The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-10
nnd pnlling together in any eommunity.

and pulling together in any community.
 With one great city we can build or buy waterworks and other plants, to be operated for the benefit of the people, and not to enrich private corporations. Such necessities as water, gas and cleo tricity for light and power), should be owned by every city under one large municipal government, which should be and would be able to finance any propo- sition for the greatest good to the great est number.
 From financial standpoint have never been able to see wherein the territory to be annexed would be of any special benefit to the city of Birmingham for several years to come for this territory will require more public Improvements than the income from taxation will pay for but we who live in the heart of Birmingham must take interest in those residing in the suburban towns :; their interest Is our interest and we must have no lines to separate us in the mat ter of schools, fire protection, police pro tection, sandtation- water service and financial affairs.
 We will get cheaper money and sell bonds at q lower rate of interest. When we go to New York, Philadelphia or Bos- ton to finance a proposition, we will not have to explain to board of directors how it Is that the United States census puts us in the village class, Instead of showing the population of great city. We may then be able to build and own water works, light plants and other pub lie service utilities and give to our peo- pie necessities at the least cost.
 Having heard that your committee has agreed on report on this bill leaving out Ensley, Thomas and certain industrial plants at North Birmingham, I want to call your attention to the rank injustice embodied in such proposition.
 glance at the may shows that Thom- as lies immediately between Birmingham and Pratt City Thomas is not incorpor- ated and am sure that in that territory to be left out, wedged in between Bir- mingham and North Birmingham. on the south and east, and Pratt City on the west and north. there Is a population of some 2000 or 5000, and growing rapidly. A settlement of that size, where there is no sewer system and no kind of government to enforce sanitation, surrounded by a great city, will be menace to the health of the entire city and country. There would be much more reason and justifi- cation in leaving out Woodlawn and talk ing in East Lake Woodlawn is incor- porated. has everything in the way of city improvements, and all that it wants now to be first-cass is to come in and form a part of Greater Birmingham. We want her territory; we want her enterprise and public spirit; we want and need her enlightened people to aid and assist in the government of great city.
 The power of the corporations and rich men will be written on the map of Great CT Birmingham if the bill passes as rec commended by your committee. We need | this unincorporated territory to enforce sanitation. We need Ensley as part of | the whole and esDeciallv on account of the great number of ignorant foreigners residing there, who will observe sanitary laws, rules and regulations only when forced by the strong arm of a strong gov ernment.
 I beg of you to give us Greater Bir- mingham as outlined in the bill as in troduced by MT. King. We want all- or nothing. Respectfully.
 T. H. MOTION.