The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-21
TWO GOOD REASONS
 FOR RATE FICAT|ON
Means Certain Employment for Many Men and Match
 ing of Federal Fund
By FRED IT. GoRMLEY Montgomery Bureau The AEe-Herald, 221-2 First National Bank Building


 Montgomery, January 2o.-(Spe- cial)-Two Of the best reasons for the ratification of the highway amendment in the election January 30 are the certainty that employment will be given to Alabama men and machines and materials and the fact that without the matching of the fed erat funds by the state bond issue the smaller and poorer counties can- not obtain a system oi permanent roads, according to the declaration o2 F. J. Cramton, president of the Ala. bama Highway Improvement associa- tion today.
 Tt is the policy of the highway commission and the contractors work ing on Alabama highway projects to use men, machines and materials ob- tained in Alabama" said MT. Cram ton. "lf the people vote the bond issue thousands of men who are now idle or are working only part of the time will be given employment for a long time. When the construction of the road system is started it will be continued until all counties have re- ceived their share guaranteed by the constitutional amendment and the laws of Alabama.
 Means Jobs for Men
 If all persons could know what success has been obtained already in relieving the unemployment situation by the use of men, machines and equipment of this state they would readily see how great would be the further relief when the bonds were placed on the market and the road construction work started in all coun- ties.
 T would call attention to one proJ. ect the construction of a bridge across the Tallapoosa river. Every white mechanic and negro laborer em- ployed on the project resides in that section. Many are farmers who have devoted their spare time of the winter months, thus earning money which they could not obtain in any other way. Every penny of the pay roll created in this construction work stays in Alabama.
 Every single item of material used in the construction has been pur- chased in Alabama. Sand and gravel were obtained from a pit nearby. Lumber and piling came from Elmore county. Reinforced steel was nanu- factured in Birmingham. Rails were purchased in Gadsden The cement was manufactured in Birmingham. Nails were purchased in Gadsden. The cement was manufactured at Demop- oils.
 Many Are Benefited
 Cant one imagine how the eXpendi- ture of this money has helped the financial condition of the people of Alabama? No one can figure how many persons scattered throughout the state-in Birmingham, Gadsden, Demopolis Elmore county-have re- ceived salaries and wages because of the fact that the federal government gave the state 50 per cent of the amount which is being invested in the construction of this bridge.
 The federal government has of fered 50 per cent of the amount which the state proposes to spend on a road system and the state has promised that $250,0o0 of state funds and the same amount of federal funds will be expended in every county provided the bond issue is ratified. From an economic standpoint, if from no other the amendment should be ratified by an overwhelming majority.
 Second Important Reason
 Then comes the second important reason. A great majority of the cuuHAleh or AidDdmd are up to the debt limit permitted by. the constitu- tion. They cannot create additional obligations. Unless the highway amendment is ratified they will be unable to obtain.the roads which will be constructed with the state and fed eral funds. A few counties will be able to put up 90 per cent of the amount necessary to match the fed eral appropriation. The result, of course, will be that these counties can get a portion of the federal ap- propriation. Any amount that can- not be matched will be lost to the state.
 The smaller counties, the ones which are now up to the debt limit permitted by the constitution, are the ones which will receive the great benefit from the highway amend ment. These are the counties which should furnish a unanimous vote for the amendment in the election Jan uary 30.'