The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-20
SUBURBS HUSTLE FOR IMPROVEMENTS The City of Course Will As- sume Indebtedness . PREPARING FOR YEAR 1909 Elyton Gets Very Busy, as Does West End-AIl Other Suburbs Need
 Something and Arc
 Thinking.
PREPARING FOR YEAR 1909

The towns to be absorbed by Greater Birmingham are quietly making prepara- tions to get all the municipal improve ments they possibly can before Greater Birmingham becomes a reality.
 Elyton is probably the place where this question is being studied over harder than anywhere else. Although it is one of the oldest places in the Birmingham district. Elyton only incorporated few months ago and has practically no improvements at this time with the exception of few electric lights, which were recently ill., stalled. Sanitary conditions are none too good. there being no sewerage systeni,- and only part of the town has water pipes. The streets traversing the town have been kept up by the county, while there are no paved sidewalks except in rare instances, where they were put down by the property owner.
 As soon as the town was incorporated, however, Mayor Frank Smith and the Board of Aldermen put their heads to- gether and proceeded to better the town. Lights were deemed an absolute neees- sty and this proposition was taken up first lights having been placed on First avenue and Tuscaloosa avenue all the way from the city limits of Birmingham to the city limits of West End. It was also decided to have cement sidewalks put down. but this work has not yet been started.
 Since the Greater Birmingham election on January 6, the citizens and aldermen have been discussing among themselves quietly the best way to get their town in good condition before it becomes part of Birmingham. The putting down of sewer pipes will be taken up very short- ly, and also the question of water works system all over the town, which reaches from Greymont to Glen Iris.
 An effort will be made to get the Bir- rningham Water Works company to put down the water pipes, but in case this IS unsuccessful it has been suggested that the town lay the pipe itself, buying 1t on two or three years time, and connect with the mains of the Water Works com- pany. The securing of the other improve ments along this line will also be consid- cred. Greater Birmingham will, of course, have to assume the indebtedness which these absorbed towns contract, and the purchasing lef pipe on two years time would place the date on which payment falls due after October 1. 19o9 the day on which Greater Birmingham becomes effective.
 West End is another town where this question of securing improvements is be- ing much talked about. Luckily this town has just completed the installation of sewerage system has water pipes and gas mains on all of the streets, but has no electric lights, and is badly afflicted with mud.
 Tuscaloosa avenue is the only paved street, but the chert has been cut up so by the heavy traffic that it is sea of mud for few days after every rain. Plans were formulated last fall and the contract let for the paving of all the streets and sidewalks in the town, but the financial furry which throttled the whole country got in it's deadly work here and the work was held up. Since things have begun to brighten up, however this matter has taken on new life, and it $ expected arrangements will be completed within a short while for the carrying out of the work.
 Woodlawn is perhaps the best equipped of any of the towns, having well paved streets and sidewalks. Street lights, water and sewerage system. as well as fire department. Avondaie and East Lake are but in little better shape than Elyton. and heads are being put together in those towns on this question. North Birming- ham is well equipped. but Is still in need of some few improvements, which will doubtless be secured in few months.
 All the bonded indebtedness of the towns absorbed will be assumed by Greater Birmingham, and it is safe pre- diction that every one will be bonded up to the limit when October 1, 1909, rolls around.