The age-herald., 1898-10-30

nam, an additional saving of from $lUO,- 900 to $150+000 in interest would be assured.
 am not in position to verify the latter as-
 sertion with statistics, as have not been dealing in suburban loans, and have no records in regard to them, but simply quote this as my honest opinion.
 And I say further, without fear of con- tradiction, that the creation of the me- tropolis will absolutely enhance the loan
 able and marketable values of real and personal property, stocks corporate in- vestments, and securities within It's lim- its to the extent of untold millions. Cap ital and enterprise, industry. business and people, science, skill and ability, and ev- cry other attraction flows to populous centers c'pigeons fly to where pigeons are'') and it is conceded on all sides, and denied by no one who has spoken on this
 subject, that the proposed annexation will and must come, and that 1t is but ques- tion of time. Why not consummate the inevitable now and receive the benefits of 1 the census figures of population in 1900 which in reality, from a business stand | point, is the main feature of advantage | to be derived? If the opportunity be lost | to us now, we cannot recuperate from it until 1910; In the meantime, we VII have l to labor all these intervening years under 1 the drawback of small population. fire department maintained in the midst of the territory to be annexed east of here. would cause reduction In the | iiSuIdHCe TdltS upon pfOpeity lntic amounting to thousands, and more than | the taxes would be even in the case of | those who are not now incorporated in | either Birmingham, Avondale or Wood | lawn, and who pay no taxes now to either | of these municipalities This must neces- | sarily follow when considering the present rates of insurance in that territory which are exorbitant, established in consequence of the many disastrous fires happening in I these towns, with no way of checking their disastrous course. and always left to the complete mercy of the elements.
 The fear expressed by the people of Woodlawn that whisky would probably be sold in their territory a result of an- nexation, is a point to be seriously con- sidered, the sentiment being a laudable and worthy one and the bill giving birth to the large city, should provide that no spurious. vinous or malt liquors shall be sod or given away within certain radius from the city hall.
 Another point haised is that an obstruc- ton would be caused by annexation in as much as city taxes would be objectionable to manufacturing industries locating upon the sites likely to be annexed. This objec- tion is entirely removed by the fact that the proposed new charter, as Mayor Evans publicly stated, will provide for their exemption from taxation. Cotton manufacturing is already exempt, and others should be. not only from city, but state and county taxation as well, and the legislature at this session will. I feel con- fdent, enact this necessary modern legis- lation.
 I can conceive of no greater advantage to the city of Birmingham than to go out to the world as city of 76 900 or 00,000, the largest city In the state and the third or fourth largest in the south. It would at- tract such investors as would not other wise come here.
 The unique circumstances and sifnaf'nn
 hat Ar,d haro onf tn ha ,s,.r s-, any other city in the state, nor even in the south( where the population is so thickly settled on the outskirts of the city.
 In the case of Montgomery or Mobile
 everybody has settled within the city limit.
 They have no suburban towns, and so soon
 as one leaves the city line, he immedia tely
 gets into the corn field or cotton patch.
 This is the day of lareg cities and not of
 villages. It is the large cities, according to their authentic population, that receive
 recognition from the federal government,
 and that secure rivals in competition,
 modern conveniences and appliances which
 villages are unable to procure or enjoy. A
 large population of ones city is at once
 his pride, and oftentimes his capital and
 stock in trade, and assists him in every possible commercial pursuit. and, by the
 way, can mention no other plan by which
 this city can be made jobbing and com-
 mercial center except in the way pro-
 posed.
 MUCH cldInOT dBitdtlO0 fdS Deen ldQ
 for some years to correct the alleged evils
 in this city in connection with the water
 works, gas works, telephone system, and
 other institutions of semi-municipal
 character. It must be evident to all who
 have followed past events, that the only
 way to correct these evils, if they really
 exist, is through competition, and the only
 way to establish rivals in these lines is
 to induce the investment of capital there
 in anr this can best be done by making
 an authentic showing in the way of n"nn-
 lation. The question what Is your popu-
 lation?" is the first thing asked, and after
 receiving the statement from the pay ties
 soliciting the investment, they don't go
 into the town and count the people, but
 reference Is had to the directories, and
 when the statement is found at material
 variance herewith, it invariably kills the
 proposition on the spot.
 A reliable journal of this city, on Janu-
 ary 8, 1898, quotes figures of the Birming-
 ham population as shown by the city di-
 rectory, issued by the Maloney Directory
 company, for 1898, giving the population of
 Birmingham as 75,2S. Use has been made
 of these figures and the argument advanced
 that inasmuch as the census was taken
 eight years ago, the city having steadily
 grown. the population han since increased
 to this number, and the census figures of 1890 cannot now be taken into account. This
 argument Is applied to existing circum-
 stances, but 1t will not be available after
 the next census is taken, when the reason
 able expectation of the outside world will
 be to find recorded large population in
 accordance with the repeated statements
 that have been made for the past eight or |
 ten years of the rapid growth and develop
 ment of this city. The word development
 carries with 1t the meaning of an increase
 in people to prosecute such development.
 In other words, large and populous city
 is expected and should be shown in order
 to verify the statements made by almost i
 every citizen, when 1>6way from home as
 regards this city's growth and pouation.
 One does not travel in railway car, or go |
 into another city but what the subject of l
 this city's growth is immediately broached l
 in the course of almost every discussion, |
 and the question, What is your popula- l