The age-herald., 1901-01-16
PUBLIC QUESTIONS.
To the Editor of the Age-Herald:

To the Editor of the Age-Herald:
 For some time I have been exceedingly intere ested in articles in the local papers regarding the interest and safeguard of our city and it's citizens
 In this mornings Age-Herald appears an article from one of our prominent citizens worthy the careful attention of our city officials. But, MT. Editor, while that is vital question and thousands of lives daily are involved l think there are other uues- tions of interest that should be freely con. sidered. They could be discussed in the press with profit, possibly
 Hence my remarks; and I do not care Ia and will not be partial, only to ask for rights that we are entitled to, and as MT. Mayberry said, thousands of our citizens could testify.
 Relative to the street cars, do not think that cars should cross a street going in op- posite directions at the same time; one should wait until the other has crossed not to consider the speed at which they are now permitted to go. A few months ago a lady friend of mine left car at Sixth avenue and Nineteenth street. She, with a friend, had just turned to go across the street behind the car, when another car going in the opposite direction, sped around the corner and knocked her down and broke her arm Only last month a young man left a north-going car on Fifth ave-
 
 going car, which should have stopped It did stop after dragging the man some dis tance Those things could and should be attended to, especially in all thoroughfares much travelled both in the business and residence portions of the city.
 Now to a new questions: While new char ters are being issued and charter conven- tlons considered, please, city officfals$ con slder this one. It perhaps causes more registered complaints monthly than any other one thing-the meters of the gas electric and water companies. Some possi- ply are correct, few register slow but from the complaints most of them register too fast We have a meat and milk in- spector. think the first year has just closed and his work has been of invaluable ser vice to our people. Read his reports and l believe the nominal fee of inspection has paid the cost of the office, if not more than done so. So should we have a city meter inspector whose duties should be to test every meter put in any place in the city Tor either water, electricity or gas, and he should reject all not up to the standard of perfection We as users of either have to pay meter rent monthly, and for that rea- son, if no other should we have a city of- hcial to certify that we are paying rents on honest instruments. small fee could be charged for all new-placed instruments. which should be required as often as me- ters are changed or new ones used and for those in business houses and homes of per- manent occupation, at least once annually should they be tested No meter should be allowed placed with broken seal from the official examiner. I believe the office would be very near if not entirely self-support- ing. An examination of the number of meters used in this city could easily be as- certained, then make the salary of the of- hcial tester and see cost of each meter in use and make that the price Then tha office would be sef-supporting and the citizens would have the consolation of knowing their meter was correct and the company would be benefited to the extent of less annoyance from constant kickers or users Of their commodity. In fact I be- heVe the companies, as well as the citi- zens, would be benefited
 E. A. WILSON, D. D. s.
 Birmingham, Ala, January 15 1901