The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-24
b|G CITY MAY NEED BOND ISSUE SOON Paving Plant and Crematory
 Are Favored WHAT THE CITY IS DOING Paving Has Not Vet Been Completed, But Officials Are Thus Far
 Pleased With the
 Experiment.
WHAT THE CITY IS DOING

l Greater Birmingham. is the purchase. construction and development of conn plete paving plant and crematory.
 The plan advanced by Mayor OBrien, and temporarily indorsed by the City Council will call for bond issue within the next two or three months. In fact according to the aldermen, big bond is- sue will be needed immediately to carry on half dozen municipal Improvements which are absolutely necessary since the extension of the city limits.
 The City Council unanimously adopted the Mayors suggestion several weeks ago and appointed a commission consist ing of Chairman NJ J. Gregg of the 1udici- ary committee, Chairman KlotE of the light committee. Chairman Heidt of the finance committee, Chairman Copeland of of the street committee and Chairman Gambill of the police and sanitary com mittee which is instructed to arrange the best method for the council to adopt.
 Mayor O'Brien will ask the council to allow Street Commissioner McCar- tin and himself to go to Richmond and examine the modern crematory plant at that point The Mayor has made a care full study of the proposition and is ready to urge the immediate sanitary necessity for action.
 The city of Birmingham is now em- barking upon a policy of doing it's own work which is already in vogue in many cities and is proving satisfactory to city officials. Everything is being done. how ever under contract, the city bidding v.A nlx- to1 r ing the amount of work which it Is capa- ble of handling with its convicts.
 Thus far none of the work undertaken by the city has been completed. but Mayor O'Brien Is highly pleased with its prog ress, and the saving which results to the property owners. It is becoming so popular with the citizens that a commit tee from one residence section. headed by Paschai Shook, has waited on the Mayor and requested that the city author ities do the paving on their streets. and insisting that the contract be awarded to the city instead of outside contractors.
 The work being done by the city at 4S cents square yard is <n asphalt oil mac adam. under specifications drawn in the city department and held above the 20 per cent void n order to avoid infringe ment of Warren Bros patent
 we are very much pleased with the result" said Mayor O'Brien yesterday, ''and intend to go right ahead with the work. The next contract assumed by the city will probably be that between the terminus of the bitulithic pavement on Highland avenue and the intersection of Cliff road The Birmingham Realty company has agreed to pay for the pave ment An asphalt macadam, resembling bituminous macadam, which is a new de- parture in Birmingham, will be laid as a test.
 Since the city assumed contract al 4S cents, a lot of work has been let to Jourdan & Go. under the same speci- cations at 5s cents The city can do the work so much more economically that I believe the council will find it ex- pedient to award more and more of it as the demand increases.
 "The advantage of the city owning it's own paving plant is obvious. Small jobs of important paving must be done in all parts of Greater Birmin gham which contracts cannot be taken eco- nomically by outsiders. If we buy what is known as a railroad plant, it will be ready to move at any time from point to point, over the lines of the street railway company. "Even though contracts are awarded to outside concerns, they can take them at a lower figure, as they will be saved the expense of hauling machinery from distant cities, and can rent the plant from Birmingham"
 Street Commissioner McCartin said: 'I am very much pleased with the work ! which has been done under the city's contract With our shop and many conveniences we are in a position to 1 do the oh eapest work possible. l have always favored the plan and was de- lighted when Mayor O'Brien decided to adopt it."
 Asked about the work of his depart limits, MT. McCartin said that he would only need a few more good foremen, and that his system would extend mechanically over the new wards | without much trouble.
 City Engineer Murray Mich olson said :: q am in favor of working out the plan of the Mayor as far as possible WhIle it is yet in an experimental stage, I believe it has many good points and should develop success
 1 "Birmin gham Is now in position 1 to 70 a head extenstively with her paw ing. Property owners are In better l shape to meet the assessments, and are eager to develop their property. 1 We are now having laid the best brick pavement in the city on Third avenue. Other points need attention, l and I think the council intends to have the work done wherever the citizens l desire"
 President Harry Jones said: "As far as know the city is making success | of it's experiments. However, it will be time enough to decide on future de- l velopments when the first experiments are compile eted. and Street Commissioner McCartin has proven that he can do tiie work at the reduced price," l If the sentiment seems to favor a bond issue 1t will probably be presented during the spring. In this connection the city needs at least two new fire stations very badly. but this is only one of the uses to which bond sale l