The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-01-06
Opposition Anticipated.

trust you Will IT,
Opposition Anticipated.
Let no friend OF this movement for one
moment delude himself with the idea
that 1t will not be opposed, and opposed
vigorously Some opposition we will edu-
cate, overcome or silence; others we
never will. 1t would be unnatural to ex-
peet It, foolish to ignore 1t. With this
direct opposition and to its support will
come allied interests; parties who have
received at their hands past favors and
expect them for the future. Opposition
will come arrayed in different uniforms,
showing different colors. 1t will have to
be reckoned with in vigorous fashion,
man for man, II not actually with dollar
for dollar. Before this great fight has
been won we will need every recruit and
every dollar we can secure. But we will
win. The people generally do when they
are educated and aroused. When our
work is done we will publish the full re-
ceipts and disbursements, with vouchers.
and II any money is left over we will ask
the donors what they wish done with
their pro rata share.
2. Existing conditions seem to imply
subdivision of Legislative into four
heads, namely, provide for four separate
independent powers or agencies by which
this great work can be done either sep
arately or Jointly. (a) By the Jefferson
county sanitary commission: (b) by
water commission representing every
municipality and district affected by the
present construction Of trunk line sew
ers; (c) by the city of Birmingham act
ing by itself and for itself: Cd by the
city OF Birmingham acting for itself but
with the help and cooperation Of other
municipalities and the county, the latter
acting through the board of revenue or
through the sanitary commission. Either
of these four agencies would seem capa-
BILE of largely furnishing a solution IL
given legislative authority to do so. To
guard against any possible slip each
agency should be authorized to act to
the full limit of legal and financial ability.
The sanitary commission should at once
apply for these greatly increased powers.
They need many additional powers even
II they never attempt to furnish them
selves or anyone with any water. Either
upon the direct request of the sanitary
commission or after a majority vote of
the citizens of the county, the board of
revenue should be given authority to issue
bonds up to the full constitutional limit
of the countys taxable value. With the
proceeds of those bonds the sanitary COM
mission could greatly aid in a work in
which the lives of an Overwhelming ma
jorty of its citizens are right now criti-
cally concerned. The indirect benefits to
those portions of the county not yet SO
much effected will also be great. Those
portions should remember that they will
or hope to be soon so thickly settled as
to need this same system now being in
augurated for the whole county. A con-
sentative estimate has been made that
within FIVE years after work has actually
begun on this great water system, the
taxable values of Jefferson county will
increase by new enterprises and new
growth from s45, 100000. its present adopt
ed valuation, up to at least $50 900. At
any rate there would seem enough in
crease in reasonable sight to provide for
other needs and other sections In addi-
ton If the county or sanitary commits
sion furnished water to municipalities
they would receive substantial cash re-
turn for 1t.
Mayors and Boards.
(b.) The mayors and boards of aldermen
of this immediate district. namely, East
Lake, Woodlawn Avondale, North Br-
mingham, Birmingham Pratt City,
Ensley and Bessemer and county author
tiles should at once get together In con-
ference and see If it is advisable to pool
their interests and act Independently of
the sanitary commission of Jefferson
county. form water district Of their
own, and secure legislative authority as
may be necessary to issue IL possible a
joint bond signed by the proper officials
OF this water district board. This board,
II created, should also have not only the
power to acquire lands. but also large
police power to protect and control run
ming waters and public springs
(c.) The city council of Birmingham
should, IL not already given, ask for leg
islative authority to issue, when ratified
by the people, not to exceed So. 000, 900 to be
used as far as may be needed to secure
better and cheaper water for its own
citizens, with the right to sell any NUM-
cipalty, corporation or section desiring