The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-24
ALABAM|ANS ARE
 DETERMINED UPON
 BETTER HIGHWAYS
Recent Collapse of Bond Issue Fails to Daunt Progressive Spirit = Uncertainty of
 Extra Session BotherS
Fly FRED H. GORMLEY Montgomery, Bureau, The Age-Herald 22I-2 First National Bank Building


 the S25,OO0,O0O state highway bond issue through the adverse decision of the supreme court, many counties oi Alabama are making preparations to hold county elections on the issuance of highway bonds in order that they may obtain the benefit of the federal appropriation and the state funds which are available through automo- bile licenses.
 Already four counties-Mobile,M Madi- son. Tuscaloosa and Dale-have called special elections which will determine whether or not bond issues totaling S700,0O0 may be issued, while many others have the matter under advise ment. It would be no surprise if q dozen or more counties should call highway bond elections during the year. Mobile has proposed q bond issue of S25O,000, and the election will be held during the next few weeks. Madi- son has asked the voters to authorize an issue of $200000 and they will pass upon the issue May g. Tuscaloosa county will vote April 26 on proposed bond issue of $150000 Dale voters have been asked to determine whether or not the county may issue $1O0,o00 and they will vote May 10.
 PUBLIC INTERESTED
 Reports from the counties indicate that great interest is being shown in the campaign and unless something comes up which is not now contem- plated it is believed the bond issues will be successful. In addition to the argument that good roads will relieve the counties of the heavy mud tax. which has been imposed on property
 
 state, another argument is that the ex- penditure of the money in road work in the counties will relieve many persons of financial embarrassment and will in crease business generally. It has been shown that practically all money will go into the pockets of citizens of the counties and that men and teams now idle or soon to be idle again can n- crease the counties income through road work.
 Prices of road materials have been greatly reduced during recent months and highway officials believe this is an excellent time to start road work throughout the state. Little can be done until more money is obtained. Whenever the state and counties are able to put up dollar for dollar, the federal appropriation will be availa- ble. but until each dollar is matched no funds can be taken from the federal treasury.
 An argument in favor of elections at this time is that soon the bond mar kets will open and owners of dollars will seek a place of investment. The counties which have made preliminary arrangements, have obtained authority of the voters for the bond issues and have had the bonds prepared and ad- vertised among the bond investors will be the ones to receive first aid.
 EXTRA SESSION BOTHERS
 Financial reports recently have in- dicated that it will not be many weeks before there will be a call from large investors for improvement bonds. It is an open secret in Alabama now that large investors are much interested in reports that there will soon be an ex- fra session of the legislature for the purpose of resubmitting the state bond issue for road work. Road bonds have always been looked upon as an un- usually good investment.
 General reports and newspaper edi- torials indicate much disappointment over the fact that Governor Kilby has not seen fit up to this time to indi- cate whether he will call the extra ses- sion of the legislature for the resub- mission of the amendment. This dis appointment probably results from the fact that the people do not understand the many details which must be worked out even after the sentiment of the people has been obtained.
 Governor Kilby is favorable to the bond issue. He looks upon road build ing as absolute necessity. If all things were equal and there was a req sonable assurance that the bond issue would be ratified when submitted, there probably would be 8 definite statement regarding the session. But the governor does not desire to bring the legislature here with the attendant upsetting of all business cEt!l con vinced that the people really desire it for the submission of the amendment From many sources he is now obtain ing information about the sentiment The county bond elections in the four counties will be an important bit of Information. If -1obil-. Madison, Tus- caloosa and Dale, in the widely sepa- rated sections of Alasama, vote the bond issues, this would be an indica- ton that the general sentiment of the people was in favor of bond issues for road work at this .lme,
 BUSINESS IMPROVES
 In this connection, state officials in recent weeks have noted general im- provement in business and financial cOnultlOnS. New COrpOrdtlOnS are being organized ir various sections of the state. Industries that have been idle are being started again. Reports even show that in some sections the old double shift basis has been re-estab- lished.
 Another good indication of better business conditions is the organization of new banks. H. H. Montgomery, state superintnedent of banks, has just opened a new bank in Franklin coun- ty. Only this week a charter was granted for the establishment of new bank in Mobile county at Bayou La Batre. Alabama banks have weathered the financial storms of recent months better than those of any other state. Few persons know that during the strained financial conditions in Ala bama only two banks closed their doors. One was a small institution which was liquidated.
 Before the process of liquidation was completed, another bank was or ganized in that same town and is now in a flourishing financial condition. The other was a bank in excellent financial condition, which was forced to close it's doors temporarily as a re- suit of rumors which had no founda- ton in fact. Depositors became un- easy because the cashier was forced to hold up payment a few minutes while state examiners were making I periodical examination of the books This bank is now being reorganized and will start business with the as- surance that those depositors, who withdrew their funds, will become customers again and with new capital