The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19
IS AGAINST BOND
 ISSUE FOR ROADS An Engineer Makes Sugges-
 tiOns for Highway WORK THE CONNECTS Use County's Share of Money Derived From Dispensary and System
 Can Be Put in Shape
 Without Bonds Issue
WORK THE CONNECTS

vital importance to our city and county under discussion at this time, and while appearing in public print is not at all in my line, l, as a citizen and one who has had some small part in the develop ment of the district, feel deeply interested and would ask your indulgence for using your columns to offer a few suggestions anent one of these questions concerning which my views may be of some value.
 I refer to the question of good roads and the million dollar bond issue" We are all agreed that not only good roads but the very best roads are Jefferson county's due, and there can be no better investment for any county than money judiciously expended upon the public highways. The question Is this-to have such a system of roads as this county re- quires and to maintain them, is 1t neces- sary that the taxpayers shall be bur- dened with a bond issue of $1,000000? Or if not absolutely necessary, is this the best and most feasible way to attain this much-desired end? For something like 90 years I have been engaged in the prac- tice of the engineering profession in diff lereHt parts or the Onlteu StdteS, ana have seen all manner of roads built, and feel that so far their construction and maintenance is concerned, and the neces- sary means for this I can speak with some degree of knowledge. l have read with much interest the opinions and views of different gentlemen appearing in your paper from time to time In this connec- tl. have the very best roads that it is pos sible to construct without issuing a dol lars worth of bonds, and without sending outside of Jefferson county for either men, money or material for the construc- ton and maintenance of the road sys- tenn. I knew Jefferson county some time before the good roads" question was ever agitated, and very well remember the beginning of road improvement in the county.
 The first scientifically constructed high ways here were surveyed and planned by the first county engineer, the late Capt Erastus L. Miner, and were built under the direct supervision of Captain Mlner and MT. w. P. Hickman who at thdt tune WdS Olc Ol llt tOuHty sioners and who now lives at Trussville. and I want to say right here that these two public-spirited pioneer citizens cl Birmingham and Jefferson county IT building the roads which they did, built | their own lasting monuments, which will l remain. long after they are both gone for these roads are today the best in the county.
 There is very little new road work needed in the county; thorough systemat- ic and intelligent repairs and maintenance is all that is required to give our county as good a system of public roads as ex- ists in the United States today When Captain Milner built these roads he had full control of men and material, and the results of his care and Judgment can be seen today. In discussing this question l notice that some of the gentlemen urge the necessity of a road expert to spend the $1,O00,0O0 bond issue. The general in- ference Is that this means sending off somewhere to get man at a high salary who would be entirely new to conditions existing here in regard to labor and every thing else and whose knowlege of con- ditions would be theoretical only. He would in all proba bllity ask much great CT salary than he could obtain where he was at work and would come here and look wise and spend a lot of the county s money experimenting with some of his theories. He would most likely be cof- pelled to have an automobile to be pro- vided and maintained by the county, and would employ local men to do the work while he did the heavy bossing and drew a fat salary. Now, MT. Editor, I do not by any means wish to convey the impress sion that I decry the value of expert knowledge or expert service when and where needed. What I do mean is that the proposition facing this county in the road matter calls for good Judgment and common sense more than for expert theo- retical knowledge. Jefferson county has an engineer who is in every way compe- tent to provide for ano axe care of her road system and there are plenty of others, and there Is no more need of sending off for road expert than there is for the s1, 100000 bond Issue, in my judg- ment. We have the engineers right here and in the coal veins we have plenty of convicts to do all the road work neces- sary, and I think the money required to pay for material. tools, etc, should com 8 from the liquor traffic.
 I would suggest the following as a feasible and practical plan by which the road question can be settled to the best advantage of all concerned. In the first place. I think the county should have-as has been suggested by almost everyone whose opinion I have read-a road commission or board of public works.
 This is a big county and its bus mess Is big business and should be directed and guided by big men. This board or commission should consist of three or five members. the probate judge being the chairman. The other members of this board should be men who are accustomed to handling large enterprises and who are business men and not politicians. They should, in fact. be directors in the affairs of the county just the same they are In the different corporations with which