The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-24
For the Good of
 the Community

Y AST week the voters of Jefferson A county authorized bond issue of $5,000, 900 for permanent highway build ing purposes, and the voters of Alabama ratified a constitutional amendment creating the State Highway Commission and authorizing bond issue of S25,OOO,- 900 to build good roads The majorities for these two propositions were so over whelming that there can be no question as to the sentiment of the people of Alabama on the subject.
 Having received a commission from the voters to build permanent roads, it is now up to the State Highway Commission and the county board of revenue to do the work. With these two bodies rests the duty and the privilege of placing Jeffer- son county and Alabama in the forefront of progressive counties and states.
 The season for road building in all parts of the country is at hand. Road ma- terials and labor are scarce. They will be scarcer later on in the spring and summer. It may be impossible to secure all the ma terials and all the labor needed to carry out the programme for the present year.
 The states and the counties that get into the work first will be given first choice in these. Those that wait until late spring orsummer may not be able to realize their expectations.
 Bearing on the subject of materials and labor this item taken from Public Works may be of interest to the highway conimis- sion and the county board of revenue
 "A statement from the Delaware State High way department that contract bids in response to invitations issued late in the season were in some cases 15 per cent higher than earlier ones for sim liar work, emphasizes the economy of prepared ness for construction.
 When road work and paving are determined on plans specifications, estimates and contracts should be prepared in complete readiness for the letting the invitations issued early, plenty of time given bidders, and the awards made promptly
 Engineers and other city officials should CO., operate for quick, thorough action. Standard work under known conditions, and with more pay looks so good to a winter bound contractor that he will often hurry to make low bid that he would scorn few weeks later when things open up.
 Besides the effect of the dull season and the opportunity to make thorough preparations that minimize cost, prices of plant and materials are likely to be at lower ebb than later and deliv- cries much easier and safer. Now is the time, it is public duty to save dollars by saving days'
 The board of revenue and the county engineer state that contracts for consid- erable portion of the roads to be built in Jefferson county this year can be awarded within short time, as plans and specifi- cations have already been prepared.
 The state highway department present. ed, ina general way, it's plans to the legis- lature last summer, and they are in part embodied in the constitutional amend ment ratified week ago last Monday. It is probable that contracts for a consider able mileage of both county and state roads can be let by the last of March, in which event the contractors can begin work in April and thereby get start on the contractors further north who must g hofo 4o1x