The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-23
GRAND JURY WANTS
BETTER ROAD LAWS
Thinks Bad Roads Due to Insult
ficient Authority
CRITICISE CAR SERVICE
Bessemer Jury Demands Separate and
More Adequate Accommodation for
Both Races-other Rec
concentrations Made.
CRITICISE CAR SERVICE

Bessemer, November Especial 1.-The
grand jury OF the city court of Bessemer
adjourned Mt p. m. today after long
and busy session, and submitted a pithy
and final report. Embodied in this report
said, If carried out, will be of great BEN
eft to the citizens of the whole county.
Although I statement was published
yesterday morning signed by the fore
man, but not by the other members of
the grand jury, he perhaps thinking that
the jury would have adjourned before the
paper reached it's readers, and kindly
wishing to accommodate without intend
ing to break the usual custom, and al
though the facts stated do not differ from
the corresponding ones as given below,
the foreman'i statement has been de-
clared unauthorized and the following
fuller report including many recommen-
dations, has been made:
Text of Report.
TO the Honorable William Jackson,
Judge of the City Court of Bessemer:
1--WE, the srand jury empanelled by
your honor OH the 29th day of September.
1906, have pursued our labors for about
twelve days, took recess until the 18th
day of the present month, and now,
having finished our labors, submit the
following as cur final report:
1--WE regret very much to report to
your honor taat crime within the juris-
diction of this court has increased very
much The cases coming before us of
serious nature are especially on the in
crease, and the indictments returned by
rs are Cor murder in the first degree and
for assault with intent to murder.
During our entire session we have
found and returned seventy-one indict-
ments, most of them being for crimes OF
a serious nature.
"a committee of our body has examined
the books of the clerk of the city court
and report them in good condition.
ut has been reported to us that the
public loads within your honors jurisdic-
ton are not in good condition, and from
our information none of the parties con-
nected with the making of public roads
ought to be censured. the cause of this
being a serious defect in the law, giving
insufficient authority and too great terri
tory to the parties who have immediate
supervision of the road working In the
several districts. This matter in some To-
calities has become a very serious matter
to the general public, and we recommend
that the members of the legislature make
such changes in the road law as will rem
der 1t possible for the several officers to
perform such duties as will provide good
roads FOR the public.
Poor Car Service.
Much complaint has been made to us
that the car service of the Birmingham
Railway Light and Power company, as
operated on the south line of said COM
pany is inadequate and inefficient for the
equal and separate accommodation of
people of bota races. The patronage of
this line of the companys railway is
chiefly by colored people, who in many
Instances fail to find sufficient room in
separate apartments In the ear.
1--WE are also informed that the same
condition exists on the Jonesboro line. In
both instances the colored and white peo-
Pile are forced TO occupy the same car.
We recommend that said company pro-
vide sufficient accommodation for sepa-
rate use Of people of both races
1--WE further report that the news item
as published in The Age-Herald of this
morning with reference to the grand jury
was premature and not authorized by the
grand jury as d part VI ,hel lePoi :, 'tio
above being our report in full. While
some Of the matters stated were true, we
simply desire TO state to your honor that
they were not authorized by the grand
5ury.
.'Thankng your honor and our solicitor
for thc assistance and many courtesies
extended to us. and our chief deputy
sheriff for his efficient service and other
officers of the court for service rendered
10 us, We ask TO he discharged
&c. Z. HADAWAY, Foreman