The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-09

moved. Birmingham will soon be graced
with as handsome a city hall as any city
in the State or the South.
Arrangements have been made TO secure
the money and as soon as plans have been
submitted and passed upon by the Mayor
and Board of Aldermen the present I'M
slightly quarters of the municipal authori-
ties will be torn down and the erection of
a handsome 100000 building will begin.
The city hall committee of the City Coun-
Gil held two meetings yesterday, and though
a disagreement was threatened during the
night session, a plea for harmony pre-
vailed and resolution was passed recon-
mending the issuance of bonds for the pur-
pose of building the new city hall and three
new school buildings. The resolution was
framed by Alderman Moore and is as fol-
lows:
Be it Resolved, That this committee rec
ommend to the Mayor and Board of Alder
men that the bonds for the erection OF a
city hall and school buildings in a sum not
to exceed $4,000 be sold to Steiner Bros.
at par, said bonds to- draw per cent. in
terest and run thirty years and to be dated
November /, 1900; it being understood that
when the term bond is used here 1t means
uulll the Legislature Gull SIdCl d RAW du-
thoriZing the issuance of the bonds of the
city as shall hereinafter be agreed upon.
Provided, further, that Steiner Bros shall
furnish any amount of money that the city
may need not to exceed S150,000 before said
bonds are delivered, and upon the delivery
OF the bonds furnish the remaining amount.
Provided further that IL the city should
need any money to make any of these inn
provements or to purchase lots for the
school buildings before the list of Novem-
Der, that Steiner Bros. are to furnish
whatever money may be needed and the
city is to pay them at the rate of per
cent. interest per annum for such money
up to the first day of November, when the
funds from the sale of bonds shall become
available.
At the morning session of the committee
delegations were present from the military
companies and the local association of
butchers. After the Mayor had called the
meeting to order and the committee had to
wait for some papers which had been re-
ferred, a motion was adopted that the two
delegations be heard FROM
The military men presented the resolu-
lions passed at a meeting in the Jefferson
Volunteers armory on the previous night,
Rsking the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to
allow them the fourth floor of the proposed
new city hall for the purpose of establish
ing joint armory. After some discussion,
the committee passed a resolution to the
effect that the members would do all in
their power to grant the wishes of the mill
itary in the matter of quarters whenever it
was practicable.
There seems to be reason to doubt
that a joint armory will be allowed.
The butchers were then given the floor,
Lewis acting Spokesman.
urged the advantage of having all the mar
kets together for the convenience of GUS
toners and the ease with which sanitary
inspection could be conducted Mr.. Lewis
claimed that the abolishing of the city mar
ket, as proposed, would hurt the city $780,
600 month ]. ]. Platten also spoke for the
butchers.
1t was finally decided to instruct the arch
itects to submit plans with part of the
new building set apart for market place,
to be adopted If deemed satisfactory.
The plan of the new building, as sug-
gested to the architects, is a four-story
building, first floor to be devoted to private
stores and fire department; second floor to
offices; third floor to council chamber and
OFFICES, and the fourth floor for hall that
can be utilized as an armory, the whole not
to exceed 100000
Alderman Meighan, who is contractor,
stated last night that the present building
could be torn away within twelve days, and
1t is generally believed that the new build
ing can be finished within fS'>r months. Just
when the work will begin after the City
Council ratfies the recommendations Of
the committee is not known.
The next regular meeting of the City
Council will be held September 10, when the
matter will be finally disposed of.
Immediately after the committee was
called to order a sharp debate was begun.
The question arose over an agreement en-
tered into between Steiner Bros. ana TOUR
teen aldermen This agreement authorized
Steiner Bros to negotiate for bonds for
an amount not exceeding $250,00O There
was no date mentioned when the funds
should be secured or from what date the
said bonds were to bear interest. Steiner
Bros and their counsel contended that
because they had gone to work and Sc
cured the money and this money had been
on deposit and ready for use of the city
since August 10, that intrest on the entire
amount of s25O,0OO should be paid from
that date.
They afterwards agreed, however ito let
the interest begin September Is as COM
promise objection having been interposed.
The city was to be allowed to draw any
amount up to $4,000 until the bonds were
ISSUED and then the entire amount was to
be paid over.
These bonds cannot be issued until the
Legislature has passed an act authorizing
the same, and Mr.. Gray argued that no
interest should be paid on the $780, 900 until
November Is, as not one cent of the money
would be needed or used until that time
He urged that the city should not be forced
to pay interest on money they were MOI
using Mr.. Gray also suggested that in
terest should not be paid except on the
amount drawn out Of the main fund.
On the other hand it was argued thai
Steiner Bros. had foated the bonds at q
rate of per cent which is considered very
low, and that they had succeeded in get
ting the money before the tightness comes
to the money market, as is usual during