The age-herald., 1898-02-21
Some Reason Why the
 City Should Be Extended
BY N. P. r. FINCH


 run in one direction. Should they not be so planned that all the sewage and the storm water should pass off without ob- struction? The very health and prosperity of the entire district from East Lake at one end to Bessemer at the other demand an uniform and adequate sewer system As matters now stand the flow of sewage or water may be obstructed at some point, either by sewers too small or by the lack of provision in that respect altogether. If Greater Birmingham were organized, ex- pensive works of this nature might not be needed-certainly not at once-but plan covering every inch of the territory would become necessary, and then any work that might be demanded would be done in &C., cordance with that plan, and not in hap hazard way, or in accordance with plans at variance the one with the other.
 
 Consider, too, what the population of Birmingham may become we pass into the steel period. A great population will need public parks Of suitable location and area-breathing places for the toiling masses Of an industrial city. No better time for their acquisition than the present will ever come. They can now be easily acquired. Land is cheap; 1t will never be cheaper, especially between the towns, or near their outer bounds. And if these public grounds could be located near or at a public school, the gain therefrom in health and happiness and comfort would be large ly increased Perhaps in no respect would consolidation bring greater benefits to the lesser towns than in an extension of the present admirable system of public schools of Birmingham. The schools of the central city would likewise be helped. Owing to the movement of workmen from one part of this industrial hive to another, there is a constant transfer of children from one school to another. The teachers are thus nnn fa6 that matter, with pupils familiar with other school books and other scholastic reg ulations. Bring all the educational work to one basis and along similar lines, and children could take up their lesons next week in Ensley where they laid them down last week in Gate City, or Birmingham itself.
 And then there is to be considered the prestige and attractive force of greater population. Birmingham pig iron Is now going into every state in this country, and to half the seaports of the world in other countries. It arouses inquiry and curiosity as to this city and it's resources. Many may say at first thought that a city which sends iron all over the world must be a desirable place to do business in and live in; but when they ascertain that it is a city of 40,000 people only, they may con- clude that 1t would lack many of the con veniences and comforts to which they have been accustomed; that it will have rough streets, poor sidewalks, inferior fire protec- ton, ungraded schools, ill-kept parks and small stores in which the stocks of goods will be limited, and so they may decide to stay away. But if they should be told that the city contains 100000 people then they would know at once that every edu- cational and other urban advantage could be found here. There are thousands upon thousands of people who transact their | h,,c where thnV command the greatest degree of comfort and pleasure for themselves and their families. Some are governed by the number and location Of churches or schools; others by the theaters, operahouses or the ability of town to support 8 May musical festival, or a base hall team and so on ad infnitum. The larger the town, as all know, the more Of such things can be found in 1t. In lOo,- 900 town such institutions are presumed to be present. in 4O00O town, they are oc- casions of inquiry and distrust To the city that hath, much shall come
 Preparations for the taking of the census in June 1900 are progressing; the general assembly meets next winter. If there is to be a Greater Birmingham for the good of all concerned, the needful legislation must be procured at the next session Of the general assembly. But before that time much work is to be done. The sentiment of the people must be ascertained. Defin- ite plans of extension should De agreed upon. The people of the greater city must get together in g. spirit of fairness and good sense Differences should be adjusted out of sight. Solidarity should be sought. That would mean that the census bureau would officially declare to all the world that the iron center of the south is a city of first rank, having some more than 100.- o0O leaving the rest of the people the right to claim twice that number in few years in accordance with immemorial custom among municipalities of all sorts and sizes.