The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-06
CONTENDS SMALLER COUNTIES INCREASE
 WEALTH 0F s TATE
Bessemer Man Points to This Method of Getting Better Results Along
 All Lines.

James Albert Estes, attorney at law of Bessemer, has developed theory whereby he claims the state of Alabama and the counties therein may raise more revenues without at the same time rais- ing the tax rate.
 His theory involves a reduction in the area of the counties, not a new idea in certain parts of Alabama, but his argu- ment based thereon has not been heard heretofore. ry
 His contention is that smaller counties and more courthouses make for more val uable property and more thrifty people.
 Here is how he states it:
 Remove the area qualifications for counties, and if nothing else will do but have qualification, fix a population or taxable value qualification. It would be better to have no qualification specified tions at all, but leave it to the leglsla- ture They would not create an insig- nficant county.
 Suppose we should double the mum Der of counties in the state, what would be the effect as to increase of property valuations, population and finance of the stateo
 'rrne courthouse is headquarters of the county, it is the centralization of intelli- gence, schools, good stock, good houses, good roads, good fencing and every thing"
 l From this premise ne dISueS liih' ehO further removed from the courthouse the , poorer are the people and the less interest they take in affairs; that so much Of l their time is taken up in going to and | returning from the courthouse 10 LOOK after taxes, make settlements and land ! partitions, serve on the jury and as w.t. resses make bonds for friends and
 few other details enumerated, that they haven't time to improve their farms, | heir schools and 1lelr churches.
 l Again he says:
 "Suppose the area qualification for l counties were removed, and we had made | two or more counties for every one we new have, to what height would the tax
 able values of the property Of the state l soar?
 "suppose the time lost by the farmers and others who live at such great dis l tanees from the courthouse, over ana above the time lost by the farmer ilVlns within a reasonable distance. could De ! utilized, es it would be but for thls great distance, to what extent would the pro ductiveness of this state be increased an nually? It would furnish the desired
 a~tra reverue. Then there would be the increased value of land. of stock, oi | the building up of towns, mercantile es- l ta abIiehnerts. manufacturing 1ndustries etc The license taxes, without any raise
 but simply from the increased numoer o' counties, would be greatly increased. ] Create the new counties and neces, sity for reduction of taxation instead of the demand for an increased taxa tion." not Mir. Estes says little counties are nat rral good roads builders; the best roao' are about the courthouse and the TUT. ther out ycu go the more inrerior 'h' roads become
 Referring to Birmingham county pro. posed by City Commissioner Rurruss ane discussed hy him and some otnerS E..n
 frsonent intervals recently. MT. Estes says ,ns
 "B,rningham now wants county, an.
 neither the Bessemer nor the Warrlo, ana of inc county will object, provided each of them can likewise get county 1T the performance. Make three counties ou lof jefferson"