The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
THE MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION

The merging of the two motor clubs of this city into the Alabama Motorists Association is of more significance than is at first evident While similar clubs in other cities have been active in many ways beneficial to the travelling public and to the cause of good roads, it is noticeable that in Birmingham there has been lamentable lack of such results. There is reason to believe that the exist ence of two clubs with rival aspirations for recognition and membership has ac- tually defeated the honest purpose of both of them to be serviceable. There is equal reason to hope that the one club now, organized will supply need that has long been neglected in this com r:iunity.
 Those who travel about over the country in automobiles know how impor- tant and essential the service extended by up-to-date automobile clubs can be-. Among the services afforded by properly equipped and organized clubs is an infor- nation bureau completely supplied with road maps and data, and with a per sonnel capable of giving such enlighten- ment to the puzzled tourist as he may need, no matter what the subject may be. Such bureau is the first place sought by the stranger who rolls in un- der his own power, and amazed indeed is he to discover the absence of such a facility, even in city tenth the size of this community. Then there is the maintenance of the tourist camp, another service that the tourist always looks for, because he doubtless belongs and con- tributes to a club back home that pro- vides such convenience for others, and because he has found it in every other city on his route.
 Noticeable also to those who travel the highways in the vicinity of Birming- ham is the lack of road signs and mark ings to guide them aright. Road mark CTS are the voluntary concern of auto mobile clubs that seek properly to per form their functions. Not only in Jef- ferson county, but in adjoining counties should the club of this city display it's consideration for the outside travellers who journey among us. Detouring signs, data as to the better routes, and all other information which the motorists so anxiously seek, should be easily avail able at all strategic points. When the motorists of Birmingham go elsewhere they find in abundance the favors that they unintentionally withhold from the motorists who visit this territory in turn.
 An automobile club should also be an invincible force working constantly for the construction and maintenance of good roads. Frequently their commit tees work in a highly acceptable capacity with public commissions charged with highway responsibility. For an auto mobile club to undertake special pro- grams looking to better roads is for that club to save for it's membership an inn mense cost of repair and depreciation due to bad roads. There is plenty of constructive opportunity ahead of the new Birmingham organization. It de- serves the support of the motorists of this city, and of all owners of trucks; for the proper service on the part of the club means an actual saving in cash to all who travel the highways or haul goods over the highways. The membership fee will be returned many fold, each year, after the club gets we'll into it's stride.
 The personnel of the officers and di rectors of the Motorists Association is such as to give confidence, not only in it's good intention, but also in its ca- pacity to handle the affairs of the club in an able, efficient and progressive manner. Those who have the oppor tunity to unite with the club. may do so with the assurance that they will be contributing to an enterprise that is bound to succeed and to be of profound benefit to this entire community.