The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-16
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

An enthusiastic good roads booster, who is bit familiar with the Old Testament says he is sure. that Isaiah was talking about highways when he fsaid. Make the rough places plain and ths crooked straight"
 Now I am not going to hazard my reputation as a biblical student by try ing to make it appear that old proph- ct of Israel had the Montgomery highway in mind when he gave utter ance to the sentiment but do main ! tain that if peering into the future he had sen it's present condition he might well have given out such command" hear my friends say, T am tired of all this talk about good roads. it don't get us any where! Boosters come along and get the public excited, and then make a 'holler for a bond issue, and after they are voted waste the money by building highways only in name to leave them after they are finished to go to wreck and ruin for lack of any funds for their upkeep.'
 Now I am willing to admit that we l have suffered much here in Alabama along that line, and if we hope to get the people to stand behind us in the movement now on foot to get the leg | islature to pass great bond issue in | order to get Federal aid we have got to make it mighty plain that the funds will be economically and properly used roads
 l l have heard enough to believe that the present effort is the best chance the people of Alabama have to get what we all want and that is main trunk lines with sufficient feeders to make it possible to travel over the state dur ing all seasons of the year, thing which at present is impossible, for in many counties all traffic practically is suspended during the winter I know for l have tried it within the year and had to give 1t up.
 | I put in the part of two years in campaign for diversification of crops, and the farmers responded nobly to the appeals of the government, and met the need in big and generous way I did my part in going out to the surround ing towns and cities for the food pre- paredness and marketing bureau which | did such an unselfish service. It was mingham but it's object was to reach wider than even Jefferson county and it did in large way.
 I am convinced that the soil of Ala fbama is equal to any demand made upon it and that the state agricultural depar tment and the forces at Auburn are alive and alert and pushing. Not only this, I have seen a new spirit l among the farmers in all sections of the state, for many of the older ones are willing to try out new methods, for they have seen the results accom- plished by their sons who have had special courses in agriculture.
 
 The problem of better farming is in a way of solution but the thing which lags is distribution. Transportation is a controlling factor and before we hope to cash in on diversification of crops we must make it possible for the man in the county to get what he raises to ha in off oly1 cheaply as possible, or the farmer will turn a deaf ear to those who go up and down Alabama crying out for more food stuffs. It puts check on the man who digs and delves to see the product of his labor rotting in his field for lack of a market
 The marketing end has proved the rock on which all of our efforts so far have split and we might as well real ize that unless we get in behind good roads in a worth while way we might as well shut up about diversification
 that is when it comes to raising gar
 den truck. fruits, poultry, milk. butter and the by products of the farm The
 country in and around this great in-
 dustrial city which has the appetite
 and the money to pay for not only the
 necessities but the luxuries of life is
 amply able to furnish it with all that it demands.
 I have put the call for better high ways on the grounds of commercial.
 ism so far. and it is a just one: but
 now lets lift it a bit higher The re- port of the commission appointed by the governor and headed by the Hon
 Sidney J. Bowie ought to cause a blust of shame to mount to the cheek o1 every man who loves his native state
 There is no use trying to hide behind
 the facts, and wriggle out with apolo.
 gies and explanations, for after allow. 7 ing everything possible in the way O. excuse, it sets us before the world in 6 l way which calls for our best endeavors l to put an end to such humiliating con. t ditions.
 Alabama will never get out of hel educational ruts until she mends tn, 8 holes in her roads. Improved road. means improved schools. Bad high ways spell poor educational institu : tions. Religion itself is a sufferer