Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-08
REPORT OF THE MAYOR.
(continued from Second Page.)


 dents and property holders along the proposed line, by vote. express desire for the work, I see no reason why this board should not undertake It.. The en- gineer informs me that the cost would be about S200 for each 50-foot lot, and that some contractors agree to execute the work under the law which authorizes the issuance of improved bonds, payable in annual assessments of. ten Q0) years, at 6 per cent interest. This would make a charge of S20 and interest per annum against each residence lot of 50 feet
 PROPOSED SUB-SEWER.
 The sub-sewer or drain, which you have agreed to construct from the premises of Nabers & Morrow on Twentieth street, between first and second avenues to the intersection of Eighteenth street and Second avenue, there connecting with storm sewer is 6. work of greatest impor- tanee. This is a sewer for the drainage of basements, or cellars, and will be the first sewer of sufficient depth in the prin- pal business portion of the city for this purpose. Through this waterway, the basements of all buildings situated along it's line can be drained, as the sewer is to bs made sufficiently large, that branches may be extended in all directions, and when these various ramificitions are co1- structed the entire business portion of the city will be cared for, and owners of property will be enabled to save the floors of their buildings and utilize all available space Tor storage purposes.
 THE CONVICT LEASE.
 March 29, last, you entered into con tract with the Sloss Iron and Steel com pany for lease of certain prisoners con- victed in the police court, and in a special report presented by me to your honorable body on the 7th day of April, was ena- bled by actual figures to show to you the good physical. moral and financial effect of your wise action in the matter In that report I presented the following facts to show to you the general work ings of the system:
 Prisoners confined in jail March 31....179 Average per day during March,. .. Ills Prisoners confined in jail April G.. 59 Avsrage number of cases docketed
 daily since March 31.... ...... ...... 30 Average number of cases docketed
 daily during March. .. =. ..... 19
 Under the influence of the lease sys- tam, as you will observe, the great re- duction in the number of prisoners af- fords the city an opportunity to furnish eomforta ble quarters for the prisoners guilty of minor offenses; and to work to advantage (well guarded) that portion of the short time men n eded for street work.
 Up to che beginning of this lease an average of five, six or more worthless women were confined in the city prison al dead expense, who could not be em- ployed. Now there is only one female prisonSr, and sine is employed as assistant in the cooking department.
 From a financial point of view, besides the consideration of the funds derived from the hire of the convicts, he follow ing figures are worthy of your consdera- ton:
 Cash collected for fines, police court
 ,Ina monan or Maron-.... ..' =. ...SSlS % OO Cash collected for fines since March
 9l 10 days)... 329 % Average per day.. -. ... =. =. 54 S7
 The lease greatly reduces the number of prisoners, available for street work, consequently the expenses of m aintaining them is grea ly diminished. Interruption of the contract by the city courts deci- sion renders it impossible to say with any degree of exactneSs what the general gain to the city will be, but we have enough data to convince us hat tn sys- tenn will diminish crime in our midst cultail expenses, increase sreyenues and give way to the employment of a num- To of free laborers upon the public works of the city.
 LITIGATION. When you assumed the duties of office there we're pending in the courts of rec ord the following eases, to which the ci.y y is party, to-wit:
 Eizsbeth c. Siarf-Suit for rdamages for personal injury sustained on the high way.
 George C., Julia,A and Mrs, E. J. Kelly Suit for damages against the city and George Eustis for wrongfully selling property for taxes so alleged Highland Avenue ard Belt Railroad Company-Petition for certiaom of min u,tes, etc.
 Mayor andesAldermen of Birmin gha m vs. W. c. Rabb ct aL-Bill for foreclos- ure, liens and collec: assessments for sewer improvs merits.
 Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham vs. J. R. Adams ct al.-Same. w. c. Rablb VS City
 Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingha m vs Samuel Spencer ct al.--Petiti5n for interv nticn in receivership matter to en- force collection of license tax of 1885 The city attorney suggests hst bills pending in the chancery court for the collection of assessments for local i'm proven nts may perhaps as well be dis missed inasmuch as the legisla ture a it's last session gave to the city more sum- mary remedy for the collection of such assessments.
 The petition of the mayor and alder men against Samuel Spencer and others in tha United States court is for the col Ice ion of license tax upon railroads.
 We also found pending in the criminal court the prosecution agsins, Louis Saks and Leon Ksmper for the collection of the license tax for the year 1896. These cases have been decided in favor of the city, but have b en appealed by the de- fendants to the supreme court Since your incumbrance of office the following damage suits have been brought to-wit:
 M. A. Thorp vs. Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham.
 T. L. Borum vs. Mayor and Aid rmen of Birmingha
 Each for damage on account of injury alleged to have been sustained by reason of the defective condition of the side walks of the city. Th7se cases are now pending Also David c. Gordon vs Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham, for dam- age alleged to have been inflicted by guard of the city's convicts, who shot l at an efscaring convict and wounded the | plaintiff The cause Is now pending on | demurrers to the complaint. Also. there | has been filed in the chancery court of | Jefferson county six separate bills, en- | Joining the collection of special assess- | ments for street improvements. These causes are now pending, and perhaps will | be disposed of upon pleadngs, although l it is more than probabl9 that he supreme | court will be called upon to pass on them. Perhaps the most important litigation | which has arisen during vour term of