The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-02

steps towards preventing and controlling disease. Its services are equivalent to those of a watchman who discovers threatening danger before serious harm can be done. While the value or thls work is not often figured in dollars and cents. still 1t would be an easy matter to show that the actual savings to the com- munity more than offset many times its cost.
 Engineering.
 | It Is gratifying that your honorable 1 body has done everything possiblefo push the work of this department.
 In my opinion 1t Is the machinery 1 through which is coming much of the I ety's prosperity and reputation. Its work i Is shown in the miles of sidewalk, curb l ing, grading. paved streets and sanitary sewers:
 Ordinances prepared and authorized during year, 69.
 Estimated cost of constructing same, $7O6. 400.
 Amount of work completed during the Under construction at the end Of the year, $262, 295.
 Our city is greatly in need of more | storm water sewers. In some sections the capacity of the sanitary sewers have been reached. Under our laws the property l involved cannot be assessed more than 1t l will not produce sufficient funds to 1 build sewers therefore it must be sup | plemented by some additional public fund. i Inasmuch as trunk sewers are built Tor 1 the benefit of the public at large as well as for the property affected, 1t follows that the only equitable way to raise these supplementary funds is through an Issue l of bonds to be devoted sacredly and In proper proportion to such work I recommend that you instruct your en- l gineer and attorney and the proper coun- i cil committee to immediately get up es- l inmates for all sewers needed and plans l by which the necessary money can be raised and expended on them and report | same for your consideration. Those sections through which the sew CT construction will run will develop rap l idly and through increased taxes provide enough to take care of the bond interest.
 City Physician.
 Your city physician, besides giving at tention to routine work, has devoted a l great deal of time and study to details | for new jail for colored prisoners on | the Southside His criticism of the lack of comforts and conveniences furnished these prisoners Is, on the whole, Just Plans for a new structure are now on file. It is hoped we can start the work beIore many months
 | WeiqhtS and Measures.
 During tho year the system of charg- ing fees by this department was abol- ished It Is now working quietly that | we have no way of knowing what 1t is 1 accomplishing.
 It is costing the city about $1500 per annum I recommend that some plan be | devised by which it can be made self | sustaining.
 City Pound.
 This department is well managed. The | nature of it's work invites conflicts and disturbances with the public, yet your ex- cellent pound keeper, while sternly en- forcing the law. Shas won the good will and respect of all who have had dealings with him. It is now self-sustaining.
 If your honorable body should see fit to double the pound fees and penalties the problem of keeping cattle from run ming al large, destroying flower beds and gardens would be lessened. The pound now located in the heart of the city, should be removed to locality where fl would not be objectionable.
 Oak Hill Cemetery.
 Attention Is called to the great im- provements made in Oak Hill cemetery This sacred place IS now neither used as a playground for children nor as a con venience or highway by the surround l keeping it clean and you have asserted your authority protecting our City of the Dead" from the dissertation of in- truders. It Is hoped that the women of the city whose taste and judgment can be relied upon will actively interest them- selves in its improvement. Your hon orable body will doubtless adopt every reaonable recommendation they may maKe By steady work and co-opera- ton this cemetery Is sure to be made the most beautiful in the state of Ala bama.
 Red Mountain Cemetery.
 Your attention is called to the rapidly | enhancing value of this tract of land l south of Red mountain. It consists of 200 | acres. heavily timbered and well watered with numerous springs and wells. It has recently been found to contain thick veins of iron ore and it Is now optional with the city to sell for large price l or to lease on royalties. While this Is commonly known as Red Mountain cem- etery, only six acres are used for this l purr ose
 IdIewid Park.
 Your honorable body deserves the l thanks of this and future generations for the purchase of the magnificent Green Springs tract of land, comprising about 100 acres, for use as park or other municipal purposes. This will be one of | the largest and most beautiful parks in the south when improved. It can now be sold for handsome profit. The city was especially fortunate In pushing the trade as quickly and successfully as 1t did, for within few days 1t would have gone into private hands for subdivision and thus lost to the public forever.
 Public Service Corporations.
 Tn regard to public service corporations, such as street railway electric lights, gas telephone and water companies, your honorable body has during the year held them to a strict accountability of their l obligations to the people While you have been fair to them you have also en- deavored to see that the interests of the | people were safeguarded
 Your city attorney is now preparing l papers to submit to the people the ques- | ton of whether or not bonds shall be issued for the purchase of our water works system. He Is also engaged in in 1 vestigating the franchise rights of the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph company in the city of Birmingham. A the matter stands now 1t is not possible | for thfs company to ever raise rates in