The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-13
WONDERFUL STRIDES
 MADE BY STATE IN BUILDING HIGHWAYS
Meeting of Birmingham Montgomery Highway As sociati0n at ClantOn
 Brings Out Facts

Clanton June 12.-(Special. )-Good road enthusiasts to the number of 5000 or more gathered here today to attend meeting of the Montgomery Birmingham High way association and incidentally to De present at the barbecue, which was served about o'clock in the afternoon after the speakers of the morning had concluded their addresses Speakers of statewide prominence were in attendance and the feature of the morning was the address delivered by the governor of Alabama who told of the wonderful progress made by the state in the work of building and improving highways during his ,adminis- tration.
 5000 Present
 Despite the inecnsely hot day, large crowd gathered, some coming in automo- piles, others by train or vehicles, and the less fortunate on foot. It was an enthu- siastic gathering of about 5000. which gathered to hear the speakers, as interest in good roads is so intense in the state just now. Probably 75 or more automo- piles canes from Montgomery, while some few cars came from Birmingham, but owing to the distance and the warm weather most of those present from the Magic City arrived on the early morning train.
 At Il o'clock the speaking began with an address delivered by Mayor E. A Matthews of Clanton, who welcomed the visitors to the city. Probate Judge Dea- son of Chiffon delivered the Address o1 welcome on the part of the county, and he in turn was followed by Ray Rushtor of Montg emery. who responded on behalf of the state. MT. Rushton made an abis talk and was enthusiastically received. Following Mir Rushton, the governor ol Alabama was the next speaker and h' spoke at some length on good road prog ress during the present administration ant what it had accomplished for the re establishment of the state highway com mission He told of his administration bringing into vogue the present, highway commission, and stated that there wer now over the state some $500 miles or goot roads, The governor stated the Mont l gomery- Birmingham highway was Jus 1 the beginning of trunk line from tn | Tennessee line on the north to Mobile ba, l on the south.
 Feders for Trunk Line 1 The next step the governor state, would be to contruct trunk line iron Georgia on the east to Mississippi ol the west and following these would b sublines running out from these trunu lines to all sections of the state H declared the tendency of the presen day was to depopulate the country fo the cities and that one of the greates remedies to check this was to have system of good roads whereby the coun | try people could have some of tn pleasures and comforts otherwise denie them. He showed the close connection lbetwen good roads and more perfec system of education and declared h
 believed in local taxation for two pur
 poses. viz: for schools and good roads
 The governor during the course O his remarks stated he would recon mend that the county appropriation o $2000 be stopped and the money be ex pended on the construction of trunl lines. He also stated the appropriation to counties had, served the purpose O
 stimulating interest and giving dem lonstrations of practical road buildin
 and that future expenditures should b