The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-10

that the power should not be so exercised.
unless it is absolutely unavoidable For
the love of the fair name of our city our
people have borne the burdens of high IL
cense. and other taxes, as they walked
through the valley OF distress without
murmuring-hoping that relief would come.
Now, they are invited to grid up their loins
and carry these burdens indefinitely. And
for what?
The latest utterance on the subject is that
we have too many suburbs! Does 1t occur
to those who maintain such position that
If we take In the suburbs, 1t will result IN
the development of other suburbs at
greater distance from Birmingham, ana
that the further our suburbs are located
from us the less benefit we get from thenF
In the stand taken on this annexation mat
ter the question of suburbs mas been recog-
nized and given its due weight along with
all the questions involved. l trust we nave
not allowed one ided to take possession or
us to the exclusion of other ideas on the
subject
Why it is said the census rolls will be
increased, bonds will sell better and we Will
get on speaking terms with the money
render from afar. / submit that the ac-
quaintanceship is too costly.
1t would be too costly in that We can
not look to this one thing alone and ignore
the other matters to watch attention is
called in this paper Besides, i may add
fear we will not be able to make a gooo
showing in the next census, seem TO for-
get that since the census OF 1870, We nave
annexed an immense amount or territory
and great number of people. l call your
attention particularly to the annexation OF
the South Highlands district, reaching TO
and including Lakeview and coming in az
far as Avenue II and Twenty-hfth street,
and to the great body of lands from Thir-
teenth street west.
When the next census roll is caiied, we
will be there in great shape without fur
ther annexation. Having been annexed and
suffered the penalties of annexation, with
out the fair corresponding benefits thereof,
1 know whereof l speak. l do not complain
at the action of the various city admins
trations in the past, as believe they did
the best they could under the circum-
stances.
L am in favor of progress and develop
ment. l have full faith in the future great
ness of Birmingham. The God of Nature
has so decreed it. But l prefer an honest
Birmingham to Greater Birmingham.
Let us be just to our creditors, before
we are generous to our suburban neighbors;
and as self-protection is the first law of
nature, let us take care of ourselves in the
matter of municipal improvements and the
cutting down of license and other taxes
before we undertake to care for others.
And, above all, in dealing with these neigh
bors, let us not make promises to them
of aid and assistance when it is reasonably
certain that we can not keep sacred the
promises.
Permit me to add, that it is far from
pleasant to me to make exhibition of the
condition of our CITY, They are to blame
for the exhibition who by their action rem
der 1t necessary for truths sake that the
door of our municipal closet be opened and
the skeleton therein exposed.
lmpelled to this opposition and discus
sion from a sense of duty as alderman
and citizen, L now trust the recent action
of the city council will end the matter
], j. ALTMAN.
December 8, 1898.