The age-herald., 1900-11-04

This Jefferson County contains 140, 40 people. It Is the largest county in the South except that which contains the city of New Orleans. Its mineral wealth or iron and coal Is incalculable. It Is the cen ter of the iron and coal production in the South, and promises some day to be the most important point in the United States in these lines of production. Iron is now produced here cheaper than in any other place in the world, and when the Nicaragu- an canal is completed Jefferson's commercs and production will be increased a hundred fold.
 The tax rate in Jefferson County this year is 45-10O of per cent. The assessed valua- tion is $39,529,515, and the amount of money raised from taxation is $474,348, to which should be added $l5, 751 poll taxes, making a total of $49O,099.
 Birmingham is the seat of the county government, and the county officials are Quartered in one of the most beautiful court houses in the United States
 All the public money of the county passes through the hands of the Board of Reve- nue, which is composed as follows: A. J. Tarrant. president and H. w. Crook, w. H. Wilson, Hugh McGeever and J. K. P. Laird.
 In the court house are also the offices of Sheriff Andrew Burgin, Tax Assessor J. F. Mclaughlin, Tax Collector J. c. Francis, County Treasurer H. B. Gray, Judge of Probate J. P. Stiles, Coroner Paris and the county surveyor.
 Here also are the courts. The Circuit Court is presided over by Judge A. A. Cole man. The other officials are Charles w. Ferguson, solicitor; Walter K. McAdory, clerk; W. L. Howard, deputy clerk, and b. A. Dudley, Bessemer, deputy clerk.
 The judges of the City Court are w w. Wilkerson, senior judge, and c. A. Senn, associate judge. Dr. J. s. Gillespie is clerk and register; J. w. Hargrove, H. c. Miller and s. M Blake are deputy clerks and reg isters.
 Samuel B. Greene is judge of the Criminal Court; H. P. Heflin, solicitor; John Mo- Queen, assistant solicitor; J. P. Bradley, clerk, and J. P. Abbott, deputy clerk.
 J. c. Carmichael Is chancellor of the Chancery Court; W. c. Garrett, register, and Y. L. Senn, deputy register.
 City of Birmingham
 For the information of visitors some facts concerning Birmingham may not be amiss. The city Is not thirty years old It is com pactly built, with it's limits very confined there being about six square miles in the city boundaries. Its population by the cen sus last June was 3S, ,415; but it Is now much greater. With its immediate suburbs, not including Ensley and Pratt City, 1t has a population of 65,00O. There are 140, ,420 peo- pie in the county according to the last cen- sus.
 Hon. W. M. Drennen is Mayor of the city. There are eighteen aldermen, as follows:-
 First ward, J. T. Lynagh, Thomas Wheel CT; Second ward, A. J. Camp, c. T. Ram bow; Third ward, R. H. Kerr, J. T. Me- Knight; Fourth ward, J. M Meighan, Wal ter Moore; Fifth ward, R. P. McAnnally, M. M. Williams; Sixth ward, J. J. Altman, J. F. Graham; Seventh ward, c. c. Heidt, R. H. Thach; Eighth ward, H. B. Gray, Harry Jones: Ninth ward, John F. Harring- ton, Syl Daily.
 The city offices are located at Nineteenth street and Fourth avenue. The city jail Is at the rear of the city hall, and the office of Chief of Police C. W. Austin is at the southwest corner of Fourth avenue and Twenty-first street
 The present so-called city hall is to be pulled down this month and new building costing $2OO,000 is to be erected in its place.
 Streets and Avenues
 The avenues in Birmingham run east and west. parallel with the railroad tracks at the fine union passenger station, and the streets run north and south at right angles to the avenues.
 The union passenger station fronts on Morris avenue between Eighteenth and l WSHlittu StTSelS, dHu OH lWeHlleln street. The next avenue north is First avenue, and they run in regular order, the next being Second avenue, the next Third avenue. and so on.
 Going south from the station towards South Highlands the first avenue is Powell avenue, then comes Avenue A, B, c, D, and so on.
 Twentieth street Is about the middle of the city, and Is one of its principal streets.
 Hotels
 The principal hotels in the city are the