The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
among the foremost in all the south.
 Colored Schools.

l QouDlleSS De DISCUSSIONS ol ms question for years to come, but the sweep of the l tide is toward elevation and better con ditions through education and it's force l will ultimately prevail The eolored peo- i pie are so intertwined in the life and ] conditions of the south that they must l either be elevated by the whites or whites will be effected iniuriously by them through bad health and sanitation. l Nearly every household in the south is served by one or more members of the negro race. Nearly every member of that race frequents houses and quarters, with habits and ideas far below the standard l of health, sanitation or morality set by enlightened people.
 Therefore nearly every household in the south, more especially the children, are subject to the possible cosYamination | coming daily and ignorantly from these l sources as long as such conditions exists. The Board of Education has recommend ed that at least $100,000 of the bond issue go into colored schools. I cannot but be- lieve that the council will adopt a broad, wise view of this matter and carry out their recommendations. The growth of the school system during four years Is
 1905. 1909. In. ?. C.. Number of teachers.... 1S0 240 TO Number of pupils 6,226 9,5oo 50 Cost ...i...a .... %. .S94, 800 S13O,00O .97
 License Departments.
 1905-One collector two assistants; total cost department, SS50O. 190S-One collector, one assistant; total cost department, $3S50 1905-Total collections, $22497625
 19OS-Total collections, S249, 151.13
 Note--S125,o0O liquor licenses lost would have made total S374, ,151.13
 Compensation for handling this office was changed from & percentage basis to fiat salary in 19O5 The miscellaneous committee accomplished much in revising the schedule for the year 1909. Equaliza- tions were made which placed the burden more nearly where 1t belongs. This was done by putting many additional sections on a sliding scale. As result license is levied according to amount of stock car ried or business done.
 Street Tax.
 In December, 1905, you abolished the pestiferous street tax This undoubtedly had beneficial effect on our labor situa ton.
 Pound.
 1905-One manager, two assistants; total cost department, $2416 E 1908-One manager, four assistants; total cost department, $S66S
 This department is more than self-sus- taining.
 It is probable it's importance is not ap- preciated by the public There would be no incentive for citizens to beautify or improve their premises If stock, cattle, etc, were not prevented from roaming at large and destroying such work.
 During the past four years 10,540 animals were taken up.
 Dog Law.
 Owing to a recent outbreak of hydro- phobia a law was passed requiring dogs to be muzzled About the same time the law requiring annual license tags was put into effect.
 These laws were resented by some and rdiculed by others. However the wis dom of such regulation is shown by the fact that more than 150 people in the past four years have been compelled to go to various Pasteur institutions for protec- ton
 Furthermore, about 4900 dogs were cap tured and destroyed during the four years. A slight stretch of the imagination can picture the situation if all these dogs were now breeding, multiplying and roam ing at large with their progeny. As it is we still have with us about 1500 which are tagged yearly. Also an unknown number that escape the vigilence of the dog catcher.
 In 1906 the pound fee was doubled, nlak- ing the penalty S2 instead of $1, for each head of stock or cattle.
 The pound was dlsO luONeu lIOll lfie center of the town, where it had become obnoxious, to your property at Avenue D and Fourteenth street.
 Acquisition of Property.
 Tax payers rarely object to public money going into tangible property or permanent investments.
 Recognizing the wisdom of such feeling your honorable body has gone forward in a broad and far-sghted way, buying and improving property as follows:
 Land Bought Since May, 1905- Jdlewild park ........ ...... ......S S2, 1923 oS Half block Ave. D and 14th st.. 16.000 % Linden Street Fire Station........ 2,250 % Norwood Fire Station .... ........ 4,000 % 40 acres in East Birmingham. 16,0oO % s acres on Village creek .......... 3,295 co East Birmingham school site ,285 % Addition to Ullman school 5000 % Addition to Barker school ........ 1,500 % Addition to Paul Hayne school. 1000 % For street purposes 5,20S 10 Phelan's park .... .... ... ...... 302 8
 s142,413 92 Buildings
 Richmond Place Norwood and
 Linden Fire Stations ...... .... 7,61S 90 Pound buildings .... .... .......... S2S 23 Payments on property prec q; 23. '1a66.. ..SB..? ..ibstreetG. .ci-- ,-j gkqjfinj:;;. Payments on property previously ac- quired-
 Behren's park ............... 100000 Magnolia park ..................... 5,600.00 Highland avenue parks ......... 4,77S.52 Assessments for street Improvements Assessments for street improve
 ments on city property .......... SIS. .52S. 5 Investments in tax titles ......... 14,116.2D' Improvement U. s. observatory
 site ..................,.,...... 2ftS eh For fire equipment prior to 1905. il, ,361. D Fire equipment paid and assumed
 since 1905 .................s........ 2s.4SOOe Putting fire alarm system under
 ground 6,237. .49 New auditing system .............. 6,000.o0 Redemption of bonds, account
 Huntsville avenue .............. 7,51s25 Building Norwood sewer and
 street rebates ..................... 13. .7a5. .s6 Paid one-half assessments against
 churches and hospitals ......... 13,735.S6
 s2S5, ,152. .s7 While it cannot be considered as a per manent investment, during this period the city has purchased equipment for various departments such as wagons, sprinlSlers, sweepers mules, horses, bacteriologilacl equipment, etc, for which 1t paid cash to the amount of approximately $50,000, which would bring the above total up to S332, ,152.67.
 Future Purchases.
 The result of this policy is shown by' appraisement made by committee of real estate men in July, 1907
 After viewing and estimating each piece of public property it's report was