The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-07

l There is probably no man in the state today who has studied more closely the general conditions of the country and people, and certainly no man more filled with enthusiasm over the possibilities of l progressive and economic methods than ! Judge N. B. Feagin.
 In a short chat with him a few days l ago referring to the road to the river, he 'caJad what has been already done in Germany, Austria, France and Italy to solve the Sgoblem of the building and the upkeep of public highways, and said we have here all the elements of pro- gressve citizenship. We need but to get the best thought the world has, and adopt it to our conditions to make Jefferson the empire county of the state.
 Experience is the best of teachers. IT we woud utilize the laudable experience | of other communities in their profitable achievements we could have more money | per capita than any county in the south. | It is claimed that many countries in Eu- l rope make their public roadways self-sus- l taining. What other people have done for community betterment Jefferson county ought to be able to do
 l They plant fruit trees along their pub:
 lie roads for shade and pleasure, for
 beauty and revenue. They have a section boss to protect and gather the fruit, the
 sale of which keeps up road repairs. Jef- | ferson county can do better than this. She can even get revenue-an income extra
 to the costs of road repairs
 | The paper shell pecan tree is hardy in growth, symmetrical in form, graceful in outline, making a beautiful ideal shade
 tree along rural roadways, adding charm | to landscape scenery and attractiveness | to country homes The roadWayS thus 1 beautified would add 15 per cent to the | value of real estate. Land owners of ad- | jacent property prompted by pride and patriotism, would gladly give to the coun- 1 ty five-foot strip of land lying adJa- | cent to the roadway for such pubic purpose. Legislation would scarcely be i needed to put this profitable project on 1 foot. Plant an excellent variety of these | trees 30 feet apart; this would give S52 | trees to the mile. Some nurserymen claim 1 a 3-year-old tree transplanted would bear [ $1 worth of fruit in the period Of between 8 and 5 years, and between and 8 years | S3 per tree annually. As the tree further ma lures natural increase of fruit fol- | lows under favorable conditions If, how I, tree annually, this would give an income of $1050 per mile annually. With 300 miles Of public roads our annual income would be over $100,000 at $1 per tree; over $3OO,OOJ at s per. tree. legitimate source Of con | tinually increasing revenue.
 Jefferson county now expends abolt | $222 GOO on her rural schools. By utiliziAB this now dormant resource-the papa1 shell pecan tree-upon our roadWays thy county would soon have in hand money enough for paved auto track, for al double track electric railway to the War rior and for our country schools besides, | more money ($300,0O0 annual income) than l she new expendS on our rural schools. All | from making the most of the experience l and the achievements of others-all or | this without a burden to the people and without bond issue.
 Today people are expecting to see things done in minute, and are impa- tient for immediate results without call
 cu,ating upon the rapid flight of time The short period of five years would be quickly consumed in detail preparation. Thus the , whole proposition is so practical and Is
 so worth while, especially after hearing
 Judge Feagin suggest the following addi-
 tional plans for the beginning.
 | He said: "A nursery covering 20 or | more acres could be planted with paper
 shell oceans on the county farm of 240
 acres, near Ketona, to supply the trees | for her roadways. l .-Arbor Day could be celebrated in the planting of these trees under the super vision of our rural schools. The patriotic
 sentiment of the school could be enlisted l by setting apart number of trees to
 the watch care of each pupil Thus the community interest would be deepened
 in the growth and prot&tion of the trees