The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-19
LOCAL COURTHOUSE WILL
PROBABLY Be Il STORIES
Election Will Be Held on the Same
Date as That Set For Filling
Vacancy in the State
Legislature.


100000 for the purchase of land and the
construction and coupling of a courthouse
at Bessemer.
The board made its decision after
conference yesterday morning with del
egation of Bessemer citizens which ap-
peared before it in the interest of the
southern end of the county This COM
mlttee was composed of H. w. Crook,
j. r. Lewis, ]. Fl. williamson R. E.
Smith, C. L. Odell, G. w. Jones, D. H.
Fullerton, w. H. Dennis, ]. F. Gam
mon, H. C. Meade, DR.. J. S. Winters.
G. H. Stevenson, U. Schwabacher, ]. II.
Hard, T. t. Huey and w. S. WEIGH.
The Bessemer committee was in con-
ference. with the Board of Revenue for
some time, during which the courthouse
proposition was discussed from the Bes-
semer point of view. It was pointed out
by members of the committee that Bes-
semer and the southern end Of the coun-
ty is entitled to a courthouse and would
not be satisfied with less than 100000 of
the bonds to be issued.
Decide on 100000.
As stated, it was after this meeting
that the Board of Revenue convened
yesterday afternoon to take up the mat
ter and after some discussion it was
decided that 100000 should be the amount
of bonds issued.
The matter was presented to the board
by President Going for vote and Com
missioners C. B. Rogers, ]. B. Vines
and Job Going voted in favor of the
issue.
Commissioner ]. E. Haigler cast his
vote against the proposition. Commits
sioner R. F. Lovelady was absent.
A majority favoring the bond ISSUE
resolutions calling the election were drawn
up and adopted.
The bonds which the board proposes
to issue are to be of the denomination
of $1,000 each, to run 80 years and to
bear interest at a maximum rate of
AZ per cent.
At present the Board of Revenue has
not formed any plans as to the style of
the proposed new courthouse However
a majority Of the commissioners have ex-
pressed themselves as favoring the sky
scraper plan and it Is probable that a u
story building with the Jail on top will
be the structure to be erected.
Text of Resolutions.
"A copy of the resolutions adopted by
the board yesterday afternoon follows:
whereas, the legislature of Alabama
In recognition of the growth of Jeffer-
son county, Alabama, in wealth and
population, and the increase of litiga
ton incident thereto. has created three
additional judges for the courts of said
county; and
Whereas there are not sufficient
room and equipments in the present
courthouse to provide court rooms and
facilities for said judges, ct al, and
also to provide suitable quarters for
the officials of said county, and wit
nesses, both ladies and gentlemen, while
attending court; and
Whereas the present county jail, on
account of it's crowded condition, equip
ment and ancient defective construc
ton is not CT sufficient size and
strength to contain and keep securely.
and In healthful end humane man
ner the prisoners which may be con-
Hened III Sr6lni ana
Whereas, the courth ouse building at
! Bessemer. Alabama, in Jefferson coun-
ty, in which are thu quarters of the
city court of Reesener, is inadequate
and insufficient in size and equipment
to properly conduct the business of
said cout and the same is only held
under lease from year to year; and
i
permanent quarters for said court at
Bessemer, and to that end to procure
| ground and construct a building tn ere-
on and equipment for the said court;
and
whereas, 1t has been determined by
the Board of Revenue of jefferson
county, Alabama in the exercise of it's
by law, to erect courth ouses and jails
and other necessary county buildings
and equip same, to erect in the city of
Birmingham, Ala, on the site of the
present jail, on the lot owned by said
county, and adjoining the lot on which
the present courthouse is situated,
county building, either as an addition
to the present courthouse, or separate
therefrom. as may be hereafter-determ-
ined, and to properly equip same to
serve the combined purpose of provid-
ing additional space for the officials
of said county, to provide in fact ac-
commodations for the courts Of said
county and to provide a safe place to
keep the records of said county and
to provide a modern, convenient, secure
and sanitary jail, for the confinement of
prisoners, together with the necessary
offices and quarters and equipment for
the sheriff, his deputies, jailers and as
sistants; and
Whereas. the probable cost Of such
building renders 1t necessary that the
county of Jefferson negotiate loan to
pay for the construction and equipment
of the same, and as evidence of such
loan to issue the negotiable bonds of
said county, and
Whereas. The probable cost of the
ground and building and equipment for