The age-herald., 1900-06-04
WALKS AND TALKS
 ABOUT THE TOWN

In the city parks the early roses have fallen. or been picked by the fiendish hands of men, women and children who are not fully imbued with the spirit of the Eighth Commandment. Weeds. rank and numer- ous, are now flourishing in the three parks, and little extraordinary attention by the city authorities, with but a meagre expenditure of money, would place them in attractive condition Speaking of these parks-"Central," or Capitol Park" West Park and East Park-they have an in- teresting history. When the city of Bir- mingham was first planned plotted, the grounds of the three were designated on the map parks by the Elyton Land company. Of course this made the lots near by attractive to the speculator and to the home builder; and they were in de- mand. There were no trees in either of them, except a few pines in East Park. The work of adornment and general im- provement was to require time and money, and the open spaces, or squares, presented rather a forlorn prospect: and yet those who had faith in the future growth of Bir- mingham knew that some day these would become veritable parks and bought lots ac- cordingly. Along in the early eighties the city having no deeds to these squares, or blocks. an ugly scratch mark was made across them upon the sales map of the land company, and 1t looked as though they were to be lost to the people in the boom shuffle. When Hon. A. O. Lane be- came mayor of the city, he made recuisi- ton upon the Elyton Land company for warrentee deeds to the city of Birmingham for thA tIroo promptly executed-a free gift by the Elyton Land company to the city of Br- mingha ham-conditioned however, that East Park and West Park, covering areas of 400 x40O feet each, shall ever remain free and open public parks, and shall be used for no other purpose; that Central, or "Capi- tol'' Park, covering about 400x60O feet, shall be owned and controlled for like pur- poses by the city, provided that should the seat of government of the state of Ala bama ever be removed to Birmingham, ownership of Central Park shall go to the state, and that the capitol shall be erected thereon. The deeds also provide that the city shall improve, beautify, adorn and maintain these parks. Since these deeds were given the city has expended upon per- manent improvement of the three parks something like $4O,00O-in grading, macada- mixing, fencing planting and replanting trees and shrubbery. The grounds alone are conservatively estimated to be worth $780, 900. The long-neglected fountain in Capi- to Park was a gift of the late T. L. Hud- gins, Esq, and ought to be put in full com mission at least for the summer months. These parks are an ornament to the city, and the pity is there are not more of them. No administration should neglect them.
 If the census enumerators are required to count the dogs Cthe real four-lesged dogs), in this city, they will doubtless find a great increase of that special population, not withstanding the annual onslaughts of the city dog-catchers. There are too many worthless dogs in Brmingham-dan dogs, thieving dogs dirty dogs, dogs male and dogs female, mangy dogs, ugly dogs, dogs with neglectful and poverty-stricken owners, dogs that howl in their hunger dogs that roam the streets at night tme dogs that are needed not. There should be a diminution of the dog population by legally appointed dog-catching force; or else there is bourl to be action along this line by some other force. Let not the dog catcher wait until some human being-per- haps an innocent promising child, whose life is worth world of dogs, becomes victim to the poisonous bite of worthless cur
 Colonel J. J. Willett of Annston stopped over for few hours in Birmingham. He spoke naught of politics, but was enthusi- astic and buoyant in his utterances regard ing the present growth and material devel- opment of Anniston. The fact that his home town has recently raised $300,00O for three new cotton factories without the aid of Yankee money" and that all the in- dustries of Anniston are prospering, gives Colonel Willett cause for the preponderance of good cheer he carries with him.
 If single smokestack in the Birming- ham district ceases for minute to send forth evidences of activity; or if there be a silent whistle at the hour for marking time, it causes anxiety. Our people have become so accustomed to signs of activity and rush that prosperity is accounted the normal condition and little apparent ces- astion chills Birmingham. Ensley steel mills shut down Thursday night for re- pairs, and alarm was rumored in the air until it was learned that all would be run ming in full blast tomorrow (Monday) morn- ing.