The age-herald., 1898-11-25
MunIcIpaI Expansion.

The letters rom the mayors oI Vaiious cites. printed in yesterdays Age-Herald | are instructive reading. They should have been read and digested with the turkey and other good things of Thanksgiving Day.
 "The history of every city," says the
 mayor of Savannah, lis the history of it's annexatons." "A suburb,' he adds, 'is parasite. It lives upon the body of the city. The people living in the suburbs de- rive their living from the city. They are dependent upon the city for their social life and for very many of the necessaries
 of life, and for nearly all the pleasures of life. Usually the objection to annexation is
 on the part of the suburb because of its
 becoming subject to city taxation. This contention upon the part of the suburb is not well founded, and is neither equitable or just. The suburb derives all that it has from the proximity to the city. and
 should be made to contribute its just share
 for the support of the city which gives it it's very life"
 | Memphis has just annexed by popular | vote ten square miles of territory, and Kansas City recently took in thirteen | square miles, Nashville and Atlanta did l likewise, and all four agree that in every | respect the movement has been respectively
 satisfactory to both city and annexed ter
 ritory. Both are bettered financially san- | tarly and educationaly. Annexation in l Chicago resulted in lower insurance rates
 and increased opportunities for real estate loans in annexed territory. Pittsburg has | frequently annexed territory, and it's mayor says that no district annexed would with draw if they had the opportunity New
 Orleans annexed Jefferson City, and that | suburb Is now one of the handsomest res l idence districts in the city. Chattanooga has the problem of annexation now before | it. and its mayor thinks all southern cities | should get ready for the census, because population is the Index finger that directs | capital to the field of investment.
 | Cincinnati is contemplating more annex | ation. Says Its mayor: People who ply | their trade in city ought to be willing to
 be identified with 1t, and to assist in car rying the burdens and to share in the re- | responsibilities of a municipal government. | There seems to be no question, however, i that such new territory, for some years to
 come, will be source of additional ex- pense to city in the way of providing it | with the improvements that go with a city
 On the whole, however, people progressive
 ly inclined will always favor annexation"
 The size of Des Moines. Iowa, was in
 creased from eight to fifty-four square
 miles by an arbitrary act of the legislature
 and it's mayor says the movement has been | mutually beneficial.
 The entire correspondence Is very good
 reading. It brings up the question: Shall | Birmingham have credit before all far and | near for what it really contains, or shall
 it continue to rank low down in the list
 of cities, thus keeping away capital, in-
 turing the entire district and deprivlng the
 state of the reputation that goes with a
 concentrated urban population? Missssip-
 pi Is said to be state without a city
 Alabama will not greatly outrank her unless
 Birmingham can be consolidated. Men and
 brethren, be patriotic. Let us get together.
 Let us do as other towns have done. Let
 us get ready for the census takers. who
 will soon be on the ground.