The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-12-13
For the Good of
the Community

~
the slogan adopted by the $685.
100000 highway bond issue campaign
committee, and there is no doubt about
the slogan being appropriate. All the evil
dence needed to convince the most Sl[ep-
teal of it's truth may be obtained in the i'm
mediate environs of any village, town or
city in the state.
The election, at which Alabamians are
expected to vote the state out of the
mud will be held on February 16, 1920.
The campaign committee, headed by F.
j. Cramton of Montgomery, is carrying
the good roads propaganda into every
community in the state, the remotest as
we'll as those nearer centerS of pOpula-
tion
'The use of roads has increased more
than 500 per cent in the last twelve
years, says the campaign committee in
one of its circulars, due to the change in
the vehicles used; the motor covering a
greater range and distance in shorter
time Increased population and wealth is
following the lines of improved highway
construction"
Trucks delivering goods several miles
IN the country are supplanting the short
rail hauls making quicker deliveries and
opening up the markets to the farmers,
who in former years could not get to town
for weeks at a time in the winter because
of impossible roads,
Before the motor truck came farmer
had just as we'll live fifty miles from town
as ten, unless he happened to be on rail-
road. Now fifty miles can be made in
truck in one day, the farmer sell his prod
ucts, make his purchases and get back
home in time for a hot SUPPER provided
the trucks can pass over the roads.
No tax will be levied to pay any part
of the bond issue for good roads, either
principal or interest Automobile license
fees will pay all the cost. That is pro-
vided for in the constitutional amendment
which is to be submitted to the voters on
February 16. The taxpayers burden will
not be increased.
eff paved streets and sidewalks of
cities are good things; if the people who
live there have found them to be desir-
able, why would not hard roads in the
country, built on bond issues, be good for
the people who live in the country" asks
Senator John A. Rogers chairman of the
state highway commission.
There should be no opposition to the
proposed bond issue, says The Admission
Star. 1T is to be practically gift to the
taxpayers and it will be the means of put
ting Alabama far in advance of it's present
status among states in the matter of roads
that can be travelled 365 days in the
year"
'1This is fifty fifty proposition, says
the campaign committee. "Uncle Sam
puts up one dollar and requires the state
to match it. If Alabama fails or refuses to
put up, the money goes to other states
every safeguard which experience sug-
gest or that human ingenuity devise has been
thrown around the bond issue money for it's pro-
lection from within and without Not one cent of
it can be drawn out of the state treasury without
the approval of the governor. The state auditor
has to draw his warrant for this money before
even the governor touch it. The contracts for
the building of these roads to be let to the
lowest and best bidder. The accounts are to be
gone over by the twelve members of the Alabama
highway commission and the state highway en-
gineer. All persons handling this money are I'M
der heavy bonds. Then, the federal government
keeps check on it..
Doroy%c from, q II r,oytc of +bo c4o4o