The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-06
AVONDALE WANTS
 DEFINITE ANSWER Committee Discusses Greater Birmingham With Mayor M ANY INTERR0GkTORIES Drennen Being Only One of Nineteen Members of Board of Aldermen,
 Was Not Prepared to An
 swer Just Now.

The committee appointed at recent meeting of the citizens of Avondale to consider the question of a Greater Bir- mingham called on Mayor Drennen yes terday morning at his office in the city hall and gave him detailed list of questions. which they desired answered by him and those who had charge of the drafting of the proposed Greater Birm- ingham bill to be presented to the legis- lature,
 After calling on Mayor Drennen the committee called at the office of George B. Ward, candidate for mayor. but he was not in.
 Answers Requested.
 When the committee requested answers to the questions on the list, Mayor Dren- nen said he was but one of nineteen mem bers of the city council and he was not in position to reply at present. He said however, that he did not think the subur- ban towns had the, same idea of the movement for Greater Birmingham as the author of the movement, and did not fully appreciate the fact that Birmingham intended to treat every town annexed as part of the city and entitled to protec- tion the same as Birmingham.
 The Avondale committee thought each town should have a representative in the drafting of the proposed bin. It remained in the office of the mayor for an hour discussing the matter
 The written questions set forth by the gentlemen representing the citizenship of Avondale were as follows:
 Committees Quarters. February 5, 1903.
 Hon. ". M. Drennen, Mayor of Bir-
 mingham, Ala, and Ed Smith, City At
 torney.
 "Gentlemen-Referrng to your pub lshed intentions of introducing a bill in the legislature to extend the boun- daries of the city of Birmingham, the first proposition seems to cover the whole valley.
 What does 1t include? What pro- visions are in the bill with reference to the following questions: Will Avondale have a vote on the question? What rep resentation in the council? What repre- sentation on the school board? What provision as to fire protection? What provision as to protecting existing con- tracts? What with reference to fran chses for water, lights. street railways, and also as to improvements under way? What In regard to the prohibition of the 1 liquor traffic? Will privilege tax be the same as on businesses centrally locate6R And ditto as to professions? Ditto as to l banking and building and loan associa- tions? When will this bill go into ef- re 4o f,.4< be 4I.a 2d of March. will you recommend that primary be postponed until it has gone l Into effect? What provisions as to quail flied voters in said primary? If not, will Avondale be under obligations to sup port the nominees?
 Boundary Line. "In connection with the extension to- ward Avondale will you not change your lines so as to allow Avondale to extend to Thirty-second street? If not, will you allow her to extend to Thirty-ffth street If not to that, will you not at least allow Avondale to include Wildwood" that is, run the west line along the west line of section 32 to the east and west divid- ing line of said section thence east along said line?
 "On an agreed line. will you not with draw your first proposition until later meeting of the legislature?
 Could you not have prepared bill under the general law for the state by which incorporated towns could be con soldated at any time the towns or parties interested should deem 1t Advisable? Signed committee of citizens from Avondale: Mayor W. R. Starbuck, J. R. Ellard, Gus Ellard, G. T. Roberts, s. H. Erkert W. S. Meroney, W. N. Williams. T. c. Ellis, D. T. Smith, A. B. Sudduth, ~ G Frey, George Hayes. T. c. Culverhouse, H. J. H. Mohns, Dr. S. R. Caffee, George Hayes, Dr. H. l.. Martin, pr. Ira J. Sellers.'