The age-herald., 1898-10-30

The ouestion of enlarging the city limits is one concerning which every man Is en- titled to an opinion, and should express It fearlessly.
 I beg leave to discuss this matter from a purely commercial standpoint. As the question Is a business matter, the personal attacks made at the Woodlawn meeting seem entirely unealled for. The meeting rt the city hall was representative of the walth and cultur of this community, and I doubt not but that It was on par, in degree of intelligence and advancement. with the meetings in the suburban towns, led and encouraged by some of the salaried officials in the outlying municipalities.
 MT. Lane advocated that all the people interested should determine by a free bal lot what would be the greatest good to the greatst number, which is certainly an en- ttrely fair proposition, thoroughly demo- cratic and American in spirit. Those in charge of the city administration cannot shirk the responsibility and duty of sub mitting the question to the will of the peo- ole, in pursuance to the sentiments ex- pressed at the meetinng of the citizens, thus giving very qualified voter an oppor- tunity to express himself.
 MT. Bowron, 'the father of Greater Bir- mingham," is now assailed for not propos- ing that Ensley and Pratt City be incor- porated in the city limits, thus unkindly and uncharitably intimating that MT. Bow ron was unduly favoring the interests of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com- pany. They have either wilfully or unin- tentionally overlooked the fact that as far back as January 16, 1898, he writes lengthy communication to The Age-Herald forcibly urging the Incorporation of Ensley, Pratt City, Thomas, West End, Green Springs, Elyton, North Birmingham, Forest City, Last Birmingham, Avondale, Woodlawn, Gate City, 1rondale and East Lake; in fact, every point now traversed by the street car system of the city as being part and parcel of Birmingham.
 The people, however, should not permit themselves to be diverted from the real issue, nor should the success of the crea- tion of a large city be endangered or de- feated from the mere fact that the initial steps were not to the taste of all the peo- pie in the outlying districts, whom the city authorities omitted or overlooked to invite to attend the advisory meeting, or who took exceptions because their approval and con- sent to the movement was not first ob- tained.
 And again, the argument made by some of the residents of this city that the peo- Pie Tn the outlying districts do business in Birmingham and should become inhabitants of this city and contribute to its mainte- nance is neither fair nor in the proper spirit, and in itself Is no argument justify Ing annexation. We want all the people we can get to come here and transact bus,- ness here, regardless of where they reside We desire to erect no Chinese wall'' around us, and the fact that people trans act business here does not debar them from residing wherever they please-in Europe II they so desire. The right to come to this city and transact business here, using our granite sidewalks and paved streets. is not suf1cient cause in itself to annex the ter rltory proposed; nor Is the argument and opposition on the ground that in making a larger. more dignifed and populous center out oi what so many are yet pleased to call "an oyergrown village" the city's creoit would thereby be strengthened and US obligations enhanced, fair or req ason able one. It does not necessarily follow that such would be the case, but if it were. this cause in itself should commend the prepositioh 10 the favorable consideration or every well-wisher and every believer in good nun. cipal credit and integrity. The adyantage of annexation must be mutual ana must arise from other considerations than these. If the subject is considered from logical, business standpoint. and ones attention be not m:sled by prejudice or false issues injected into the discussion, the project to create the new Southern Metropolis will win.
 To annex the surrounding populous cen- ters q do not mean the waste fields nor even sparsely settled communities) is di- rectly in the line of progress and "up-to- date" and this policy is being adopted and will be followed in the case of the ma jority of the cities in the west between this and the time of the taking of the census, and we ought in due time get into line of procession. It is by this mode of procedure Gas MT. Bowron states) that London has incorporated some thirty odd separate municipalities into one, thereby acquiring the prestage of being the larg- est city in the world. It is in this way that New York has become the second largest city in the world, and Chicago the second largest city in the United States all of Cook county composing Chicago.
 Nothing would add so much to Birming- hams strength, to its prestige and at- tractive force as a large population relia- bly shown by the federal census to be taken in 1900. This Is the first thing con- suited by an investor, who in every in- stance looks up the authorities, such as Dun and Bradstreet. or other agencies who derive their figures from the federal cen- sus. Those in the outskirts who are now forced to borrow at high rates, or who are unable to borrow at all, could then obtain cheaper money with which to build up their homes and localities frem private lenders, or loan, trust and insurance companies abroad, who ahe now debarred by their bylaws or state. charter regula- tions. owing to their small population, from investing trust funds operating there. If loan is offered from Wood lawn or Avondale. it is turned down in every instance when the population of the place is considered, and the population is always referred to in connection there with.
 It Is not always a wise thing to borrow. and is often curse in the guise of a blessing, but people have always borrowed and will so continue. Good credit and cheap money Is preferable to a lack of 1t. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul. Minneap- oils. Omaha and Duluth have been built on borrowed money; and in fact, the ex- istence of the large western cities is trace able to abundant credit enjoyed by them at low rates of interest. So long as people people will borrow, or must borrow, it is to be the best interest to borrow at the lowest rates obtainable.
 I beg leave to state that the reduction in the fixed charges upon the standing, permanent loans on the real and personal property in the city of Birmingham, which would be assured by an increase in pop ,1lation bringing the city within the