The age-herald., 1901-05-19
TIE MAYOR TALKS
 ON CITY MATTERS About $75O,OOO of Public Im- provements This Year A NEW MUNICIPAL LEAGUE Cities In Alabama VIII Organize for Mutual ProteetIon-cIty's New
 Fire Apparatus VIII Soon Be
 In Commission.
4 NEWf MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

''The city will spend this year in the neighborhood of $750,0O0 for public im- provements," said Mayor Drennen to an Herald reporter yesterday In speak ing of the city's rapid development. ITO enumerate, I might mention first the new city hall, which will cost when com pleted about S200, 900, and will be a beau tiful structure. This will be paid for by issuing bonds for which issue the proper legislation was enacted by the last Leg islature, and for the sale of which ar rangements have been made.
 "The city also has had the proper leg islation for authorizing 1t to issue s5o,oOO of bonds for the purpose of erecting new school buildings. One of these will be in the Lakeview district, and one in the rolling mill district. These two will cost about $15,0O0 each. and the contracts have been let and work has been started on them.
 Third School Not Located.
 The third school will be on that DOT ton of the North Highlands better known as Jonesville. Two lots have been off, fered to the board of education as site for 1t. but neither seem to please all the members of the board. A location that would perhaps suit a majority of the board seems to be held at rather an exor- bitant price. and can only be had by the l Mayor and Board of Aldermen making l the purchase. This school building will take the remainder of the s5o,ooO, that is, about S30,O00.
 While talking about bonds. I might mention incidentally that the city will shortly call in $20,00O of ' per cent bonds and issue per cent bonds in their place. These bonds have not yet matured, but the city has the option of calling them in, and will do so on July 1.
 Many Street Improvements.
 The amount of street improvements contracted for and to be contracted for during the year, added to the cost of these new buildings, will amount to about three quarters of million dollars. These street Improvements, in payment for which 1 bonds will be issued. consist of paving, curbing, new sidewalks. and the like. One contract alone, that for paving Eleventh street, amounts to s5O00o. Doubtless a number of other streets will be paved during the year either with brick or as- phalt
 ordinances will shortly be adopted for paving Morris avenue from Twenty-sec- ond to Twenty-fourth street; Twenty first street, from First to Eighth avenue, North, and Fifth avenue, from Fifteenth to Twenty-sixth streets Either asphalt CT brick will be used, as the City Council may select. An ordinance will also be in- troduced at the next meeting of the Coun- cil to pave the sidewalks In the Fifth ward, that is, between Twentieth and | Twenty fourth streets and Morris ave- nue and Sixth avenue. Concrete sidewalks will be laid in this part of the city wher- ever they are necessary.
 The New Fire Apparatus.
 "when will the new fire apparatus be | in operation?" the Mayor was asked.
 "In not exceeding sixty days replied l the Mayor By that time the new equipment will be installed and Birming- ham will then enjoy first-class fire in- surance rating from the standpoint of the Southeastern Tariff Association. The new equipment will consist of one large fire
 
 of new hose The aerial truck that we now have will be put in commission and all the various hose trucks will be equipped with ladders.
 Municipal League of Alabama. Another matter of interest to our peo- ple," continued the Mayor, Ifs the forma tion of a municipal league in Alabama I have been corresponding with Mayor Weakley of Florence, and other Mayors throughout the State with a view to it's formation. The idea Is to form a league of all the cities in the State for mutual interests. Every city of 800 population or over will be asked to join and a meet ing will shortly be called to be held in Birmingham some time between the first and the tenth of June.
 "One of the objects of the league Is to see that no legislation be enacted by the Constitutional Convention which Is un- favorable. and that such legislation as is needed be enacted. It Is proposed to make this league permanent organization. There are number of such leagues in the Eastern states, and one has recently been organized In Tennessee. I have writ te for copy of the constitution and by laws of the latter, but they have not yet been printed.
 This league is an outcome of the League of American Municipalities. Mem bers who have attended its sessions re- alized the benefits to be derived from 1t and thought that similar league in the State would be advantageous" The Mayor leaves next week for New York to attend the annaul convention of the chiefs of police. Chief Austin is also going. The convention will probably be in session four or five days.