The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-14
Chief Asks Them to Accompany
Him on Tour Of Inspection
DEFENDS HIS ASSERTIONS
Claims Power to Investigate These
Matters is Given Him by City
code-ln Harmony With
the Mayor.

views printed in The Age-Herald yester-
day morning regarding the sanitary con-
dition of the city, said last night that he
would demonstrate to the health commit
tee that the conditions are just as bad
as he claims, provided they will allow him
two hours of their valuable time. The
chief Is ready to accompany them any
time they will signify their intention of
going.
According to Chief Austin, the alley
which DIR. Cunningham Wilson referred to
In his interview is paradise with golden
streets" compared to some of those the
chief has visited. The chief also replies
to the statement that the police depart
ment and the Mayor are not on friendly
terms He said:
THE police department during my ad-
ministration has been In perfect harmony
with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
l have no criticism for any one. but the
sanitary condition of the city is so bad
some one had to take the matter in hand.
Can Make Arrests.
ut may not come directly under my
Jurisdiction, but no one is responsible
at least have power to cause the arrest
OF any one VlOldtlnB any CITY
or State law, and l shall use 1t to have
the streets and alleys cleaned.
1.-The sanitary inspectors may be very
good men, as far as / know, but l do
not know them. They are not to blame.
however, for the sanitary condition, for
the Mayor keeps them busy on other
things-fumigating watching smallpox
and other similar things. I believe the
two do all they can do, but there should
be four others.
&c. b. Burkhalter, the garbage con-
tractor, may carry out his contract re-
garding the number of wagons used, but
frequent reports have been made of bar
rels of ashes which have been waiting
call from one of these wagons for sew
eral weeks. In First alley between Sew
enteenth and Eighteenth streets there are
four barrels of ashes which have been
there for weeks, according to reports.
They are in the business section of the
city and should be called for once day.
Mr.. Burkhalter confirms all 1 have
said about the mud holes when he said he
was forced to carry around tackles and
chains to drag his wagons out of the
holes. He is right about the trash be-
Ing hauled very cheap In Birmingham.
In fact 1t Is so cheap that 1t is not haul
ed, and In some instances have seen It
piled 50 high In the business portion Of
had not been that way for some time.
Challenges the Committee.
IF any of the six gentlemen composing
the health committee of the Board of
Health will give me two hours time,
will show him that Birmingham is in a
filthy and unsanitary condition sufficient
to breed an epidemic of disease.
st can show them closets that have
not been flushed In weeks and are still
in use. barrels of garbage which have
been exposed for some time and dirty
and filthy old COW and pig pens II they
don't agree with me on the unsanitary
conditions, I promise to eat my last sum-
mers hat which 1 want to wear again
this season.
1.-The statement that the matter does
not come under my jurisdiction can be
answered by referring to sections 435.
440, 442, 443 and 444 of the city code. In
each of these unsanitary conditions are
declared a nuisance and am given power
to abate a nuisance.
Section ABS provides for wooden or
iron vessel to be used for trash and gar
bage and that 1t must be placed in the
alley before 5 o'clock in the morning for
the wagons to take up. Section 44O says
that person may be fined $40 for failing
to properly clean and place lime on the
floors of privies and stables, and that
fine of $40 shall be added for every day
they fail to comply with the law.
Must Keep Them Sanitary.
at says 1t is the duty of the persons
owning or using stable or privy to keep
them in good condition and clean them
frequently enough to prevent smelling
SO as to offend the persons living near
and passing along the streets and alleys.
Section 443 says If any person shall
permit any decaying matter or other
nuisance to remain in the streets or alleys
confronting or contiguous to his residence
q premises for longer than "a hours with
out informing the police he shall be fined
S. The next section provides for water
to be run in all closets and says the
chief of police shall deputise men to visit
the closets and see that they are kept
In condition. 1t sets the fine from 81 to
$50.
Section 27e requires sewer connections
and makes the failure to have them
misdemeanor."
vigor and vitality are quickly given to
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