The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-02-08
Meat and MIX Departments.


lax policy.
Meat and Mix Departments.
The public has reason to be proud of
results obtained by the meat and milk
department.
Up to date and scientific regulation of
these important sources of food have
been enacted into laws.
Their rigid enforcement is undoubtedly
putting the health of our community on a
better basis.
Plumbing Department.
In May last inspections under this
department were taken from the office
OF the city engineer and the office of
plumbing inspector created.
After a thorough investigation and dis
cussion comprehensive plumbing laws
were adopted for the city of Birmingham
on May 17th
This office has since been self-sustaiu-
ing and of great benefit to the health
and comfort of the community.
While all future plumbing Will of course
be safe and sanitary, the cheap plumbing
installed years ago has become menace
to health. 1t is recommended that action
be taken towards eondemning and remov-
ing such conditions as rapidly as possible
In such way as will not be unfair to the
property owner.
The inspector has much cause for COM
plant against irresponsible and transient
plumbers who are allowed to take out
license and who systematically slip in
work without permits.
AS remedy for this 1t might be well
to require each person taking out a Ii
cense to have permanent place of bus
mess.
Building Department.
On the 18th of May last a set of building
laws drawn up by the Southeastern Tariff
association and our local architects was
adopted. They have since gone into the
code in improved shape.
This office was also taken out of the
hands of the city engineer and the office
of building inspector created. 1t has
since been self-sustaining.
From the passage of this ordinance
dates a change in the class OF buildings
erected In our city. Its enforcement will
also have much effect on the trade dis
trict as progressive merchants will stead
lily remove from old rockeries heretofore
furnished them and follow the modern
up-to-date quarters erected in other local
tiles. The same results will be noticed In
the residence districts.
1t might be we'll for the board to au-
thorize a special inspection with a view
towards condemning and removing all
old and unsafe buildings, inasmuch as the
building inspector has his hands full look
ing after new work.
City Electrician.
In the latter part of the year the Of
flee of city electrician was created and
in December all inspections for electrical
wiring, etc, were taken over by the city.
These inspections were formerly made
by the Southeastern Tariff association but
without any law to compel same, conse-
quently they were not as thorough as
they should have been.
In our new code, however, the regu-
lations of the national board of fire I'M
derwriters are now embodied. A rigid
enforcement of these regulations will
make Birmingham as safe risk from an
electrical standpoint as are the great
cities of the north.
Fire Inspector.
On December the office of fire inspec-
tor was created. His duties are to enforce
all laws of the city of Birmingham which
have to do with fire risks.
While the salary Is paid by the South
eastern Tariff association he is an Of
hcer of the city of Birmingham and has
police authority.
With the vigorous and systematic in
spections by this officer ana the rigid en-
forcement OF the building laws, together
with the protection from our enlarged
fire department, it is confidently believed
that losses from fire will be reduced so
per cent.
License Inspector.
The report of the license inspector shows
the usual satisfactory increase in collec-
tons II
For the ensuing year this officer has
also been elected merchants tax assessor,
and 1t Is expected that large increase
will be shown in receipts from merchants
tax.
During the month of December your
honorable body abolished the annual
street tax.
T4.s action removed what has always
been a source of friction between the mu-
nicipal authorities and the public at large,
and will undoubtedly have beneficial
effect on the labor situation in this city.
Schools.
p The interesting report of the superin-
tendent of schools speaks for itself
Year after year this department al
though growing at a tremendous rate
has been run smoothly and without frlc-
ton.
Figuring from the estimate made by