The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-08
Forum Of The People
Roads And Self-Interest


 To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 1 am a citizen of Boligee, Alabama, and was born and raised here, and have noticed the need of good roads for the past sixty years, and have heard good roads discussed and ways and means to build good roads ar gued from all standpoints, but the good people of Alabama were persuaded that a bond issue was the solution to the road question. l am deeply self-interested in having high way built to pass through Boligee, both for financial and individual use, and any sane person knows that a good road does not de- cnease the value of property and is needed to travel and haul crops over. Now, before the bond issue election the people were told that the monies arising from the bonds were to be used for the best interest of the whole people of Alabama and not for the use of few interested parties. 1 notice that at the very start the atmosphere is full of road dust, caused by the road bullies paving up sand and believing nightly at different places and are apparently ready to go on the war path, because the route of the proposed high way does not pass their homes or farms, re- gardless of the public interest. Every one knows that the route past Clinton, Mt. He bron and Gainesville is not a direct line from Eutaw to Livingston by seven or eight miles, and neither has the Gainesville route any better material for road building purposes. It requires but little figuring to see that if 1t costs $5,000 to build one mile of road, that seven and one-half miles of extra detours will cost $37 800 more of the good peopies money, and such acts will be sure to cause a mighty howl from the people. Those bullies who seem to think that they can use the peoples money to their own interest and that of their friends and relatives without a protest from the people, have notes in their eyes and will be wondering why the people do not vote for them at the next and all future elections. Most anyone cnn fool the people sometimes but no one can fool them all the time. The most of these road bullies are personal friends of mine and it will require something more than the ordinary to sever the tie of friend ship between us. l have had business trans actions with the most of them and always found them to be honest and fair, so there Is no kick coming from that source. There are two words in the English language which, when written one before the other, make a complete sentence, and both these words have eight letters. The first begins with the letter P and ends with the letter L. The second word commences with the letter and ends with the letter -T-and they spell per- sonal interest-and that is the cause of the road trouble. Now, boys you cannot afford to lose the friendship of your neighbors, nor can you rightfully expect to use the peoples money wrongfully without a kick from the public. Now, boys, stop and think what you are doing and let the highways be built &C., cording to the government survey and all shake hands and admit that it is self interest that is causing the trouble on both sides, and remember that any man who is not crazy wants good road to his town, home or farm i; 1t is human nature. Quit paving up dust and believing and get right and sin no more, and get the notes out of your eyes.
 W. W. McALPINE.
 Boligee Ala, April 5, 1924.