The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-03
BY BURR BLACKBURN

cost Jefferson county between s40,o0o and $50000. Many roads have been practically ruined. All have been badly damaged. Just at time when the roads deserved rest. following the hardest year of rain and wear in memory, the floods have de- scended though -the month be June
 This catches the Board of Revenue in peculiar and embarrassing position Practically half of the money which IS collected for road purposes is tied up in the courts by a suit brought by the city of Birmingham to collect $o7oeO as us share of the road and bridge fund, under an act passed by the recent session or the legislature. This suit ties up nearly sloo, ,ooo as, in case Birmingham wins, all the other municipalities in the county could demand their share as we'll
 We now have bare running expenses said C. B. Rogers yesterday fThe con- struction money is all tied up. If we hao plenty of money we could put on extra help and remedy matters in ayshort while, but we will be forced to do this repairing with our regular district gangs, and 1t VIII be SLOW WOIh. W liat Noo SA N@N--- yesterday is d ditch today.
 "I expect to hear no end of complaints, but we will have to ask the patience and assistance of the publc.'
 "The unfortunate condition of the road funds in the county treasury will make the repairing of our roads slow work. said President Job Going of the board we will get them back in shape before the summer is over, but 1t is no easy job. If the county should lose ig the fight over the road fund we would certainly be up against it"
 Spent S175,951 in 1909
 During 1909 the board spent sl7S,s51 on the public roads, most of which went into construction It built 1s miles or macada.nized road, 13 reinforced bridges. five steel bridges and 15 miles of stand ardized dirt road.
 On the first of the year of January, 1910, there was not a cent in the countys road funds. It was estimated that about sl7oUoo would be collected during the year. Con structfon work costing about S2o,ooo nas already been done this year. The monthly pay roll for the section gangs will total for the year s7o,OOo.
 Nothing is left. The county's hands are tied. Further construction work Will have to be entirely discontinued and the overseers kept busy at repair work in their own sections.
 All the district men have been instruct ed to go over their roads and find just what is needed They will meet at the courthouse Tuesday and make detailed report, showing the exact condition, and exactly what Is needed to put the rpads in good shape.
 Estimates will be made of the ex- penses and pay rolls for the rest of the year, and an apportionment made, ae- cording to the need and the mileage in each district The idea is to figure fair distribution of all the funds which will be collectable this year.
 Condition of Road Fund
 On the first of last month, the road funds were in this condition, $3 road fund. s15,5s5; 10 cent fund s46,55si bridge fund, s6s,1sS; more than half of which Is tied up by the suit of the mu- nicipalities.
 But the board is determined to cope with the situation, and is ready to hus- tie and keep hustling until every inch of the 1900 miles of road In Jefferson county Is reached by the repairers. They know they have big job, but are not afraid of it. Beginning Tues day, the dirt will fly.
 A glance over the work of this board of revenue during its year and half In office Is convincing argument to prove that they are men of action. They have done much toward putting the county on business basis. They have been open to all suggestions, and have kept close to the people. And they have been pressed with harder prob lems than any other set of men in the county.
 Leasing of Convicts
 First came that vexing proposition, the leasing of the county convicts Af- ter a struggle with the corporations lasting over a month, they were final ly landed, at a good price, with the Pratt Consolidated company.
 The board created a road engineering department, and selected an engineer to look after nothing but the county's roads. This is considered one of the wisest, most economic moves yet made.
 The purchase of the new pest house property near East Birmin gham, and its development has been a great improve
 
 for the Mercy Homes rescue home.
 The Hillman hospital, purcha ased by the old board, mas been improved until It Is now considered the most complete, thorough, and best conducted free hos pital in the south. The board took ac- tive charge of the hospital, with a ma jority of its members on the board of governors, and always keeps vgilant eye upon the institution. It Is now CnpfAO pia ting a pf 1,,o ioI Improvements.
 Realizing that the work would of necessity have to be systematized, com mittees were appointed, a purchasing agent selected, and, contrary to GUS tom, though the board is not always in session at other times, the members have their hands busy with committee 1 duties.
 The purchase of every article is by competitive bids. and the board spends no small amount on supplies for the hospital the jail. the road forces, and repairs In the court house.
 About s7000 has iheen spent on re- pairing the county jail, and it may be said to the credit of the board, that the old hastile is now at least habitabl Twice the proposition of a bond issue for a court house and jail has been submitted to the people. but both times voted down. This, however. did nor prevent them from making the best out of the circumstances Plrns are now ready for s50,000 annex 70 the court house, to be built out of the general fund. and 1t will be done unless the demand of the business men for some thing bigger, makes 1t possible to pass a bond issue.
 It is a congenial set of follows Wf.A all their business methods, they are obliging, and there never Is tin.e t4.a. someone of them is not on hand at the office to attend to the public's bust