The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-11

15 1907. to July 15, 1908, there were four arrests made, the year following from July Is, 1908 to July 15 1908 there were 16 arrests made, making a total of q arrests in Woodlawn for violating this law.
 Twenty of these arrests have been made since the state prohibition law went into effect in Jefferson county. One arrest before.
 This, it occurs to me, leads to the con clusion that the closing of the saloon in Birmingham has had a tendency to spread the illicit sale of whisky through the suburban districts.
 I will state, however, that the 'tblind tiger" has found Woodlawn an unproft- able field of operation. Of the 21 ar rests made 20 of them were convicted and fines imposed ranging from $50 to s100 in each case, which were all paid ex- cept in five. These five were appealed to the circuit court, where three of them have since come up for trial In two of them the decision of the lower court was affirmed and the other was lost on ac- count of defect in the drawing of the warrant of arrest.
 Street Arc Lights.
 When you came into office in July, 1905 Woodlawn had 15 street lights These lights were all ordered in by the pre- vious administration. You have since or
  a total of A new in use and being in- stalled.
 Tax Values and Bonded Indebtedness. Real and personal property assessment, 1905, s. 052 900; 1906 $107o 900; 1907, Sl, 455.OOO 1908, S1,70O,O 1909 (estimated), 5000, 0O0.
 In July 1905, Woodlawn had outstanding s400O0 in general obligation bonds and s10000 in street improvement bonds. This Issue of s10,OD0 of street improvements were paid and cancelled on May l last
 You have during the past four years is- sued S9S, 600 of per cent general obliga- tion bonds, making total of s13S, 600 now outstanding.
 Recommendations X am sure that Woodlawn is paying too high a rate for fire insurance.
 The basis rate is now 1 per cent with 25 cents additional for each exposure. I am sure that this should be reduced to 75 cents basis and 15 cents for each ex- posture. We are paying the Same rate for fire insurance as Is paid by towns that have no fire equipment at all and no paved streets.
 I have had considerable correspondence with the Southeastern Underwriters as- sociation of Atlanta in regard to this matter, and they have been promising for a year or more to send an expert to Woodlawn to look into the matter, but
 
 I recommend the appointment of a com mittee with instructions to go to Atlanta and take this matter up in person with the officers of the association. I recommend that ytu continue the street improvement work as rapidly as possible. This work in Woodlawn has cost about an average of s75 for a 5O- foot lot, depending upon the amount of grading, width of streets, etc. It is my observation that the improve ment of a street is not only great in centlve for the property owners to build on the vacant lots, but that the property abutting the street is practically doubled in value as a result of these improve ments.
 I also recommend that you extend the sewerage system, particularly In the First and Twelfth wards
 am informed by the city health officer that the general health of Woodlawn has been very much improved during the past two years caused by the building of the sanitary sewerage system. In conclusion desire to thank you very much for the uniform courtesy shown mf during the past four years, and for youl earnest cooperation in the work whicf we have had in hand. Yours very truly. w. F. PERUVIAN, Mayor.