The age-herald., 1899-03-15
Work Done by Police Depart
 ment During 1898.
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
Chief Wants More Patrolmen-G Game well System Should be Repaired City Jail Badly Crowded
 and Needs an Addition.

2 OfAt M hlShbClS Ol hhO bOdid OA PoiANS commissioners braved the clements last night, and in consequence of mo quorum the regular monthly meeting of the board was not held.
 Chief Mcdonald. Night Captain Weir. Desk Sergeant Rowlett and two reporters were the only persons on hand at the city hall at o'clock, the hour appointed for the meeting, but in a few minutes Com- missioner Fox put in an appearance. About this time the rain came down in torrents, and the chances for holding the meeting became simmer Finally Commissioner McCartin put in an appearance. but after a sort wait the lights were put out and the meeting postponed.
 Chief McDonaId's Report
 Chief McDonald's annual report for the year 1898, which has been delayed in prep aration on account of the difficulty en- countered in obtaining some of the statis- tical information was ready to be present. ed to the meeting. The report is an ex- cellent one and is supplemented with monthly statistics of the work of the de- partment, under the several captions, which serve to better illustrate the actual results obtained. The report is as fol- lows:
 Birmingham, Ala, January 1, 1899. To the Honorable Board of Police Commis-
 sioners, Birmingham, Ala.
 Gentlemen-I have the honor to submit herewith my fourth annual report of the police department, for the year ending De- cember 31, 1898.
 folI io ba ri of the police department at this time: One chief, one night captain, one day sergeant, one desk sergeant, thirty patrolmen, two supernumaries and one patrol driver. Un- til December 31, the city prison was under your supervision, and two wardens belong ing to this department were detailed there. l have always recommended an increase in this force, and in favor of which you took a strong stand and presented your recom- mendations to the board of mayor and al dermen, but up to this time the increase has not been granted. This thirty patrol men are divided as follows: FonrtaeH pa rrurmen on street duty from 12 o'clock noon to 12 o'clock midnight, and one mounted officer on the same watch. There is also one men on street duty from 12 o'clock mid | night to 12 o'clock noon, and one mounted 
 patrolman from each watch detailed at the Union depot, which virtually leaves but thirteen patrolmen on street duty at one time This is not enough men to properly police this city according to the population and territory under police Jurisdiction.
 The Gamewell System
 In my last annual report mentioned the fact that the police department had been equipped with the "Gamewell system of police telephone and telegraph" and re- commended to your honorable body that the boxes be placed in a more thickly set tied part of the city, and also that up to that time had given entire satisfaction, but I was assured under those conditions that the system had not been given an impartial trial As we all know, anything that is run by batteries or motive power must be at- tended to. and will need some repair from the wear and tear. When the batteries needed refilling, new zines and more paper for the stamping machines. for some req son they were not furnished and from that time until the present date the system has never been in use. At the time these ar- ticles were needed 1t would not have taken but trifing sum to replace them, and now after several months of idleness it may take more, as the lines have been entirely neglected since then. When the system was purchased it was guaranteed to do the work expected of 1t. That guarantee has been fulfilled. It has been satisfactory. Batteries must be replenished. and paper cannot be used but once, so they must give out in time. This Is certainly valuable machine to be exposed to the treatment 1t now receives and to be neglected, when so much good can be derived from it's use. would recommend to your honorable body to request that it be placed in proper re- pair.
 The Bertillion System I also recommended in my last report the advisability of using the Bertillion system of measurement. As informed you | this system can be purchased for a small | cost. It is used in nearly every city of | any size, and the advantages derived from | 1t has saved the department several times the amount expended. With this system you photograph the criminal measured, and you might say when you have the Ber- tillion system you also have rogue's gall lery, another thing that Birmingham is without, and which I am sure you will agree with me is greatly needed. I can H.