The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-01
TAX COLLECTIONS
SHOW HEAVY GAIN
City's Finances Pronounced In
Good Shape
THE YEAR-END STATISTICS
Building Operations for the Year Show
a Gain of Nearly $1,000, ooo--coai
and Iron Both Show
Some Loss. 7

pei Soiidi tdAeS were uue tHiSC lioh'hs
later this year than last, 1908 colec-
lions will exceed those of 1907 by $50,00I
approximately"
Thus spoke City Auditor Petersen yes.
terday afternoon. He was the happiest
man in Birmingham.
At the close of business Thursday
night the collections were only $4,000 behind
those of 1907. Yesterday there was a
stream of people paying their taxes
throughout the day. While the exact
amount could not be obtained, City Aud
itor Petersen says 1908 broke all previous
records by between $4,000 and $4,000.
The amount of receipts for 1903 will show
a decrease from the amount of 1907,
though Mr.. Petersen did not risk an es-
innate He did think think the amount
OF decreases would equal 100000. The
amount of disbursements, too, will show
an increase over the amount of dis
bursed in 1907, though M. Petersen could
not state an estimated amount.
The Incense collections for 1908 will
show a decrease of about $4,000 This is
due to the loss of the Incense paid on
the sale of beer and whisky. The reason
the amount of decrease does not equal
the amount of 1907 whisky licenses Is due
to the fact that there was general
business license increase at the beginning
of 1908.
The city auditor states that the af-
fairs of the city are in excellnet shape.
Every attache of the city government is
well pleased because some time back the
outlook was squally. when it becomes
known" said Mr. Petersen yesterday aft
ernoon, that in the collection of real
and personal taxes Birmingham this year
has broken all previous records and when
the fact strikes home that the finan-
cial condition of the city is healthy, pre-
sumo thoses who recently stated through
the papers that Birminghom could not
pay it's debts will take a back seat"
The following are statistics gathered
yesterday comparing 1908 in many phases
to 1907
Marriage and Divorce.
ourluS IJVO SldllS LIS dI0
showing that those who were married
lived happier than those who were mar
ried in 1907.
During 1908 statistics are obtainable
showing that there were fewer weddings
than in 1907
The following are interesting figures:
Divorces, 1908, 5Sl; 1907, 772. Marriages,
1905, 1910; 1907, 1861.
Coal and Iron.
While the exact figures are not OBJ
tainable in 1907 Alabama mined more coal
and produced more pig iron than in 1908.
The figures which follow for 1908 are
estimated because the exact December
amounts are not yet obtanable:
Coal mined (tons), 1907, 100000; 1908,
Y, 100000 Pig iron produced, 1907, 1855, 674;
1908, 1,4O4,65S
Building Operations.
The year 1908 was a great one for
building. All previous records were
smashed. When the panic began the cry
went abroad: Lumber is cheaper than
ever before, along with all other build
ing material. Now is the time to erect
home'' The home builders got busy and
men with money started the erection of
several magnificent buildings. AS re-
suit 1908 was the banner building year in
the history of Birmingham
Cost of building, 1908, s2,521, 4S9; 1907
s., 979,s79.
Car Service.
The railroads were not as busy during
1908 as they were in 1907.
But 1908 was a railroad year for Bir-
mingham. During the year three new
lines entered the city, the Mobile and
Ohio, the Illinois Central and the At
lanta, Birmingham and Atlantic.
But the railroads did not handle the
cars in 1908 that they handled in 1907 as
the following figures will indicate:
Care handled, 1907, 77s,402; 1908, 5000
The year 1908 is estimated because De-
cembers figures are not obtainable. For
the first eleven months of this year
the railroads handled only 571,473.
Internal Revenue.
The internal revenue collections for 1908
were far behind the collections for 1907,
thu chief cause, naturally, being the clos
ing of so many doors in the state through
which in 1907 whisky and beer were OBJ
tanned. The following are the figures:
internal revenue collections, 1907, $437,-
$3.50; 1908, s171,7es.57.
Arrests and Fines.
There were fewer arrests made by the
police department in 1908 than In 1907.
The arrests made by the county author
tiles in 1908 are practically the same as
in 1907. The number of cases docketed
on the court doclkets of the county court
house are in excess of those Of last
year.
The fines of the police court show
marked decrease from the fines OF Vast
year as the figures show:
Police court fines, 1907, $780, 1892 30; 1908,
s34, 2S4.S4.
Bank CIearings.
Bank clearings in 1908 show a woeful
slump as compared to those of 1907. The
1908 clearings in fact are under the clear
ings of 1906.
The following are the figures:
Bank clearings, 1907, $1l3769 ,s5747; 1908.
500 ,Sa5, 31116 \
The 1906 clearings amounted to $780,
$50, 99O.23.
Stdeet Improvements.
The report of City Engineer Nicholson
when 1t is completed will reveal great
slump in the amount of paving and street
done in 1908 as compared to
the amount accomplished In 1907.
The following are the figures: