The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-03
GOSSIP OF THE AUTOMOBILISTS

nOSITINELY surprising was the H interest displayed about good | roads between this city and Me ridian to John L. Parker and [. Sevier of the Southern railway. The trip of Mir. Parker and of MT. Sevier was the first those two well known citizens have made In the interest of good roads recently The Packard car of MT. Par lter led the line of automqbiles that left here with the tour promoted by the Birmingham Ledger for whom E. R. Norman was acting. The pilot or the trip was occupied by MT. Norman, MT. Parker and Mr. Sevier. The trip, according to the guests of the Ledger, was an eyeopener to the widespread sentiment that Is growing for better roads in this state They both agreed that the trips recently planned py en- thusiastic Birmingham citizens mean good roads are coming and they are coming to stay.
 q was never more surprised in my life," said Mir Sevier, than at Johns, Ala, where the scouts made thier tlrst stop As I understood the trip We were not scheduled to stop there, but those enthusiastic people made us do 1t. The citizens turned out in full to see the scouts and to give them all the en- couragement they could. They also showered upon the automobilists every hospitality they could. l have seldom witnessed such unusual interest many movement and I am thoroughly cor vinced that the movement for good roads and better roads Is here to stay and that eventually Alabama will have roads equal to any in this section.
 "As far as the railroads are con corned I am of the opinion that they will welcome them. It means tnas farmers can get to the lines With greater ease and with less cost, and that the country will be enriched to that extent.
 MT Parker was equally as enthusias- tie over the trip. He went all the Wa3 to Meridian and while he did not travel back through the country he reported ans unusually fine trip.
 "At every place we stoppeu' sal' MT. Parker, "the enthusiasm was un- bounded The people in every walk or life gave the scouts every right to believe that the movement Tor good roads is here to stay and that the tlihe Is not far off when the roads or Ala hama will be up to the best or the politicians will find they have iost the,r pull with the people The moveiie'' ,'ne for good roads has, required soine e,',.t m. to get I'D to this gratifying point put Inc speculative theory is past ana We are going to have good roads ana the hest kind of roads at that.
 T wish to specially commend r the citizens of Tuscaloosa, EptaW, LlYIas .,,5 i, sion. York and Meridian for tnelr Wila enthusiasm and rare hospitality. l can not recall just now when l have ex- r,erienced such an outburst of concert ed enthusiasm over any movement as tbose citizens displayed. They seemed n be happv to receive the scouts and inasmuch as there was not the slight asf element of commercialism in the whole trip 1t renders the eordialty that much more gratifying. s,.t one that I have been able to take ana to say that I was gratified over 1t would be expressing the interest feel In It mildly The trip was in every way @ sue.
 assf,,i ond no one can estimate even annroximately how much good that trlp viii do or has already done to acnieVe the object which inspired it.