The age-herald., 1901-08-22
Anc,nrv
Danger to Health.

The following communication, which was addressed to the woman's department of the Age-Herald yesterday. voices the sentiment of a number of prominent Bir- mingham women, whose residences are in the vicinity of the boulevard, which Is now under construction.
 Hardly a day passes without attention being called to the danger to the health of those residents in and near Highland Avenue. where the grading for the boul- evard Is in progress. Where cases of iii- ness have been reported the direct cause has been attributed to the continued up- turned earth, and a well-known physician Is authority for the statement that the grading of the boulevard Is enriching the coffers of several Birmingham physicians. Many Birmingham women have asked why this subject has not been agitated and why the grading at this season of the year should be allowed to go on with out protest from those whose duty looks after the health of community.
 Yesterday. Mrs. Samuel Will John sent this communication, which calls attention to the unwholesome conditions presented by Birmingham's unfinished boulevard:
 The immortal Mrs. Browning. that won- derful portrayer of the human heart, it's loves and sorrows, says;
 "Women of @ softer mood,
 Surprised by men when scarcely awake
 to life.
 Will sometimes only hear the first word
 love.
 And catch up with 1t any kind of work, Indifferent. so that--dear love go with
 it''
 She must have meant that for the wom- en who worry. We'll as I am, a married woman. and one who has been waiting for husband and husbands to speak out upon the subject and propose to discuss, find. after waiting. they remain silent take up this work. When the grading of Highland avenue was begun, it was promised ''it would be finished In sixty days" It was begun fin February. and now 1t Is the latter part of August. My arithmetic tells me that time exceeds sixty days. Tn all towns of any size and importance. the city solons make laws for the preservation of life and property. thought we had men of ability at our city's helm. Have they fled to the moun- tains and seashore, leaving the can't-get- aways to swallow thousands of microbes from the removal of the mountain at the unhealthy season of the year. and too, against it's law of the city?
 We who live in Highland avenue breathe only air from decayed matter that has been buried years. and to exclude a DOT ton of those disease germs, have aban- doned our front porches build fires by which to sit for the preservation of health.
 After the casting abroad the deadly dynamite by ignorant hands from whose criminal carelessness a precious child Is marred, maimed for life. are we still Ito sit uncomplainingly as though the light within our brain had gone out. and we stood as irresponsible beings before God and manr
 Must we be forced to farther endurance of destruction of life because simple few wish to enhance the value of their land? Are souls so cheap that we care | not who Is killed by mans neglect of | duty? Can't we have protection from the city government? If women and children 1 were not created to use weapons of war, | can't their pens cry out for justice and humanity? MRS. s. w. JoftN'