The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-18
PAVING CONTRACTS !. ARE DECLARED VOID. Some Work May Be Re-
 stunned Soon CAMP SITE ACTION Lane Favors Twelve Years Lease But Others do Not Want to
 Specify Any Definite
 Term of Years .1

| Several improvement contracts which were let by the former city council have been declared void by the board Of com missioners and 1t Is announced that the commission will reoffer the work when details can be arranged The amount in- volved Is estimated to be about S750,ooO. The contracts have been held up since the commission went into office in April, al- though those in progress and unfinished were permitted to be carried on. | Commissioner James Weatherly. who has charge of the street department. is working on the improvement ordinances and he will perhaps recommend that some work be let shortly The precedent heretofore established was that only where every property owner petitioned would the work proceed. This, however. will not be binding upon the commission CTS when the general scheme of im- improvements Is completed.
 This action and some minor details were taken up yesterday after the commission CTS conferred informally with MT. Vince lock and MT. Beatty as to the prison work The commissioners granted Camp Hardee permission to hold a barbecue in Avondale park, subject to the approval of the park commission.
 Anti-Tubercul0sis Petition
 At the meeting of the commissioners this morning final action will be taken upon the petition of the tuberculosis association as to the proposed long lease on Red Mountain park, which has been refused by the park commission.
 Commissioner James Weatherly yester-
 day received a. copy of the resolution
 passed by the park commissioners endors- ing the work, granting the indeterminate
 right for the association to remain or
 the property until 1t is needed, but the
 long lease or gift idea was not recom-
 mended.
 | Although a delegation appeared be- fore the commission yesterday and en- deavored to secure a reversal of the
 anticipated park commission opinion
 it is said no impression was created upon the board.
 Judge Lane said he valued life above parks or property and was in favor of a 12-year lease. President Exum, right across the desk. said he would certainly oppose any such lease. He added that he would vote for the city to reim- purse the association for a reasonab ble amount expended on the property when | they were ordered to move. but he would not vote to give any lease or any other right except revocable at the will of the park commission. His position is similar to Commissioner James weatherly, who says although he Is not bound by the act of the park commissioners, at the same time he would hesitate to override their opin- ion and recommendation.
 It is said to be quite beyond the ma iority of the commission to understand why a signed or verbal lease for a speci- fled term of years Is desired by tho Association. la The commission and every before the park property Is needed and permission has been granted until it | is needed. That in the opinion of the | majority of the commission. will serve the purpose of the association. | The compromise of President Exum seems to have made an impression and may be accepted.
 In addition to taking action on the Anti-Tuberculosis associations peti- tion several other matters of import- ance will be han.ied by the commfs. | sioners at the meeting today.