The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-21
NEW BUILDING TO
GIVE COURTS AND
| JAIL MORE ROOM
Board of Revenue Has Author
ity to Issue Bonds Up
to 100000
SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE
CALLED IN NEAR FUTURE
Sheriff Higdon Asks Board to Appoint
Committee to Inspect the Chicago
Jail, Which He Con-
siders Model.

A handsome new structure, probably
eight or nine stories in height, forming
an addition to the present county court
house is soon to be erected on the corner
of Fourth avenue and Twenty-first street.
This project is now almost positively as
sured.
The old halls were fairly humming with
discussions and the formulating of plans
yesterday Every member of the board of
revenue expressed himself as heartily in
favor and ready to vote for the best in
terest Of the county.
Consider Bond Issue.
Just at the point when interest was at
Its highest Judge J. II. Miller, attorney
for the board of revenue, announced that
the body has the authority to issue bonds
to erect a new court house without going
to the legislature Jbr getting any bill
passed in the July session. According to
the judge, bonds to the extent of $G0O,0OO
could be issued, and as such would be
more than sufficient the building is a
thing of the near future.
The attorney has been looking up the
law on this subject for the past week,
and it has been his decision that the
board has waited for. There is nothing
now in the way of the naturalization
of the plans which have been set forth
by Sheriff Higdon and Judge Greene.
In speaking of the matter yesterday
Colonel Higdon said that he would be
willing to go to any trouble to get the
building, He believes that the board of
will oh fiOo oil M ~ =
Ter next week, and by that time the pub
lie will know just what to expect.
Inspect Chicago Jail.
The sheriff has requested the board
to appoint a committee to go to Chicago
and make an inspection of the Jail at
that city. He says it is exactly what is
needed here, and that the county would
be at practically small expense to make
the changes. If appointed Colonel Hig-
don will probably accompany the commit
tee and explain his ideas 10 the members.
Mr.. Higdon was asked yesterday by one
of the commissioners how he could get
along while the building was being con-
structed. The colonel stated that he
would be willing to cook outside rather
than loose tire building for the city.
Tear Down old Jail.
The new building will necessitate tear
ing down the old brick Jail which faces
the street. A tall structure would be
raised on that site, while the "bg rock
in the rear, which has a solid founda-
ton, would be raised five or six stories
higher. Closed passage ways for pris-
oners and the public would connect the
new building with the old, which would
be used entirely for court rooms.
Before these bonds are issued it will
be necessary to have an election which
| may be held at any time with due notice.
1t has been suggested that the date of
the municipal election be adopted, in or
der to save the voters of the city going
to the polls twice.
At any rate since the plan of building
on the present site of the jail has been
advanced the Capitol park and all other
projects seem to have been given up
entirely. The old building with new
addition is good enough for years to come.