The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-25
CHAT ABOUT THE CITY HALL
A. C. Agee'S Card Brings About
an investigation,
CONDEMNED BY DOCTORS
Mayor Evans Says He Appreciates Suggestions
The Chief Thinks Atlanta Reporters
Are Ingenious Fellows.

The card from A. c. Agee in regard to
the sanitary condition of the city, which
appeared in The Age Herald of yesterday
morning. crea ted a great deal of comment
around the city hall
The sanitary inspector was seTt out
early in the morning on tour Of inspsc-
zion of the places named in the card. The
place around the railroad eating room at
the union station, cited by Mr.. Agee as
a sample of the c,tys sanitary condition,
terday. The authori les say the stasnan;
water on Elgh. eerh street is not as bad
as claimed, by the author, and that the
reason the garbage fe not removed from
his residence is that he lives on a strees
with no alley entrance and The city carts
can't get to the rear of The house, They
say the carts go along alleys and get the
garbage when it is placed in boxes.
The card was discussed at meeting of
committee from the dty council and the
board OF health yesterday morning ard
severely CONDEMNED by ihe doctors.
On being asked about :he matter, May
or Evans said that he was always glad
to have his attention called to any de-
ficiency in the workings of the city de-
partments.
II read the card" said ne, land had
the matter attended to at once l do not
know Mr.. Agee, but take it that he is in
tereeted in Birmingham, and only de-
sires to point out the mistakes. I don't
know anything about the place around
the station, but the reason the garbage
is not removed from Mr.. Agee's residence
lis because he Ives on West Park street,
where there is no alley entrance. and the
city carts do not go to the front.
Birmingham is not the dirtiest city in
the south. 1t is cleaner than it ever has
been since 1t was a city. I will take
any citizen who has been here long
enough to know, around the alleys and
show them that it is. We are doing the
best we can with the facilities and the
financial aid we have. 1t must not be
overlooked that Birmingham has a very
low tax rate.
is the Easements around the business
portion of the town that have no means
of drainage. The first sub-sewer we ever
had is being put in now and the other
sewers are all above the easements.
There is good deal in what Mr.. Agee
says about hogs running at large. They
are often seen on the streets. l will ad-
nit. 1t is every citizens business to
look out for these things and help the
department along, and l for one, always
appreciate suggestions"
Mayor Evans is working on the new
auditing system to be inaugurated in
the citys prison accounts. He has not
completed it and will probably not do
so for several days. He said however,
that no extra clerical force would be
employed. A better system will be put
in vogue and the same force will be
able to attend to 1t.
'"rhe Atlanta reporters are ingenious
fellows" said Chief of Police Mcdowell,
who has just returend from that city.
They had me down as having gone
through and examined the police de-
partment, when did not have time to do
50. They had two other chiefs with me
and said we departed with our heads
filled with new ideas. Now the only diff
ference between Atlanta's police depart
msnt and Bil ming hams is that they have
more men. There is not a single new
wrinkle to catch on to-.