The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-12
BEST METHODS OF
| WORKING ROADS
/ SHOWN IN BULLETIN
Good Roads Days to Be OBJ
served Throughout State
Monday and Tuesday
WORKING PLAN MUST
BE ADOPTED AT ONCE
Road Experts Tell How to Econo-
mize in Road Building and
the Best System of
Repair

[ The state highway department has is
sued comprehensive bulletin dealing
with good roads days, which will be OBJ
served throughout the state Monday and
Tuesday. The publication, which is sent
out in accordance with an act of the
Legislature, sets forth the purposes of
good roads days, gives instructions in
road repair work and road building, and
outlines plans for the organized effort of
1.-THE various communities and counties to
Rmake the affair a success.
The proclamation issued by Governor
Henderson in which he appeals to all
patriotic citizens to cooperate in this
movement and either work themselves or
ihire man, is published in full in the
bulletin. One of the features of the pampn-
alet is an instructive treatise on road main
ftenance by r. P Boyd, assistant state
highway engineer Mr.. Boyd stresses the
Idea that in road repair work "a stitch in
thine saves nine" He cites figures COM
tpiled from various counties showing how
.much more economical it is to keep roads
lin perfect repair than to rebuild them
'every few years.
!, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
!. In discussing the best methods for work
ION good roads days. it is emphasized
THAT comprehensive plan must be adopt
led in advance and men named as super
lintendents and foremen who shall have
lcontrol of groups of workers under them.
lit is declared that much better results
land more lasting good will come from
aworking a small stretch of road and put
& ting it in perfect shape than in covering
many miles in more or less careless
manner.
Good roads days were inaugurated some
years ago and the work being done has
shown steady increase each year. In
d some counties a large part of the men
Etake part and practically every mile Of
( the public highway is bettered by the
work. The movement has received the
support of the various good roads asso-
Citations and most of the state and coun-
i ty officials cooperate each year. On &C
count of the damage done during the
i past few weeks by the foods and the
usually large amount of work will be
done this year
"DON'TS"
Among other instructions issued by the
state highway department is a list of
A
Don't wait for your neighbor to start
something: start it yourself. - -
Don't wait for the county commission
ers to have that hole in the road about
+ the size of a water bucket in front of
your gate filed. Fill it yourself.
Don't, forget that water won't run up
4 hill and the rough place in front of
\ your house is caused by you in placing
distractions in the ditch to prevent the
water going it's natural course.
| Don't spend Is minutes hitching your
horse to the buggy to drive 10 miles to
l tell the probate judge that there Is a
hole in the bridge near your place-spend
the time fixing the bridge.
Don't kick about the bad roads when
you are violating the law by turning
water from natural channels into the
public highway. Would you permit the
county at will to turn water on your
farm?
Don't try to carry water and traffic in
the same place. One or the other must
seek a new observation-disclosures is dry.
Don't crown gravel or sand-clay
road high and have little narrow deep
bitches on the side. You may think you
know it all, but-yo don't. You haveI
only to see such roads as those in Dallas,
Montgomery and Houston counties to be
convinced of your folly.
Don't put gravel on soft founda-
ton and not expect it to go down and
the mud up. You might as we'll expect
a rock to float when you throw 1t in a
lpond.
Don't forget you owe something to
the public and that to live alone for
yourself and family is narrowness and
If followed by all others would destroy
the world.
Don't forget that good road is a !
road with tight roof and a dry cellar"