The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-18
BIRMINGHAM IS NOW
REMARKABLY CLEAN
A Wonderful Transformation
Worked in thirty Days
PRAISE FOR WHITE WINGS
T. H. Aldrich, Jry Says Birmingham
Is One of the cleanest Towns
In the country-Lawns
Should Be Cut.
PRAISE FOR WHITE WINGS

Birmingham is today. so far as its
streets and alleys are concerned, one of
the cleanest and most attractive cities in
the country"
That is what T. H. Aldrich. Jr, said
fourth floor of the Woodward building
and looked out over the city.
THE town has been literally trans
formed in this respect in the last thirty
days. had heard that Mayor Ward had
resolved to get the city clean and keep
1t clean as soon as he could do so after
becoming mayor; and, I confess, I was
inclined to smile when I heard the an
nouncement IT seemed to me that we
had fallen into such habit here of
neglecting the streets that it would be
that If it came at all It would sure
ly come slowly. All my predictions have.
however, been knocked into a cooked hat.
The impossible has been accomplished.
Birmingham is as clean as a whistle. A
woman can walk it's sidewalks without
soilfng her gown. The most artistic eye
can look up and down long lines of
streets and avenues and not be offended.
IT understand" Mr. Aldrich went on,
that the Mayor declines to accept credit
for this reform. He SAYS all the credit
is due to Street Commissioner McCar-
tin. Well. let him have the credit who
deserves 1t. The important thing is that
Birmingham is clean. It's big job, too,
to clean city and keep it clean-a great
deal bigger one than the average per-
son is inclined to think it is. We all can
remember when the streets were dirty
and dusty and foul-smelling. We can re-
member when the cutters were plled
high with refuse. and the sidewalks and
streets were Uttered with newspapers and
garbage. Now all is changed. The grabage
law has worke,. wonders. 1t Is being en-
forced-the people are obeylns IT, Inc
garbage and refuse metal boxes have
transformed the appearance of the city.
They are a good investment-one Of the
best that could be made. They not only
insure to us a clean city, but they also
promote its sanitary welfare.
"The street sweeping and street cleaning
brigade is doing its work faithfully and
theoretically. Night and day it is busy.
The police are cooperating we'll and the
street commissioner is directing the work
intelligentiy. And all the while the
MAYOR. with his sleepless eye. keeps a
keen lookout, his hand firm on the throt-
tie of the whole machine.
There is however, one feature of the
problem that is being overlooked. The
people have been required to clean up
their back yards. They ought to be in
vited to put their front yards in shape,
and keep them in shape. and to cut the
grass and keep clean the patch of ground
between the sidewalks and the curbing.
This Is neglected all over town. Even on
Highland avenue it does not receive at
tention Ride GU that avenue some time
and Judge for yourself. In this matter, 1t
seems to me that a mere word is suf-
ficient to bring about a change for the
better Householders should understand
that the most beautiful lawn is unlovely
when 1t is hedged by uncut grass on the
strip of ground between the sidewalk and
curb.
Everywhere 1 go l hear people COM
menting on how clean the town is now
adays. | think we all have reason to re-
ioice, and think we cannot commend too
highly the efforts of Mayor Ward and
Street Commissioner McCartin."