The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-27
FAvORS
 THE CONSOLIDATION
Would Strengthen Probability
 of Open Saloons
WOMEN IMPROVE GROUND
Ladies of Decatur Ask Coucil to Ap- prOpriate Thousand Dollars to / Beautify Public School
 Grounds

Decatur, January 26.-(Special.)-'T am in favor of consolidation on the grounds that I am convinced that it will be of benefit to the two cities, and I am will ing to sacrifice any personal interests I may have in the matter" is the broad and patriotic statement made by Mayor John Patterson of New Decatur. Mayor Patterson Is classed as workingman holding a responsible position in the Louisville and Nashville railroad shops in New Decatur He defeated promi- nent business man for mayor of New De- catur at the last election.
 Up to this time nothing has been done by the city councils of the two Deca- turs toward the calling of an election to consolidate the two cities, as was agreed on by the joint committees at Montgomery the other day. Whether the two city councils will be able to agree on plan of consolidation still remains to be seen. In the meantime those fla voring consolidation are booming Rep resentative Dan Waldens Greater De- catur' bill in the state legislature.
 Should the two Decaturs be consoli- dated they would come within the 10000 population class of cities and would be entitled to open saloons by a vote of the people under the local option bill that has just been introduced in the state legislature, which bill, 1t is believed here, will become a law. Without consolida- ton neither of the Decaturs separately would come under the proposed local op- ton bill.
 That large majority of the citizens and voters of Decatur favor high licensed and well regulated saloons goes without saying. Many who formerly favored pro- hibition now are thoroughly disgusted with prohibition as it exists in Alabama.
 The women of New Decatur are asking the city council of that city to assist them in beautifying the grounds of the public schools and their request will be heartily responded to by the city council Mrs. w. F. Jones, Mrs. Walter E.. Todd, Mrs. E. H. Allison and other ladies ad- dressed the New Decatur city council along these lines
 The ladies explained that these pub lie schools embrace an area of about seven acres and that about 5000 will be needed to carry out the plans that they now have in mind. The ladies say they will employ landscape gardener and will donate the flowers and shrubbery They ask the city council to donate 5000 for the work W. A. Bibb, president of the New Decatur school board. spoke In sym pathy with the movement. The finance committee of the city council now has the matter under consideration, and it Is believed that the report will be a fa- vorable one.
 l. schools" is the well selected motto the ladies of the school improvement asso- citation have had printed in neat letters on white background on several hun dred buttons. These buttons have been placed in the hands of the school chill dren and are now offered for sale by the children for the benefit of the associa- tion. The money derived from the sale of these buttons will be used to purchase class libraries.
 An ordinance for additional public inn provements is now before the city coun- ell of New Decatur and will likely be passed at the next regular meeting. The ordinance provides for the following: Paving Sherman, Maple and Jackson streets at cost of $6000; paving Six teenth avenue, Wadsworth street, River Drive, Tower avenue and Olive street at a cost of $5400: also sewerage to cost about $500 in portions of East New De- catur, which were skipped when the re- cent extension to the city sewerage sys- tenn was completed.
 Society News
 Mrs Will N. Hall entertained in honor of her sister, Mrs. J. A. Cullom of Nash vile.
 Mrs. R. B. Mangrum entertained with a dinner yesterday afternoon in honor of Mrs Mae Pinkerton of Nashville. There were covers for ten.
 Mrs. John D. Wyker entertained this afternoon complimentary to her house