The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-16

to re-establish cordial relations with out much difficulty. The overthrow of Prussia and the substitution of Bava- ria would be viewed with lively inter- est in the United States and might prove highly desirable change. There is well founded suspicion that the average Bavarian is much more likable fellow personally than the average Prussian.
 !; ;: a
 Progress In Good
 Road Construction | TIT was fourteen years ago that U Birmingham had it's first good roads meeting, but interest in the work of improving the highways in this part of the country has never re- faxed. Road experts from northern states were present at that initial gathering of men intent upon putting Alabama in line with other progress sive commonwealths. There was an exhibition of road machinery, which was then comparatively crude, but the meeting aroused great deal of en- thusiasm and since that time few states in the south have been so ac- tive as Alabama in promoting the building of modern highways.
 When the United States Good Roads association holds it's annual conven- ton in Birmingham in April re- view of what has been done in various sections in recent years will be cheer ing and in large measure educa- tional. There will be a great display of good road making machinery and it will be seen that wonderful ad- vance has been made in mechanical devices as we'll as engineering in- genuity.
 Road making is now on a strictly scientific basis and some of the best engineers in the country will be on hand at the convention to discuss the latest phases of good road develop ment.
 Some years ago most of the speech making at good roads meetings had for its object clear presentation of the economic value of highway inn provement. Everyone living in rural district appreciated the luxury of travelling over hard, smooth roads, but could counties stand the expense of construction? Nothing pays better than bond issues for building first, class highways That seems so obvi- ous now as no longer to need discus sion. It is important, however, to keep up interest in the good roads move ment in order that each year may mark greater and greater strides.
 There were notable gains in many states, including Alabama, in the five-year period from 1904 to 1909. New York led, advancing from 5876 miles of improved road in 1904 to 12,7S7 in 1909-a gain of 6911 miles. Georgia came next with gain of 4344 miles in the same period. Ala bama's record was a gain of 1543 miles, but this state has been making faster headway in the last three years, and this year it will give an exceptionally fine account of itself. The United States department of agriculture showed state highway | mileage on January 1, 1915, to be 2,273,131, with a percentage of 10.9 surfaced roads. Alabama's total of all
 surfaced roads in 1914 was 5491. It's
 total of all public roads was 49,639, the percentage of surfaced roads in the state that year being Ill. The state with the largest percentage of
 surfaced roads in 1914 was Rhode
 Island--58.8 per cent.
 At the forthcoming annual meeting
 of the United States Good Roads as- sociation an engineer from the high
 way division of the agricultural de-
 partment will be present with data
 recently compiled showing approxi-
 mately the progress made in 1916. It
 goes without saying that the statistics
 will be encouraging.
 Enterprising persons are said to be going about in Alabama selling prepara-
 tions guaranteed to destroy the boil wee
 vii, said preparations being about as ef-
 ficacious as the average hair tonic.
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