The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-11

he detailed figures are not available as ret, enough is known to show that the assessments of railroad, telegraph and telephone properties in the state will ex- ,eeed those of 1906 by at least sixteen mill ion dollars, which will be a large in- Tease in the tax receipts from this source ] Ilone.
 The work of making up the tables has Deen going on for several days in the ,ffce of State Auditor William w. Bran lon, but is such stupenduous job that much more time than was expected at lrst is being taken up. The lines are abulated with the old and the new as- essment and the increase, along with hat placed on the rolling stock. The as- lessments have been made from time to ime by Governor Comer Secretary of ltate Julian, Auditor Brandon, Treasurer Iced and Attorney General Garber.
 It was thought that the assessments would be gaugged largely by the valua- ions placed on the roads in the ltiga- ion pending in the United States court, i ut this does not seem to have been the ase, the board holding that increased ] ralues in all lines and the fact that the ax commission is fixing the rates at ligher figures on all sorts of property ustifes a pretty steep raise for the rail- pads.
 MontevaIlo Building.
 w E. Spink was today awarded the rchitect contract for the new buildings be erected by the state for the Girls Industrial school at Montevalla, the price be $200,O00 The award was made by he building committee of the board of rustees in a meeting in the office of the governor, after going carefully over sev nal sets of plans.
 The plans provide for the erection of lew buildings to include an assembly hall seat 1900, thirty class rooms, 12S rooms additional to the dormitory, these to &C., ommodate 250 more girls, a laundry building, machine shops and boiler rooms md other accommodations needed and to le needed soon. The plans are for the 2 uture, the object of the board being to nake at Montvallo the greatest school of Is kind in the south.
 Those present were Governor Conner, H. l. D. Mallory of Selma, Thomas Man tum of Tallassee, M. A. Graham of Pratt lille, S. w. John of Birmingham and J. l. Moore of Montevallo.
 Weakley Has Plans. I The municipal code committee of the 1 egislature met today in conjunction with 'alious city and town representatives of irSlabama at the city hall for the purpose w. discussing in open session various ar Jhqes that are desired to be incorporated z sj the legislative bill that will seek to npply the cities and towns of Alabama with charters commensurate with the pro ,ress and wants of the municipalities. / The committed which is composed of / Chairman Gaston Gunter, Senator Hrother, Senator Lowe and Represen- atives Sherrod and Crawford. convened 1t the Exchange hotel afterwards ad- burning to assemble at the city hall. Present when the city hall session was lalled to roder were Chief of Police Por- erfield of Greenvlle, Attorney John Neakley of Birmingham and Messrs. Eos CT and Holloway, aldermen of the city if Montgomery. Mayor Teague was pres mt with the committee for part of the ime.
 When the session was called to order, Mr. Weakley of Birmingham stated few iews that he had jotted down as worthy if discussion. The chief of these referred the idea of insttuting in various cities city commission to govern municipali- ies similar to the system adopted in Gal reston Tex. and other cities.
 The idea, as explained by the attorney, vas to have a Mayor and board of probably four, all of whom are to be em- ,oyed on salary and elected by the total , rote of the city. The Mayor, whose sal ny was to exceed the salary of the ,thers. was to be in position of presi- lent of the board. and the board was to ave total and entire charge of the city lepartments legislating as they deemed test and assembling whenever and wherever desired.
 The plan, which seemed to have met with favor, was represented as one that pas taking a general hold on the cities if the United States, as one likely to pro- luce more efficient service and as one ess likely to have friction. lnasmuch as he board was to be paid on salary, giv- ng entire time and attention to the needs if the town. legislation upon nasty mat ers could be greatly expedited and more satisfactorily adjusted.
 The matter of placing the city more the protection of the state with respect b licenses and taxes was discussed With he end in view of adopting some ad- ustment. It was represented that the tate should see to it that the city was protected in the mater of axes as much IS he county
 % Leander J. Bryan Dead.
 AAfter a severe illness lasting about six Feeks, a result of cancer of the stomach, >ants Leander J. Bryan. one of Mont N 'o1hery's best known and most respected NtIzens. died at his home at Highland ,frk, 1o2 Plum street. this morning at 1:SO ,fclock. Owing to the serious nature Of