The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-31
NEW CREMATORY ID
 FILL HALF BLOCK Will Become Headquarters for
 All Sanitary Work PLANS FOR JAIL RELIEF Council Committee Wants to Provide More Room and Separate the
 Negroes From Whites at
 the "Little Rock"

The plans of the police and sanitation committee of the City Council are pro- gressing finely, according to Chairman Heidt, and before many months mod ern crematory will be in operation near the center of the city.
 At the meeting of the committee which will be held Tuesday or Wednesday aft ernoon in the Mayors office, the matter will be thoroughly discussed and at the same time plans will be put on foot to relieve the jail situation
 After the council meeting the chairman will advertise for the bids on the crema- tory and two weeks hence they will be opened and the contract awarded. The committee has not yet decided on site for the crematory, but it has representa- tives on the lookout who may report their purchase before many days The object is to get the lot as chaply as possible.
 Headquarters for Sanitary Work. On account of the fact that when it begins operation it will be the headquar- ters for the sanitary workmen, it will require at least half block. They expect to use something more than one lot for the building itself, and to have the city's wagons and horses quartered on the ground This will require stables and running lots for the mules.
 When seen last night Mir Heidt denied the report that the city is preparing for the construction of a power house to furnish lights for the citizens. He says that the large acreage will be needed as soon as the crematory is opened and it is not because of future plans that large plot of land is to be purchased.
 Take Up Jail Question.
 Just as soon as the crematory propo- sition is out of the way the sanitary committee will begin work on the jail question. Ever since the members went through the old Southside jail and the jail at the city hall they have been worry ing over the conditions and all agree that action is urgent
 The chairman thinks that a sub-jail must be built this year. Whether it be on the old Southsde site or somewhere else does not matter, but it must be constructed in short order This is ac- knowledged as one of the crying needs of the city.
 Improvements in the city jail at head quarters will also be made. If the present ideas are carried out a solid partition will be erected across the center, thus di- viding the interior into two parts. This will also divide the three stories in which the cages are constructed, into six sec tions.
 The third story would be used entire ly for women. At present the white wom- en are indiscriminately mixed with the black, a condition which does not exist in hardly any othe' jail. With the par tition the whites could be kept exclusive ly on one side and the negroes on the other.
 The second story would be used entire ly for male convicts or men who have been convicted, and the partition would separate blacks from whites. The first floor is to serve as quarters for the un- tried, those who are awaiting trial, and the color divisions will exist here also.
 Relieve Crowded Conditions. In this manner the crowded condition of the lower floor would be relieved. and the jail would hold more prisoners. | Another great advantage over the pres ! ent arrangement is that the boys and l young fellows who have been arrested for | the first time and are up on trivial | charges would not be forced to rub l up against and spend the night with l hardened and convicted criminals. Such a separation could be brought about at little expense, and would add materially to the ends of justice.
 Another matter which will come up before the sanitary committee is pro- posed ordinance amending the plumb l ing laws of the city. Plumbing Inspector Ecserle recommended several months ago 1 tha. various improved plumbing attach 1 ments be admitted on the ground that 1t would cost the citizens less. An ex- | hibitor of newly patented trap displayed | the fitting at the city hall last week. | and many of the plumbers are said to l have strenuous objections to adopting 1t as admissible under the plumbing laws l They will be given an opportunity of | presenting their views at the meeting. 1 The City Council meets "Wednesday for | the first session of the month. Other 1 than these matters and the reports of officers, nothing of special importance will come up.
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