The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-19
Skyscraper Plan Meets With
 Most Favor
PRISONERS TO GO ON TOP
By Renting First and Second Floors for Commercial Purposes Fourth Avenue Would Be Developed
 as Business Street.

i next Monday as to what shall be done in regard to the county jail and court house. On that day the issuance of $5O0,0O worth of bonds will be voted on. The Board of Revenue some time ago ordered the election to be held Monday, June 24, and while the matter has not aroused general interest it has been discussed l quite a good deal about the court house. 1 A definite plan has not been decided on, but the building of an eight-story or ten- story building, even with the property line, on the present site of the jail is looked on favorably by most of the Board of Revenue. It Is proposed that the first and possibly the second floors shall be rented out for commercial purposes, which would result to great extent in the 1 building up of Fourth avenue as a bus mess street. The building would be 100 l by 120 feet, and a ten-storv one is con- 1 sdered to be the most feasible. If a ten story building should be erected the first and second floors would be rented, the third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors would be used for criminal courts and tax as- sessor's office, while the seventh, eighth ninth and tenth floors would be used for the jail. with a roof garden or exer- else ground on the top.
 Would Have Two Elevators.
 An elevator at one end of the hall would be used exclusively for the jail, while an- other one at tue other end of the hall would be for general use The building will be so constructed and have a founda- ton strong enough to carry twenty stories, if necessary, so that 1t can be used at any time in the future when more court or jail rom is needed. The rent from the first and second floors would go to the general fund and be enough to pay the interest on the bonds.
 State Prison Inspector Bragg was au- thorlzed by the legislature to order dis continued for prison purposes any build- ing which he considers detrimental to the health of the prisoners, and he has ordered that Jefferson county discontinue using the present jail for the housing of prisoners. It is said that it Is impos- sible for a prisoner to stay in the jail for six months without contracting some dis ease, and that an analysis of the dust in any part of the structure will show disease germs.
 The board is hoping that a large vote will be cast Monday in order that the true opinion of the people may be de- rived at In discussing the matter yester- day a taxpayer said;
 Favors the Proposition.
 'I am strongly in favor of the proposi- ton First, because such a building is needed, and second, because it would be an ornament to the county and to the city My only fear is apathy on part of the people and that small vote may be cast.
 This I would consider deplorable. l am quite sure a majority vote will be cast for the issue, but small vote and respectable opposition would, l am sure, weaken the bonds in the market. When there is any considerable opposition to a proposition of this kind it simply means doubt as to the popular will and prob- able fear of legal entanglements. My judgment is that for the credit of the county the proposition should be either voted down or carried by a large ma , jority.
 Jefferson is a great and growing coun- " ana shouiu proNlue nut ohly TOT Ihe present but for the future. We are strong fnancially-our assets large and our debt small.
 Tn 1906 the assessed value of taxable property in this county was $579l1 7OS, and under the equilization rule of the state tax commission it has ben suggested that for 1907 it will reach the sum of nearly 1 $S0, ,00OOO0.
 | "rhe bonded debt of the county is as I follows
 Amount Rate of