Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-19
THE sBWEJ7 oE ORDNANCE.

THE SEWTiI9 r' n ORDNANCE.
  Dr. T. L. RobertsoA 4-.oers Protest and Shows Its Discriminating Effect.
 To the Age-Herald:
 I wish to call the especial attention of all citizens living or owning property on the Southside in the city of Birmingham to an ordinance passed at the last session of the mayor and board of aldermen of this city providing for the construction of certain sewers" at the cost of the prop erty included in the described district, under the pretext that said property is especially benefited thereby which no one will pretend to deny. On the Northside we have had constructed for us by the city out of the peoples money an ex- cellent system of sewers and the compar- atiVe conditions of the two sides of the city show the results The citizens of this Southside district have not been to blame for these conditions, they have been regularly assessed by the city, and have always contributed their regular prorated taxes, and 1t has been expended in improvements in the favored portions of the city by the powers that existed. Property owners on the SouthSide have not been unmindful of this neglect, but have been patient and forbearing, hop ing and believing that in due time jus tice would be in a measure meted out to
 
 them.
 But after serving and waiting these many years, we are told that we are menace to the city's well being, and for this reason they Uhe mayor and board of aldermen) are determined to build a cer- tain system of sewers. and for the special benefits accruing to the property 1n- cluded in the described district said sew CTS shall be constructed at the cost of said property. Has not this property tnxr f,.O facyfFs J1f oil or other public improvement In the city? And have not special benefits accrued to others? Has any special cost been attached to any other property on ac- count of any special benefits accruing? !? If not, then why such unjust discrimina- ton? It may be assumed that the city is confronted with necessity, which Is not true. The mortuary statistics will show that as few people, in proportion to population, get sick and die in the district under consideration as anywhere else in the city. The whole scheme is a fraud and deluson.
 It is not because there are any men, acing conditions to the city, or any pressing necessity for this great expen- allure of a few poor peoples means, but it is a scheme to get the obligations of the people with lien on all property in the area under consideration, which ob legations and liens are to be placed as colaterals on loans to be secured for the maintenance of another extravagant city government. Such a resort might meet with some justification if all the people in the city could be made to bear an equal share of the burden. But the preposterous idea of overwhelming few poverty-strcken citizens of the city with the enormous debt of from $110,000 to $150,000 means little less than outright confiscation. No sane man would be- lieve that any honest, candid thought could be entertained of putting in force a measure so fraught with injustice.
 I sincerely hope every citizen living or owning property on the Southside will procure copy of the ordinance, which was published in the Birmingham News of the 17th instant, and carefully read it, that they may see and know what is in store for them This ordinance means that you must not only pay your regular taxes into the city treasury. but you must also pay extra for whatever is done that may be assumed to be of special benefit to>you or yours Respectfully,
 T. L. ROBERTSON.