The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-10
NEWS OF CENTRAL CITY
POLICE CHIEF WARNS CITIZENS
 ABOUT STREET TAX.
Money is Being Used to Vastly Im- prove the Streets of Selma. Captain Webb Talks of
 Demopoli.
Advertiser Buceau,


 Selma, Oct. g.
 Policemen of the city were busy this morning distributing circulars warning taxpayers that the street tax of sS was now due and telling all deIinouents that trouble and costs could be saved by pay- ing the above amount before 1t became delinquent
 This circular is signed by Chief of Po- lice E. T. Walters. and those between the ages of 21 and 55, all of whom are subject to this 8 street tax, are warned to heed what the Chief says and 20 for ward and pay the tax promptly.
 This street tax law was passed by the last Legislature at the request of Mayor Mcleod. who 1rew up the act. The law is so drawn that the City Council fixes the amount at any figure under A that the Council sees proper. The amount was placed at 8 and while this falls heavily on poor people, the city will be greatly benefited in the long run by hav- ing splendid streets.
 The money derived from the people of Selma for street tax purposes cannot be used for anything else.
 The gravel from the sand bar below the city is being used for street build- ing purposes. This gravel is drawn to the top of the bluff by electric tramway cars and Is then hauled by the city carts to the places where 1t is deposited on the streets. Before the gravel is put down, however Street Superintendent Shanna- han, under the direction of City Surveyor Julian Smith, grades the streets down to a proper level. A great deal of dirt has to be cut away in places. and thousands of loads of sand and dirt has to be cart ed away by the city carts in order to n IL rt-s A-N. of the loose sand and dirt and gets down to the hard dirt, and that of itself makes a great deal better foundation for the gravel
 The stre ats are left higher in the cen- ter. with gradual incline toward the gutters, and they present an oval shape when the gravel is spread over them. This gravel is placed some eight or ten inches thick in the center of the street, where the driving will be heaviest. and tapers off to soms three or four inches toward the sides of the street. After the gravel Is put down. a coating of clay Is placed over the whole, and then the twelve-ton road machine is run over 1t, until the clay and the gravel are packed hard and a solid roadway is thus formed. The work of building was commenced on Jones Street, where 1t intersects with King Street, which is the place where the gravel is brought up from the bar. That street was finished as far down as Union Street, up Union to the court house and down Alabama as far as the new court house, where the force of hands are now at work.
 The grade around the new court house has to be cut down a good deal, but the street will be all the better for that, when finished. Enough gravel has been hoist ed up from the bar. while the river was low, to build several more blocks of paw ing and the city force of convicts and the city carts will be busy far into the spring months before the supply of gravel on hand is exhausted.
 It is the intention of the Street Com mittee of the City Council to continue the grading and building of this street straight across the city till the extreme eastern limits of the corporation are reached, so that all sections of the city will get the benefit of the street tax alike.
 As soon as one street from east tc west Is finished, the city will decide or street from north to south, and will finish it.The street that is being graded and graveled from King Street to the ex- treme eastern limits of the city will be about a mile and three-quarters. when completed and will become a popular driveway in the cool of the afternoons.