The age-herald., 1898-01-20
MAYOR EVANS SEMI
 ANNUAL REPORT Compliments the Economical AdminiStFa-
 ratiOn of the SOlOnS. BIRMINGHAM AMENDMENT l Vigorously Supported and Citizens Asked to Organize to Push It Through. THE GAS AND WATER FIGHTS Mayor Says According to Other Cities Birming- ham Is Paying Too Much for Both-Mu-
 nicipa Ownership Movement Is
 Heartily Commended
THE GAS AND WATER FIGHTS

The following Is the report or Mayor Evans, which was submitted to the city council last night. In opening he says:
 Your first years administration has been marked by a spirit of economical pro- gress. Notwithstanding the limited means at your command you have recognized the necessity for activity in keeping public affairs abreast with the rapid natural growth of the city, and the spirit of pri- vate enterprise and development so strong 1y manifested by the people whom you rep resent. It is gratifying to me as your chief executive officer to be able to present to you, and to an interested public, facts and figures which must forbid criticisms or complaints of inactivity, extravaganza or a want of appreciation of the demands of thoughtful and progressive people. Special reference is made to the important work of a permanent character which was done during the year. particularly in the mat ter of sewer and side walk construction, which is set forth in detail in the report of the city engineer.
 During the year you have constructed 7463S lineal feet of curbing, equal to 17-6-10 blocks, 3,076 lineal feet of sanitary sew CTS, TO lineal feet of storm sewers; 1,S40 lineal feet of street grading, 26,345 lineal feet of artificial stone and brick side walks equal to 56 blocks, besides large amount of street repair work This permanent improvement was done at a cost of S32,- 40S.0S, and stands as an investment for the people for whose good it was expended.
 ''The work was done by contract and not by prison labor, and the cost assessed against the abutting property, directly ben efited. The prisoners (short time men not leased to the Sloss Iron and Steel company have done vast amount of street repair work estimated at value equal to the cost of maintaining the prison, to-wit $4,- 72l.26.
 Parks.
 During the year you expended $277.16 in cash upon the parks of the city, besides furnishing from time to time labor by the prison force the value of which can hardly be estimated. It Is gratifying to notice the increased interest manifested by your honorable body of late in these parks, and to observe your determination to better care for them. Your order for 1 ,OOO native trees is highly commendable, and is at least beginning of a work which should have been done years ago by your predecessors
 Financial.
 ''The city auditors report for the year shows the total general receipts to have been SPOT ,S51.96, and the total general ex- pense $160, ,15495, an increase in general re- ceipts of $23, ,442.S4 over 1896, an increase of $16,01601, in general expenses. Unforeseen circumstances and conditions have arisen which did not confront your predecessors of 1S95-96, to-wit: the support of the public schools, and the handling of the smallpox epidemic.
 The Public Schools.
 During the year 1896 the O'Brien tax law sufficiently supplemented the state and county appropriation to enable the board of education to conduct the public schools. The courts having decided the said law un- constitutional, the income from that source ceased during the year, and the responsibil- ity of maintaining the schools devolved upon this board, notwithstanding the de- pleted condition of your treasury. Upon them you expended $14 4,354.25 in cash during the year 1897, in excess of the amount ex- pended upon them the preceding year. For three months it was found absolutely nes- essary that the board of education should impose partial tuition fee upon each child attending the schools fact to me much regretted, but which was unavoidable un- der the circumstances. Your expressed pur- pose to grant further financial aid during the year 1898 has stimulated the board of education with the hope that tuition need be assessed for the remainder of the term, and the primary and grammar school are now absolutely free to all children of the school age within the city limits.
 The Smallpox Epidemic
 has been the most harassng and extra xx-;tI had to contend. At the date of my last message to you, to wit: June 1st., only one pronounced. case of small pox had occurred in the city, but notwithstanding the percau- tions, the activity and the drastic measures used to prevent the spread of the disease it became epidemic and proved a menace to public comfort. The county of Jefferson and the city of Birmingham stood heavy drafts upon the respective treasuries, from the board of health, and from time to time it was thought by those in charge that the . trouble was near at an end. Early in the beginning of the epidemic, with your con- currence, I made strenuous efforts to en- list the assistance of the United States ma rine hospital service in combating the disease, solely upon the ground of finan- cal inability not questioning the experi. ence and skill of the members of our local medical profession; but our appeals were met with opposition by the health authori- ties of the state and. county, and thus you were forced to eXpend much more money than your limited means justified. How ever after long and expensive warfare against the disease, which has held it in partial abeyance, we have at last obtained consent of the governor and health author ities, and the marine service assumes con- trol, relieving you of the greater part of the expense and instituting well organ ized and vigorous campaign against the disease, which I confidently believe will, at an early date rid not only the city, but the whole county entirely of the trouble. Four hundred and six cases of the disease have been reported up to this writing, a large majority of them coming from surrounding towns and even remote counties. There has been comparatively little trouble in the city proper, but Birmingham has been constantly. exposed on account of persons coming here from infected points. Only