Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-27
AGAIN THERE'S NO DECISION Reached by the Mayor and Board
 of Aldermen. THE STORM SEWER QUESTION Discussed at Special Meeting of the Board Without ResuIts-Report of the
 Board of Health.

mayor and aldermen was held last night to consider the "big sewer" question.
 At the meeting a week ago a resolu- ton repeating the Southslde ordinance was introduced, and pending it's consid- eration an adjournment was taken until last night
 The following members of the board were present: Mayor VanHoose and Aldermen Ward, Harrington, Duncan. Enslen, Kettig, McCartin, Gillespie, Parker and Mcknight.
 Mayor VanIIoose stated the purpose of the meeting and called on any one pres ent who so desired, to address the board
 pr. T. l.. Robertson stated that great deal of the property in the district to be drained by the proposed sewer was in the names of the wives of signers of the petitions.
 MT. R. L. Thornton said tax of 50 cents a front foot, in addition to the 3.9 mills, was assessed against property fronting on the streets along which the sewer would be built.
 That, he thought, was wrong as prop erty not abutting the street would be drained just as much as that abutting 1t. Further, owners of property along ing the building of the sewer. He thought if any extra tax was charged it should be against prop erty not fronting on the street.
 City Engineer Kendriek said property was supposed to keep up streets in front of it, and it was easier to keep a street in good condition if the sewer is built.
 MT. Kettig moved that vote on the resolution be taken and Mayor VanHoose called Alderman Mcknight to the chair.
 He said: l speak mainly to put my self on record In my opinion, the ac- of oysl icsb ic graver consequences than almost any ac- ton they may take for a long time.
 In the first place there is a large and expensive system of sanitary sewerage, the best known to the world. In the sec ond place you have that sewerage sys- tenn in dangerous condition and likely to be ruined if something is not done to save it. The chairman of the sanitation committee has charge of the sewer. He is practical man, who has had several years experience as a member of this board. He and the other members of the committee went out and looked at the sewers and we have their recom- mendations now here. In the eastern part of the city there are several of these sewers open and rapidly going to ruin. Already damage suits amounting to $8000 or $10,000 have been obtained againt the city on account of these. That amount would have built the sewers in that dis trct. As to the equity of the question, this law is modelled after the Indiana law and the laws of other states in the north and northwest. This is a system pursued almost entirely in the north and north west. It does not confiscate property In those sections, then how can it confiS- cate property in this state?
 There are three ways of raising money for public improvements.
 l. That which Birmingham has pur- sued, that is by issuing public improve ment bonds. That is a vicious system. If you have an active, energetic alder man from your ward you will get needed improvements: if your alderman was not active and energetic you would not get the improvements. In Michigan the cities are not allowed to issue bonds in excess of per cent of taxable values Ala bama has limited the tax rate in cities to mills, probably wise thing, but the amount of bonded indebtedness was not limited and today Birmingham has bonds outstanding amounting to F per cent or it's taxable values.
 9 Direct taxation. I am in favor of increased taxation, but l fear the state of Alabama will not allow Birmingham to raise her tax rate. By this plan you are forced to oppose an increase m Nhe rate By this special plan you will get rid of the increased tax in ten years, whereas if the tax rate is increased It goes on forever, and you will never hear the last of it.
 There are large portions of this city that have no police protection, no hghts, no water, yet the people in those districts pay their taxes, and if the tax rate is in- creased they will have 10 pay the new rate
 Colonel Altman suggested that the sewers could be patched. MT. McCartin, chairman of the sanitary committee. has been patching them and patching them until they can be patched no longer.
 H.. s1-1ak .te.1r will have struck the funeral note. don't think you will be able to do any work here for years.
 You can't get everybody to agree The city engineer informs me that there are 800 names in that basin. only 107 of whom are on the petitions presented here.
 The mayor ordered the clerk to call the roll, but Colonel Altman was granted permission to address the board.
 He said: ''I am here to represent portion of the people of the Southside. The mayor has said the people are will ing to pay for what they get. Some of the people of the Southside don't want this sewer. I am charged with suggest ing that the sewers be patched, and re- peat that suggestion now. It can be done at merely nominal sum- There was once a time here when everything was patched. To patch the sewers it will cost only a very few thousand dol lars. That will enable us to go on until we get able 10 pay the levy upon us.
 Ninety per cent of the people to whom these petitions were presented signed them, and were glad to sign them. They didn't do it because they desired this board to do anything contrary to the interests of the city. They felt that you as their representatives would listen to them and be willing to do what was right. We don't want to present legal question now. but we are not able to pay for the sewer.'
 Dr. T. L. Robertson read the report of the board of health, which was as follows:
 Birmingham, June 15. To His Honor, J. A. VanHo oose, Mayor.
 Dear Sir: Noting your communication to the secretary of the committee of health asking an opinion of them as to. the sanitary necessity of the proposed storm sewer, we would say, ,after per sonal investigation made, we are satfs- fled that insofar as it may be the means of relieving the pressure under which tho present discharge of sewage is finding