The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-30
Citizens of Jefferson
 Wdnt Better Roads
Most Of Those Interviewed Are Of One Mind the Question Of Bond Issue of S10OO000 To Construct
 Highway System In County

In Birmingham must improve their own property and in addition pay TO per cent of the money now spent on the county's highways. If a million dollars is voted for good roads, wha, part will Birmingham get? The Board of Revenue got rid of some six miles of road by the greater Birmingham act and the city is now taking care of these the best it can. Tell us all about the proposed bond issue so an intel ligent opionion can be formed"
 Edward B. Crawford
 'I would vote for a S1,00O,0O0 issue of bonds for good roads, as I believe such a step would demonstrate the fact that Alabama Is progressing which may not be the opinion of a great number of peo- pie when they are informed of some of our laws made in Montgomery" said F. B. Crawford.
 Everyone appreciates the value of highways properly maintained, and the amount agreed upon by this issue seems to be about what will be required.
 Jefferson county is rather a large place to be backward in the matter of public highways, and the establishment of such a fund would indicate many things to those not initiated"
 S. H. Darnen
 While I would vote for a bond issue for a million dollars for good roads |, believe that if the county would take all the convicts out of the mines and put them to work on the roads that they would not need the bond issue, said S. H. Darnell yesterday afternoon in speaking of the proposed bond issue. T do not deny the fact that Jefferson county needs good roads. 1 think that we have the means of having them at hand. The convicts could be put to work on the roads of the county easily and then the million dollars could be used for something else, say a new courthouse and jail, of which we are badly in need.
 Lige Loy
 "To my mnd the issuance of $1,O00, GOO worth of bonds for the purpose of build ipg good roads over Jefferson county should meet the indorsement of every cit izen of the section," said Lige Loy. '"The necessity for better public thorough fares has become a matter of much more significance in the present time than for merly. There is no comparison between the travel six years ago and today, and in spite of the wonderful progress that has been made in the development of pub lie conveyances in the past few years, | do not see where we are to be bene- fitted much until we can keep apaee with the times and build good roads for the public travel.
 'I am particularly impressed with the need for improved conditions in the roads bQraIISa Of the tri0c I Ixa the Birmingham district. I have yet to find any considerable stretch of roads well enough constructed and maintained for modern purposes. I am in favor of the bond issue, though l think 1t is a great responsibility to assume. There is no reason, however, why we should be afraid to begin an undertaking which will yet have to be discharged. We need good roads, and the sooner we have them the better.'
 George IT. Bodcker
 q am very much in favor of the mil ton dollar bond issue for good roads and will give it my unqualified support, said Chief of Police George II. Bodekel last night. There is nothing that could be done in the county that would build up Birmingham more. With good roads the small farmers near Birmingham would be enabled to bring their products into Birmingham every morning. The people could have fresh vegetables and eggs instead of the -withered ones An other important benefit that would re- suit would be in the dairies. As the roads are now the dairymen cannot af- ford to go far out of Birmingham on ac- count of the roads. With the dairies out of Birmingham the danger of infec- ton would be lessened and the standard of milk raised
 ''When the people get the good roads the highways should be oiled. Roads IT the northern states are in such perfect condition that it is possible for an auto mobile to go fifty miles an hour without raising a particle of dust. The oil not only makes the roads much better but preserves them''