The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-01


 Among well-known citizens seen yes- terday the sentiment was unanimous that the city authorities should do something permanent at once to alleviate the dust evil which is believed to be worse now than ever before in Birmingham
 It was pointed out that rains might come which would give temporary relief but that the city should not be compelled to go through the approaching summer without better facilities for fighting the dust than are at present afforded.
 Here are some of the expressions made yesterday:
 Frank Nelson. Jr.
 "While this present epidemic of dust may be unusually severe it is only an example of what we may expect in this great and growing city and community unless steps are taken to handle the matter. said Frank Nelson, Jr. ''I would hate to admit that a city of 125OOO peo- pie and taxable values worth SIo0oo,oW could not suppress the dust. We can minimize the nuisance and should do so. I know it takes money but the say ing of life, to say nothing of the hu- man discomforts caused by the dust, is q serious proposition and the cost should not be considered"
 M. V. Joseph
 NJ. V. Joseph said "Kill it. Get rid of the dust Don't speculate about how to do it. Birmingham has men, brains and resources and is well able to take care rba d,,ct q a nuisance and an ever-present danger to man. beast and business. Get rid of it.'
 Ferd Marx
 eve need q little more practical husi- ness effort in Birmingham and less pcli- tics,'' said Ferd Marx. T would ad- wise that the city officials of Birmins- ham read the leading article in Every body's magazine for April on the com mission form of government and get busy not only with the dust but with several other matters. These streets that are paved with Belgian blocks, for instance, should be torn up and repaved with some smooth material. It is impossible to clean these Belgian blocks. Birmingham is the only city know of that has to contend with such dust conditions as we are suffering now
 Sol Cahecn
 Sol Caheen said: This dust proposition ic something fierce. Great clouds of dust laden with all degrees of filth and genera tions of germs, move up the principal streets of the city in great and almost columns. The main streets at times look like a sandy desert swept by the arid winds of the tropics. The condition is not only dangerous to health, but is a serious handicap to business. The merchants suffer great damage to their stocks of goods"
 w. F. G. Harding
 ..The very apparent inability of the city to handle the dust problem is but one more emphatic argument for the of the proposed bond iss-~ which goes before the people next l---- day. week." said w. P. G. Harding. "The city needs the s4OOO00 to square its pres ent indebedtedness and place it in con dition to take care of these other very necessary things. The city Of Birmins- ham has not begun to approach It's limit of credit under the law and is well able to go beyond that limit. The bond issue is the easiest and cheapest method of the present stringent condition of the city treasury. The debts thai are being carried now cost more than a bond issue would cost and the proposed bonds would give the city an opportunity to take care of it's current expenses with out difficulty
 w. W. Crawford
 aIf inc city is unable to abate the dust nuisance which is gettig to be really dreadful the property holders should be taxed per front foot to pay the expenses" said w. w. Craw- ford. "The dust should be laid at any cost. It is dangerous to- health and demoralizing to every interest in the community"
 Ross (. smith
 "The main thorough flares leading out from the city, especially that through Avondale, woodlawn and East Lake. are almost insufferable on account of the dust" said Ross c. Smith. ''The streets in the main part of the city are bad enough but it is fearful out on these suburban streets and ave- nues. It seems to me that some ar should be made for the of these streets by the street railway company. I do not know that the company should be made to do so. but it should be done in some way. The present condition is fear full"
 A. l.. Fulenwider
 .'While the streets of Birmingham are always more or less dirty and dusty in dry weather, l believe this spell is the worst for many years" ga id A. l.. Fulenwider. An epidemic of diseases is sure to follow if the dr, weather keeps up and something is not done to abate the nuisance. II know of no remedy to suggest if the city Is not able to sprinkle the streets, but must be done and that quickly"
 T. H. Molton
 "One way to minimize the dust nui- sance is to pave more streets said T. H. Motion. The streets that are paved get dusty but they are not near so bad as those that are not paved. All the main streets in the center of the city and the main thoroushfares