The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-26
EAST LAKE FAVORS
 THE GREATER CITY
North Birmingham Now Offers
 the Only Opposition
KING ISSUES STATEMENT
Sentiment Is Divided In Northern Sub- urb and the Fight Will Probably Be Centered There From
 Now On.

East Lake has decided almost unanl-
 mously for Greater Birmingham, which
 leaves practically the only opposition to
 the greater city at North Birmingham. l While Pratt City declared for annexation
 by a majority of but one, those behind
 the movement are very much eated over
 It, as the opposition to the measure was
 practically solid three weeks ago. The
 few who were in favor of it were not to
 be downed, howeverh and never let up in
 their work to educate their fellow citi-
 zens to their view. That a sentiment so
 strongly in favor of the bill could be
 created in two or three weeks shows how
 rapidly the making of a Greater Birmlng-
 ham as outlined in the King bill is gain ing favor.
 1 The sentiment In all of the other towns,
 with the exception of North Birmingham,
 Is practically unanimous in favor of Greater Birmingham. North Birmingham
 is somewhat divided on the question and
 the fight from now on will probably be centered there.
 The fact that the general and compan-
 ion bills were drafted after consideration
 with the city attorneys of the different municipalities, and that everything asked
 for by them in order to guarantee their respective towns, a square deal was in
 corporated in them has done much to- wards creating favorable sentiment to- wards Greater Birmingham. The fact that
 every town can issue the full amount of
 bonds necessary for the construction of sewers and school houses immediately Is proving a strong card.
 Representative King gave out the fol- lowing card yesterday in regard to North Birmingham:
 King In North Birmingham.
 "All honor to Pratt City. When I opened the campaign there three weeks ago the sentiment was at least three to one against Greater Birmingham. On yester- day the advocates of Greater Birmingham carried the day. This Is distinct compl- ment to Birmingham, and l hope the first appropriation that the Greater Birmlng
 ham city council will make shall be for the Pratt City district The vote of con fdence there on yesterday is especially pleasing to me.
 Greater Birmingham is a winner.
 When Pratt City, seven miles away,
 votes to come into the greater city, the
 towns nearer by should not hesitate about
 joining the great movement.
 "The city officials of North Birming l ham have at last announced that they
 want to hold their present jobs. This is
 the only town that has not co-operated
 with us in drawing the bills for the great
 CT city, although q most cordial invita- 1 ton was extended them on three different | occasions. They charge that l promised not to take them into Birmingham with | out their consent. 1 never understood that North Birmingham nor any other towns | in the valley ever objected to Greater l Birmingham, under any and all condi- l tions 1 promised during the campaign, and renew that promise here and now, to l help create a Greater Birmingham on
 such terms and conditions as will give l all the people affected a square deal. The l fact that we were to have Greater Bir- l mingham I have always thought was an | idea that was universal. This issue has /, always been the terms and conditions on which these towns should be taken in.
 All the members of the legislature from I Jefferson county are advocates Of Great 1 CT Birmingham. l presume tEey expected to create a greater city by adding new l territory and new people. Nobody ever l expected we could create Greater Bir- mingham on air. We are all pledged. if not, in fact, certainly as representatives l of the people, to give all the towns taken | in such a city government as they are willing to live under
 Wanted All to Come In. "At the meeting of the municipalities several weeks ago in the Commercial club, the sentiment from all the repre- sentatiyes of all the outlying towns was. n RirminN should be allowed to stay out of the greater city. This was the strongest sen timent expressed in that meeting. The sentiment however, was universal for a square deal and fair treatment. and in line with this idea representative Of every city government proposed to be taken In was invited to attend confer ence to draw up the Greater Birming- ham bills These bills have been drawn uy and agreed on.
 "rhe question now Is shall the people of Greater Birmingham from East Lake to Pratt City allow North Birmingham to remain outside and establish her fac tories in close proximity to the greater cit without any means of enforcing san- jta.ion? It seems this would be a source of great danger to residents of Birming- ham and certainly to Pratt City and the people of Ensley who live near Village creek North Birmingham officials dofnot deny that they have an empty treasury anl that their credit is severely strained. How are they going to give sanitation to all the, large territory covered by their factory district? h North Birmingham any better than Avondale Woodlawn. East Lake. Graymont, Elyton, West End or Fa.rview? Are her plants and indus tries any more deserving of exemption fro.l taxation than any of the above mentioned towns? The question Is up to the people of this valley and not for the citizens of any one small section to de- eide"