The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-20

examination of the prison records l finC that this number is about the average
 confined in this place. I cannot recon
 mend too forcibly the immediate ne
 cessity of remedying this condition, ant | only personal visit and inspection bN
 your honorable body can impress yoi
 with the real existing conditions.
 q am informed that the matter of bet
 ter and more comfortable and sanitary prison quarters was referred some time
 ago to a committee consisting of the Mayor. the chairman of the police and I sanitation committee, chairman of the 1 finance committee, chairman of the street committee, chairman of the Judiciary | committee, street commissioner and city engineer, and I would suggest that this committee be instructed by your honor
 able body to get quick action on this Jail | matter.
 "The city physician advises me that the northside jail where on an average of something life 50 prisoners, male and
 female, are confined, is also in a very bad condition, and I would suggest that this committee look into this also. T have made a personal inspection Of the Ensley prison and find general condi- tions good With a little change or two, which will be practically of no expense. would regard this prison as. meeting present requirements. There has been, however, some neglect on the part of the officers in charge of the Ensley prison, which will be corrected at once. Arc Light Contract 'In reference to the resolution of your honorable body of October 5, directing the Mayor to sign contract with the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power com pany for arc lights, I find on investiga- hot wa nr6ViOnS contract In existence in accordance with the agreement between the city of Birmingham and the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. I beg to hand you here with, however, a contract which regard as covering the agreement, and which appears to me to be fair and satisfactory, and I ask the directions of your honora- ble body in the premises. Vtaduct 1T wish to call the attention of your honorable body to the apparent delay in the viaduct matter. It is my information that the City of Birminghams propos- tion was in shape to be presented to the railroads on September 21, and in event this matter was promptly put before them, it appears to me that the delay in it's acceptance of rejection by the inter- ests involved is inexcusable, and I would suggest that the matter be referred to the legal department of the city of Birming- ham with directions to proceed along the lines of the city's legal right in the mat ter.
 q beg to say that have just been in formed that on account of an unavoidable delay the city of Birmingham's proposi- ton was not presented to the railroads until October 10, but even that being true, the city should have an answer from the railroads by the time your honorable body again meets, and I trust your com mittee will insist that the railroads have their answer ready to present at your next meeting.
 Street Sweeping
 T regard the question of clean streets, especially in the business centers, as a very important one, and I believe that the present mode of sweeping the streets Is not only expensive, but failure as well as a nuisance and unsanitary. I find that in other cities flush carts have been found to be the best agency in keep ing the streets clean. This method not only does away with the street sweeping and it's attendant dust and disease, but at the same time flushes the streets ab- solutely clean. These carts cost some thing like $500 each, and I believe that the purchase of at least three of them would be long step forward towards solving the problem of clean streets and the abatement of the dust nuisance, and respectfully request your honorable body to authorize this expenditure. Yours very truly, "CULPEPPER EXUM, Mayor" Committee Reports Adopted The council then went into the adop- ton of committee reports, all of which passed without opposition. The petition of Ensley Aerie No 150 to hold street fair in Ensey was granted Alderman Moore introduced resolution instructing the chief of police to put stop to whis- tie blowing at night. Alderman Mo- Arthur introduced an ordinance calling for the opening of Twenty-eignth ave- nue. plan was adopted by which a permanent board will be appointed to hear disputed street improvement assess ments. The mayor was authorized to ne- gotiate loan for s100,000. All other actions are contained in the committee reports, which were unani- mously adopted:
 Finance Committee Present: Aldermen Mcdowell. Gregg, Gibson, Morgan (W. B., Klotz. Morris, Metcalfe, Hawley, Rogers, Copeland CD. R.), Morgan (G. B.), Hobson, Hogan Ab- sent: Alderman Copeland q. R.).
 Alderman McDowell, chaiIelan of the finance committee, submitted the follow ing report:
 The finance committee recommends that Henderson Bros. be refunded the amount of $50 license paid, but never used on ac- count of sickness
 That Thomas Jeffers be refunded the sum of g paid for building permit not used
 That resolution authorizing a refund of .62 on assessment of Lucy T. Finch be adopted.
 That ordinance authorizing the mayor to borrow s10O,OO0 be adopted.
 That ordinance to provide for making temporary loans for local Improvements be adopted.
 That cost bill in Sibley P. King case amounting to s48.3 30 be paid. That report of city clerk that he has made assessments for taxation and res- olution that same be published be adopted.
 That the Birmingham Belt Railroad company be refunded the sum of $50. 75 taxes paid in error.
 That petition of Mrs. A. G. Rosenfeld for refund of taxes paid in error be granted when said amount is ascertained That petitions of W. N. Maddox and T. w. Elliott and Mrs Katie Clark be referred to the city treasurer for re- port.
 That following claims for damages be referred to the city attorney and city engineer for reports: J. D. Stuckey, Mrs. M. A. Mitchell, c. P. Hammond, J. w. Mitchell.
 | That following matters be referred to i the mayor with power to act: Claim of | E. D. Glover for refund of taxes peti- | ton of Hal J. Copeland for refund of | pound fees; petition of A. E. Darby for