The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-02-08
Facts and Figures About Gov
eminent of Birmingham
TIMELY RECOMMEN DATIONS
The Mayor Transmits to the City coun-
ell the Annual Reports of All
Heads of Departments.
Practical Remarks.

Mayor Ward submitted his first annual
message to the City Council last night
BESIDES transmitting the reports of heads
of departments the Mayor makes a num-
Der of recommendations along practical
lines. The message follows:
Honorable Board of Mayor and Aldermen,
Birmingham, Ala.
Gentlemen Herewith find reports of
your different departments for the year
tsO5
An honest efforth has been made by
those in charge to secure the best results
possible with the facilities furnished
them.
These reports should be studied care
fully by all citizens. 1t is their duty to
acquaint themselves with the manner in
which funds received are hanuled by their
servants.
The aldermen on your several commit
tees have also labored earnestly for the
citys welfare. To the harmonious CO.
operation of all concerned can be at
tributed the good results apparent to
those who note municipal conditions.
Those who, being conversant with sta
tistics of other cities, and considering the
limited amount of money available also
the vast scope of the municipal work now
being carried on along broad. scientinc
lines and the results obtained therein
must acknowledge that Birmingham is
conspicuously one Of the best governed
cities in the United States.
Our tax rate is unreasonably small
and serves chiefly to retard progress. II
Is hoped such limitations will not al
ways exist as at present.
While 1t is we'll to give due heed to
details and conditions as they arise from
day to day they should be made subser-
Went to a broad general policy and it
behooves the Mayor kand Aldermen to
give thought to the future and legslate
with the full knowledge that this entire
valley will sooner or late become
great metropolis of from three to five
hundred thousand people, and that now
is the time to provide for them.
Part of this general policy should be
the acquisition of property. There are
vast tracts of acreage within radius OF
ten miles of the center of the city that
can be bought comparatively cheap and
on long time. 1t can also be carried
without expense for taxes. 1t can be made
into a chain of parks or be used for
other municipal purposes.
The wisdom of this policy is shown
by the fact that real property already
accumulated by the city of Birmingham
is valued now at about the same figure as
our bonded debt. viz: near $2.500,O00.
For such a result the people should
thank our former Mayors who have
all advocated it.
The question of grade crossings is one
that from now on will gradually become
more acute Provision should be made
for free and safe passage from center
of town into the resident districts.
Viaducts.
A committee is now arranging a re-
port on viaduct from Eighth to Tenth
avenues, north across the Frisco, Cen
trail and Belt railroads rights of way
AS the viaduct will serve a large popu-
lation and focus traffic on the street used
1t will benefit AUDITING property greatly
1t is therefore hoped no property owner
will block the project by an attempt to
obtain damages.
The streets between Eighteenth and
-Twenty-eighth are under consideration.
The contract has been let to repave
Twenty-first street bridge with creosoted
wooden blocks. This necessitates rein
forced steel Orders and supports. Work
has been commenced and total cost will
be about $4,000.
Lights.
On coming into office much confusion
was found to exist in our street light
account. On the reimbursement 1t was
found we had obtained rebate of $7206 is
and also removed forty or more lights
from our pay roll to that of other cor
porations.
Water.
satisfactory adjustment was also
made of disputed water bills with con-
siderable savings to the treasury of the
city.
Saloons.
Your honorable body is TO be compli-
mented on having at last devised a sat
isfactory way to handle saloon people
who have no regard for our laws.
The policy of asserting your preroga-
tive and arbitrarily revoking license and
closing the house, either on suspicion or
on facts, has made them understand that
morality and decency must take prece-
dence over mere money making. Further
more that they must operate under your
regulations or not at all.
In my opinion the alderman who does
not stand fast to this policy In the future
will receive small consideration from the
people and will deserve 1ess.
New Code.
1t is a source of qualification to have