, invited the National Good Roads Congress that was in session in Oklahoma City October 3 and 4, 1910, to meet in this city Board of directors of the National Good Roads association accepted same and de- cided to meet May 23 to 26, 1911. The railroads, for the first time in the history of Birmingham. granted reduced rates from all parts of the United States.
 'The result of convention is that we had in attendance 1864 delegates thar registered at headquarters, secured badges and tickets of admission and courtesies to the various functions.
 Among these delegates we had in at- tendance Governor O'Neal, Senator Bank head Congressman Richmond Pearson Hobson, Congressman John l.. Burnett, five commissioners of agriculture, two commissioners of immigration, three state geologists, 40 probate judges, 12 mayors, 12 road engineers and three street experts. This array of public men and prominent people from IS states of the union made most representative and successful Good Roads Congress. Your chairman was elected a member of the executive committee of the National Good Roads association.
 As chairman of the advisory committee of 100 citizens, I desire to express my thanks to l.. A. Whitehead, secretary; Job Going, treasurer; Judge w. I. Grubb, B. F. Moore, C. B. Rogers, Hugh Me Geever, J. A. Rountree and other mem- bers of the committee for the success of the National Good Roads congress and