The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-09
For the Good of
 the Community

c EVERAL days ago list of the state o trunk roads was published in these columns: The list was taken from map prepared by State Highway Engineer w. s. Keller made in 1917. Since then nearly as many more highways have been designated as state trunk roads.
 In all over 250O miles of permanent highways is provided for. To build these the state IS asked to issue bonds in the sum of S25, 100000. That sum will not build all the roads designated as trunk roads Possibly as much more will be needed But 1t will come from the federal govern ment. in all 1t is probable that $50, O,OOO,- 900 will be spent in highway, construction during the next ten years, if the bond issue goes through.
 Every county in the state, under the programme mapped out by the state high way department, will have at least 30 miles of good roads built within the ten years. Every town in the state will be connected up with every other town and travel, whether on business or pleasure, will thereby be made easy and expedi- tlous Without the bond issue it cannot be done.
 The bond issue bill has been made a special order in the house of represen- tatives for the forty-fifth Legislative day. That will probably be Thursday or Fri day of this week. Wednesday will be the forty-fourth legislative day.
 Tfere is determined opposition to the bond issue and it will not let the bill pass without strenuous fight. While profess ing to be for good roads the leaders of the opposition nevertheless have done and are doing everything in their power to make the bond issue impossible. The con- ditions they would throw around it would nullify everything the highway depart ment has done to give the state system of good roads.
 Everybody recognizes the backward ness of Alabama in the matter of roads and everybody as readily admits that good roads are badly needed, but they, at the same time, interpose objections to all constructives legislation looking to the building of a system of highways that would take the state out of the mud
 State Highway Engineer Keller, in a statement published in The Age-Herald last Friday, gives some of the details of the plan adopted. Mir. Keller is recog- nized as one of the ablest road engineers in the country and in working out a system he sought the counsel and assistance of other able and experienced road engi- neers and builders
 He has worked out system that will be eco- nomical effective and simple; one which would in the course of very few years put every com munity in the state on good road, road good all the year round.
 No people on earth are more in need of good roads than the farmer. His prosperity, comfort and happiness, and the education of his children depend upon good roads.
 Good roads and education go hand in hand. Admittedly, the state cannot build school house and provide teachers for every locality in the state To do so would require the expenditure of millions of dollars for buildings alone and prac- tically double the number of teachers.
 With good roads, better buildings and better teachers and better equipment could be provided at convenient centers and transportation to and from these made easy. In other states school houses, in the rural districts, often from 10 to 15 miles apart, but they have good roads and fur nish transportation for the children, which enable them to go to and from school in less time than formerly was required to make the two or three