The age-herald., 1898-02-21

Cooperation, combination of the lesser into something greater-that is the ruling idea of today. Cooperation added last year s50O,OO0 cotton mill, and $l25OO steel plant to the list of Birmngham's in- dustries. What is good in private affairs is also good in public affairs The scat tered municipalities of this district could accomplish much more if their energies and strength were combined in one greater mu- nicipality. The greater city certainly should embrace Birmingham, Ensley, Pratt City, Thomas. West End, Green Springs Elyton, North Birmingham, Forest City, East Bir- mingham, Avondaie. Woodlawn. Gate City, Irondale and East Lake. Almost as cer- tainly it would be better for all alike-for the general good of the district-that Bes- semer, Hed, ing, Woodward, Oxmeor and Powderiy should become parts and por- tions of the commercial metropolis of Ala bama.
 Birmingham is widely known-perhaps more widely known than any town in the south except New Orleans; and the ques- tion is frequently asked, how large is Bir- mingham? There is the census confront ing you, and you are perhaps @ thousand miles from home, and yet you know how many go and come in Birmingham, mak- ing it their central focal point and so you defy the almanacs, directories and commer- eial agency reports, and boldly declare the truth. namely, that Birmingham is 100000 strong. So it is, although it's present boun- daries do not contain nearly so many. The population reached by the street car ser vice of Birmingham is the better test, and by that test all the territory from Gate City and East Lake to Bessemer is a part of Greater Birmingham, and the population of that stretch of land is today 100000. And every man, woman and child of the entire number is kept in touch, as 1t were, with the central city at all hours of the day by means of trolley cars or the equally prompt and obliging dummies. All are in trans- portation sense tied together. All go and come to meals, to business or to entertain ments and all are in spirit and in fact one people, and should constitute one city
 Many advantages to all would result from consolidation In the first place there would be increased financial strength. It goes without saying that the bonds of Q city containing 100000 people would com- mand higher prices than those of city of 1000 people. The suburban towns would reap heavy advantages in this respect. lm- proyements would become possible that are now beyond reach. It IS within the bounds of conservatism to say that the bonds of Greater Birmingham could be sold at par on a per cent. basis. 1T there are some large industrial enterprises that could not stand city taxation, it certainly is possible to agree upon plan that would limit taxation in a given district, and in that way disarm all opposition. A. .dispas- sionate consideration of the details of con solidation by the best citizens or the dis- trict would certainly bring forth plan that would be just in every respect. TO a spirit of compromise and equity any thing is possible
 Economy of administration is another consideration. Not only economy put efn- ciency as we'll would attend consolidation in the control and management of the po- lice force and in the law department gen. orally. An uniform fire department would be a blessing in the surburban towns In case of a great fire, engines could be hur- ried from different localities, thereby re- sulting in more security against nre, ana in lighter insurance premiums. But in the departments of streets and sewers the benefits would be well nigh incalculable. Instead of piecemeals, one general plan would be adopted, and all street or sewer work would conform to that plan. new street going up and down the valley would not after consolidation be def1ected as it passes from one municipality to another in accordance with differing views of en- gineers There would be some degree of uniformity in tho width of streets, in the nature of sidewalks, in the planting of trees, in the macadamizing of roadways And in the construction of sewers consol- idation would usher in great reform. The valley or district of these Inunicipali- ties is narrow, and all sewers must need