The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-22


 The British admiralty. which for day
 or two withheld the news that the British fleet was participating in coast opera 1 tions, now compliments the monitors and | the bluejackets for excellent service.
 There has been particularly hard fight ing in the Lille region, where the Brit ish are in action. The important French town of Lille still is held by the Ger
 mans and encounters in this neighborhood have been of a hand-to-hand character. side.
 At last real action has been taken for the relief Of the Belgians, upon whom has fallen the great burden of suffering that the development of the state as d whole demanded a trunk road system, showed a spirit of progress which is much easier to direct in commonwealth of greater population and developed re- sources. In the building of a trunk sys- tom, the state co-operates with the sev- elal counties. and ultimately the coun- ties ask the state to take over the most important of these inter-county arteries of communication. Such plan has been followed in all states where road improve ment has advanced most rapidly, and Alabama will prove no exception to the rule"
 President John Craft of the associa- ton spoke in part as follows: Tt gives me pleasure to inform the people of Alabama that a great begin ming to improve the transportation sys- tenn, which they own, control and oper- ate, has been made.
 The governor, in his wisdom and statesmanship, has rendered all the as- sistance fin his power that each county in the state might adopt modern, pro- gr essive and economic management in the construction, improvement and main- tenance of their public roads and bridges, realizing that the invisible mud tax Is the greatest burden of taxation the people have to bear
 The Alabama Good Roads association is fortunate and Is to be congratulated upon numbering among It's membership Honorable Charles Henderson and Hon. orable T. E. I<ilby, respectively the gov ernor and lieutenant governor-elect. These two honored citizens are earnest in their endeavors to promote the good road work of the association.
 Tt is to the Honorable William A. Gunter. president of the city commission, and his colleagues that the congratula- tions are due for improvements in the street drainage, pavement and other mu- Eicipal progress so noticeable in this city.
 "The members of the Alabama Good Roads association are especially In debted to President May, Secretary Ken nedy and members of the Chamber of Commerce for the cordial invitation to join in advancing one of the greatest business problems before the people of Alabama; that of transporting the prod ucts of the farm directly to the city market to the railroads and to the steamboats."
 The governor of Alabama spoke in part, as follows:
 "One of the chief purposes which has been accomplished by the creation of the state highway commission was centrali- zation of authority and unity of action. Road building Is now universally recog- nized as science and is now being taught by some of the principal institu- tions of the country. The construction of good road requires engineering and scientific skill and knowledge and the time has passed when we are willing to entrust road building to men who are ignorant of the principles of engineering, drainage and other scientific methods es- sential to the proper construction of highways.
 'There was time when 1t was be- lieyed that roads could be built by the county surveyor or by men who were en- tirely ignorant of the principles of en- gineering and drainage. That system was pursued for many years in this state with the result that for many years there was waste of both labor and money. Roads that were then built. under that system, were not durable. and the money expended largely wasted. One of the re- suits of the campaign for better roads in Alabama is the general acknowledge ment that the system which formerly prevailed in this state, by which the bur den of road building was imposed upon the residents of rural districts was nde- fensible, either in the forum of justice or reason.
 'Over 40 per cent of our population re- sides in the cities and under the method which heretofore prevailed. practically one-h of our population and two-tnirds of our wealth were exempted from the burden of maintaining the public roads of the state, and the burden imposed alone upon our rural population. If a system of good roads is to be maintained in each county in the state the wealth and population of that county must bear It's Just proportion of the burden.
 "If we would prevent the growth Of urban at the expense of our rural popu- lation, if we would give vitality to the
 movement of balk-to-the-farm and make it a realization instead of dream of orators and conventions. if we would over come the curse of absentee landlordism on our plantations and farms. secure vil- lage and community life in rural dis tricts: If we would hasten by concentra- ton the cause of education in the coun- try, improve the tone and character of
 our rural schools and churches; if we would substitute intelligence for ignor- ance, Improved and scientific methods of farming for the crude system which now prevails on many of the farms of the state, we must not be content until the state of Alabama is blessed with an i'm proved and properly maintained and ade- quate system of good roads.
 Though we have made mistakes in the 1 past yet our progress has been steady. Through your labors public sentiment has been crystalized and this movement will not weaken but will grow in strength and power until this most important adjunct of civilization, a system of good roads, is secured by the people of Alabama The full realization of our purpose and dreams wju bring happiness and cheer as we'll as comfort to our rural homes, and will be a monument to the zeal the enthusiasm the indefatigable labors of this associa- ton as enduring as the everlasting hills and mountains of our native state" Felicitation Sent
 Asheviile. N C., October 21.-tSpecial.) The Asheville and Buncombe County Good Roads association, the oldest organiza- ton of it's kind in existence. tonight sent