The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-17
Magnificent Structure in the
Handsome Square Seems
Assured in Near Future
BOARD OF REVENUE Is
ENTIRELY IN SYMPATHY
City Council Votes to Advertise Bill
and Question of Transfer VIII Be =
Submitted to Vote of
the People.

The plan to move the court hous'
county jail from its present site on Ihro
avenue and Twenty-hrst street to capitol
mark. which has been discussed consid-
era bly,. was presented in a tanglDie loi III
to the City Council last night
A resolution adopted by the Board OIL
Revenue and signed by every meihpel'
to the effect that the county authorltles
we're behind the proposition Win one
accord, was read to the council py +. ".
Bowman. DR.. J. w. Stage pastor Oh
the First Presbyterian church. ana l. H.
Motion, a real estate agent, spoke TO
the aldermen on the benefits to De de-
rived from the plan if carried out
The council is behind the project and IN
case there is nothing to prevent Will
probably give the county all the aid that
it can. The city owns the Capitol park
as long as 1t remains a park, ana the
plan is for the city to transfer its titles
to the county.
The council passed a resolution last
night instructing the Mayor to adVer-
tise the fact of the transfer to the coun-
ty. and instructed the city attorney to
cola borate with the county attorneys IN
the preparation of bill or bills govern
ing such a transfer.
The Plan Outlined.
The plan is to dispose of the court
house and jail and the site which they
occupy; to issue bonds and acquire
sum needed in the erection of court
house of some ten or fifteen stories in
Capitol park.
It is proposed to occupy this building
with the several courts of the county,
the county Jail, the city Jail, the sew
eral Departments of the county govern
ment. and numerous offices. 1t was point
ed out that the county could derive
splendid revenue from the rent OF Of
fees. It was pointed out, too that at
present the court house was taxed TO
its capacity in the discharge of the coun-
tvs business. 1t was further shown that
on account of the noise Of cars ana
wagons-which noise would be on the
increase every year-the courts were COM
PEELED to suspend business at periods dur
ing the day, and all the time lost was
a financial loss to the county.
The above was the argument in part,
of Mr.. Bowman, who occupied the atten-
ton of the council for some thirty
minutes.
Property Valuation Enhanced
DR.. J. w. Stage addressed the council
for some time along the same lines His
speech was full of wit and humor. In
speaking of the growth of the city, he
referred to his belief that Mr. Gates was
not dreaming while Cictating his recent
" issued interview concerning the pros
poets of this district, and that the great
financier was not preparing to unload
stock here.
In speaking of the probabilities of NOV
ing the capital from Montgomery to
Birmingham he got off some humorous
remarks at the expense of the latter
city. He did not see ehe ACCESSIBILITY of
moving Montgomery to Birmingham, In
TINA ting broadly that the sole remain
ing activity of that city was due to the
existence of the seat of government with
in it's limits.
DR.. Stagg thought that the removal
of the Jail would enhance the value Of
property contiguous $l00o,0OO and would
enhance the property about Capitol park
an equal amount.
City Willing.
The city will offer no opposition to the
plan.
The park was given to the city by
the Birmingham Realty company, with
the understanding that 1t was to be main
tanned as a park. 1t is understood that
A l.. Fulenwider, president of the Bir-
mingham Realty company. will furnish
a quit claim to the county provided the
city donate its interest to the county for
the purpose of erecting a court house.
The entire matter, as far as the city Is
concerned, is left to the pa-,i, the fnan-
cial and judiciary committees Of the coun-
ell. The details of the transfer will be
made by this committee and the proper
county authorities.
To make the transfer it is said that
certain bills will have to be passed by
the state legislature and before the coun-
ty can issue the necessary bonds this
question will have to be submitted to the
people.
At any rate, the plans are now tangible,
and while it will require some time, the
ultimate construction of a magnificent
Jefferson county court house in Capitol