The age-herald., 1900-03-16
EXPERT FUCKERS
 REPORT COMPLETED
Statistics of Birmingham for De-
 partment of Labor
FORWARDED TO WASHINGTON
Estimates Population of City at Forty Thousand-Careful Compilation of Figures Concerning Munich
 pal Affairs-Based on 'oo

James F. Tucker, special agent of the United States department of labor, has completed the work of tabulating the sta- tistics of Birmingham and has forwarded same to the department at Washington.
 MT Tucker came here about ten days ago for the purpose of undertaking the work. His report is a compilation of mu- niclpal affairs in simple form, and is gather ed under the rule of the department re- quiring the statistics of cities with popula- tions of over 3o,000
 MT Fuckers report begins with the fn- corporation of the city on December 24, 1871. and estimates the present population at 40- 900. The figures are based, upon the year 1899.
 Under the head of police department the following statistics appear: Number of po- licemen, 5S total number of arrests for tine year, S,53s; number of homicides, 9.
 Under the head of fire department the following information is given: Number of flremen, 2S; number of steam fire engines, 8; number of hook and ladder trucks, 1; number of chemical engines, 1; number of hand fire extinguishers, F; number of hose reels and wagons, 4; length of hose, 5000 feet; number of horses, 15; number of fires, 239; total loss of property tor the year ending December S1, 1899, s27, 1879.
 In the health department it was found that there were I'll deaths and 343 male and 293 female births; official death rate per 1000 population, 20.9-7; estimate of popu- lation used by health officer in computing official death rate, S50OO
 From the engineers department 1t was ascertained that the city mad 73,706 square yards of street pavement, of which 6S,560 were in granite blocks, and 40,oO0 square yards of unpayed streets. Average number of square yards of streets swept per week, 10000.
 The number of hospitals in the city, 10; number of patients treated, 453.
 / Number of public schools, 8, including the high school: pupils in high school, 2SS; in all other public schools, 367S.
 Public libraries attached to high school, 2; aggregate volumes, 5000; number with drawn for home use, 16OOO; number of visi- tors to reading rooms, 6,OOO.
 Estimated cost of water works owned by stock company, $30O, GOO; estimated cost of electric light plant owned by stock com pany, $5OO,0oo.
 Under the head of municipal debt valua- tion of property, etc., the city treasurer has furnished much detailed information from which the following figures are taken: Amount of bonded debt $1 ,610,OO amount of floating debt, S246, ,195; amount of net debt, $1, ,S56. 195. Basis of assessment of real estate, 60 per cent; basis of assessment of personal property, 60 per cent. Assessed value of real estate, $12 000,0O0; of personal property, $S,5OO,OOO Tax rate, 1 per cent, or $10 per $l, 900.
 The treasurer gives under the head of as- sets cash in treasury at end of fiscal year, December 31, 1S99 $3O,594; uncollected taxes, $9O,0OO. With these two items and the real estate and other assets of the city, the total assets reached $2,O2O, ,73592. The total in- come of the city is stated at $3O5 ,S0O.71. The total expenditures for maintenance and operation for the last fiscal year were $2S9, 309. .01.
 When the government sends Its special agent expert to Birmingham a year hence it is believed that the population will be nearer fifty than forty thou sand. In five years from now the city will have gone forward by leaps and bounds. The population will have more than doubled, and the city's finances will have greatly improved.