The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-17

E during the last few months because of the lack of homes for the people who wanted to come here and bring their families. As soon as the war indus tries board releases building materials for construction work I look for very active building operations in Blrmlng- ham. I am advised by real estate agents that there are no houses for rent ana that the demand for them IS increasing daily
 BETTER ROADS QUESTION
 Better roads is live question in the state. Birmingham is vitally inter- ested in the question. With frst-class roads into every section of north Ala bama. Birmin gha ms trade possibilities would be largely increased. mere IS no one agency more capable of develop ing a city's commercial growth than good roads, and in this day of motor driven vehicles which cover 40 to 50 miles as easily and quickly as a horse drawn vehicle covers 10 of 12 miles, good roads are more important than ever before. As soon as the war 1n- dustries board releases the embargo on road building I look for great activity in that line, and Birmingham should not overlook this splendid opportunity 1 for expanding her trade and influence
 
 river means a great deal to the Fir 1 mingham district, how much cannot now be estimated. Our information | ;s that the favorable report of pr. C.. | A. Tomlinson will be indorsed by Dl- l rector General McAdoo and that some | concrete action will be taken at an l early date to secure the necessary equipment for operating it econcml- cally and successfully It will be up to i Birmingham, I understand, to provide terminal facilities somewhere in this district The matter of terminals is now under consideration and some thing definite along that line may be ready for announcement in a short l time.
 { Birmingham is badly in need of an | auditorium. I understand a bond issue
 was authorized at an election held l here sometime ago, the proceeds or i which were to be used for building an auditorium, but the war coming on in- i terrupted the plans then made. My Idea of an auditorium is that it should be- long to the people, conducted by trus- tees selected by the people. and that it should have facilities not only for accommodati ting large conventions, con certs, grand operas and similar enter tainments, but that other roons and halls should be provided in the same building Tor smaller 5dtnerlnSs, dHu that it should be a center Of. civic movements.
 SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
 "The Chamber of Commerce is not
 going to lose sight of the opportunity to increase the population of the state
 through the soldiers aid sailors home movement inaugurated by Secretary Lane of the department of the interior
 There are millions of acres of land il Alabama, denuded of their timber b,
 saw mills, that can be easily reclaimed
 and improved and converted into ready made farms for the soldiers and sail
 ors This movement not only would largely increase the states population
 but it would diversity and multipl,
 her crops and make the state self-sus
 taining We are advocating ana assist ing in this movement on the theor. that whatever benefits the state a large benefits Birmingham, and WI , shall give it our heartiest support il
 every way possible.
 "This programme added to the nor
 nal activities of the organization
 means busy year for somebody ant
 my belief based on the few months
 have been here and the knowledge . have acquired os the people and tn f conditions confronting us, is that w
 have the people and the organization , here in Birmingham to dc thes s things"