The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-10-15
Banquet Rendered Party at the Tutwiler Hotel
 Last Night
BIRMINGHAM'S CLAIMS
 NAMED BY RELIANCE
Miss Alma Rittenberry, Originator of Jackson Highway Idea, Among the Speakers-Party to
 Gadsden Today

The Jackson Highway pathfinders ar rived on the crest of Shades smountain yesterday afternoon at o clock, and were escorted into the city by a large party of automobilists and good roads enthu- siasts.
 A dinner was given them at the Tut wiler last night at o'clock. The path finders leave Birmingham today at noon for Gadsden and from there go to Nash vile. Those in the party are w. Fl. Grim, W. l.. Brown Col. D. G. Dent and R. E. Toms, government engineer. They are also accompanied by W. K. Gibbs, associate editor of Motor Age. MT. Gibb will make a trip through the city and surrounding territory this morning. w. B. Everett, acting general manager of the Chamber of Commerce, will accom- pany him.
 The dinner at the Tutwiler last night was conspicuous in that the speeches, and especially the introductions of the toast master, Judge B. M. Allen, were full of ginger and enthusiasm. Judge Allen was in unusually fine fettle and had the crowd convulsed with laughter the greater DOT tion of the evening.
 Herman Beck was the first speaker. His address of welcome was extremely cordial. He expressed his appreciation of the difficulties the pathfinders were having in deciding on the best route and emphasized the importance of Bir- mingham being located on the Jackson highway. w. B. Everett made short address of welcome on behalf Of the Chamber of Commerce and told the mem- bers of the pathfinding party that his organization was at their service. City Attorney M. M. Ullman made few re- marks on behalf of the city.
 MISS RITTENBERRY TALKS
 Miss Alma Rittenberry, the originator of the Jackson Highway idea, and an ardent worker for the project since its inception four years ago, made an able address on the subject of the Jackson highway. She told of her dream of many years ago when she looked into the fu- ture for that time to come when great and magnificent roadway would pass through her former home in Tennessee and into Alabama. Her remarks were received with applause
 w. H. Grim of the pathfinding party, made & talk on the highway, and eX- pressed his appreciation of the hospitality of the people of Birmingham. He said that none of the party would make any promises one way or the other but that Birmingham was a great city. Col E. q. Dent of Kentucky thoroughly interested and amused his auditors with his talk. He said that a man or woman who hailed from Kentucky, as he did, were placed Ut a disadvantage when introduced as MT. or Miss So-and-So of Kentucky. If it happens to be a lady who is called upon she must be beautiful. If it be man. he must either be capable of drink ing a quart of whisky without a quivver or else get on his feet and make talk of quality without the bat of an eye lash.''
 Colonel Dent made good as far as the talking part was concerned He spoke feelingly of the welding of the north and south into greater nation, more wonder full than any other nation on the face of the globe.
 c. M. Stanley of The Age-Herald made a brief talk on behalf of the press.
 T. H. Motion spoke of the numerous ad- vantages of this district and pointed out that the tourists of the north and east who come south would want to come to Birmingham. George H. Clark, county engineer told of the use of convict labor on the roads, and stamped it as an un- qualified success. He stated that the saw ing occasioned by the use of convict labor was from 10 to 25 per cent
 RELIANCE CITES FACTS
 J. B. Rylance of Dadeville, member of the state highway commission, struck the keynote of the meeting when he cited con- crete facts to back up the routing of the Jackson highway through Alabama. MT. Rylance said that the state had made plans for building of three trunk high ways north and south and three trunk highways east and west from the bound- aries of Alabama He declared the main- tenance of the roads was the main thing. He said that Alabama had provided by statute for the raising of funds for the building of these great trunk highways and that in the event the counties through which they passed did not keep them up, the state itself had provided sufficient money to maintain the roads
 His talk was convincing and practical He explained that w. s. Keller, state highway engineer, could not be present on account of a trip to Washington.
 M. J. Cramton of Jenison. made strong address in favor of the highway passing through his city on the way to Montgomery from Birmingham. Robert Jemison, Jr., concluded the speaking pro- Kramme with some appropriate remarks regarding the benefits to be obtained from the highway.