The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-08
PRAISE FOR WORK
 OF COMMISSION
A I. London Cites Sanitary
 Commission as Example
STATEMENT BY R. B. SMYER
Illustrates Value of Government By a Commission of Unpaid Citizens. Get Most for the Least
 Money.

The following letter from Alex. T. Lon don, citing the Jefferson county sanitary commission as an example of the good work of unpaid commissions of citizens in conducting public improvements. will be of unusual interest:
 To the Editor of the Age-Herald.
 Heretofore l have so frequently been put in the attitude of a critic 1t will no doubt surprise your readers to find me an unqualified admirer of things that have been done in the district, but l oc- cupy this position with great deal of pleasure because so few people know or appreciate what has been done by the Jefferson county sanitary commission that l feel it due to the gentlemen composing that commission to express what l feel is due from all the citizens of this eoun- l ty-commendation in the highest terms. Another thing Is, that the work of this commission demonstrates more clearly than any argument could do, the value of government by a commission of un- paid citizens whose sole object Is to get 1 the most for the public for the least money, and ths Is the principle upon which the Galveston municipal govern ment Is based, and if we are to believe 
 1 here have been obtained there. I had heard in an indefinite way or l what the sanitary commission was doing, but being greatly interested, I applied to Mir. R. B. 5myer, secretary and attorney of the commission, for the facts and be- low you will find the statement kindly furnished by him, which speaks for itself. l venture the assertion that no work of like magnitude and imposing as many difficulties as this sewerage problem has, has been executed so well and so eco- nomically anywhere, and the gentlemen on this commission are entitled to, and should receive, the thanks of the whole people of this county for the ability, skill and honesty which they have displayed in executing this great work.
 ALEX T. LONDON. Birmingham, May z, 1907
 Statement by MT. Smyer: It was estimated that it would take $500 GOO to construct the two trunk lines of sewer; that is, the Valley Creek line from Birmingham to below Bessemer, and the Village Creek line from East Lake to below Ensley and a bond issue of $5O0OO0 by the county was authorized. It was not estimated that there would be any money out of this appropriation to build branch lines, or purifcation plants.
 The Jefferson county sanitary commits 1 sion, after these preliminary estimates were made and the law authorizing the 1 bond issue enacted, took charge of the work and had different and accurate sur veys made.
 The result of the work is as follows: The commission has constructed and paid for out of the appropriations, Valley Creek trunk line of sewer, which is about fourteen miles long, or, to be accurate, 73, GOO feet long.
 Also the Village Creek trunk line, which is about eleven miles long, or, to be ac- curate, 55,3OO feet long.
 In addition 1t has constructed and paid for out of the appropriation the follow ing branch lines of sewer;
 Branch line to Bessemer, $500 feet long.
 Branch line to West End, HOO feet long.
 Branch line to Ensley 4O6O feet long.
 One branch line to Birmingham Qrom Village Creek sewer), 250O feet long.
 A second branch line to Birmingham (from Village Creek sewer), 2600 feet long.
 A third branch line to Birmingham (from Village creek sewer), 2OOO feet long,
 A fourth line to Birmingham Cfrom Village creek sewer). 1900 feet long.
 The commission has also contract let and money sufficient to pay for, the fol- lowing branch lines, to-wit:
 Branch line to Woodlawn, 5000 feet long (about one-fourth constructed).
 Contract let for construction of branch line to Avondale, $500 feet long.
 In addition to this, the commission fAt county. about 100 acres of land for sep tic tanks and purification plants at the mouth of the Valley creek trunk line of sewer, and about twenty-five acres of land at the mouth of the Village creek trunk line of sewer.
 And in addition have constructed septic tanks at a cost of about s23,00O for puri- fication of sewage, at the mouth of the Valley creek trun line of sewer.
 And have constructed septic tanks for the purifcation of sewage at the mouth of Village creek trunk line of sewer at a cost of little over 5000. trading water rights to reimburse the cost of the sep tic tanks.
 Under the law, the commission was authorized to build branch lines of sewer to corporate limits of municipalities.
 The trunk lines of sewer constructed run to or through the corporate limits O. the following municipalities, to-wit:
 Brighton, Pratt City, Thomas (not in- corporated); North Birmingham, East Lake.
 So that these municipalities have the trunk line within their corporate limits, and the others above named have had branch lines built to the corporate limits. and the others above named have had brancn lines built to the corporate limits.
 The s5O00O0 of bonds authorized were sold by the sanitary commission and without brokerage, or commission to any one. and sold for premium of between s4O00 and s5000.
 The estimate was that 1t would take the full appropriation of s500,O00 to build the two trunk lines of sewer, or about twenty four miles of sewer.
 | The result will be that the commission will construct with the appropriation ] little over thirty-one miles of sewer and | construct the septic tanks and acquire the land for purifcation purposes. amounting in the aggregate to about 125 acres But bear in mind that the cost | of the ceptic tank was virtually paid | for by the commission trading the water rights. In trading the water rights to the Valley creek sewer, all future con |