The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-01
WHAT COMMISSION PLANS SFOR NEW YEAR Some Really Big Projects
 Will Be Worked Out IMPROVE THE PARKS Steps Will Be Taken to Increase the City's Revenue By Having City
 Made Special Taxing District
IMPROVE THE PARKS
ny CLYDE ". ENNIS


 l To those persons in Birmingham inter ested In matters at the city hall. thi opening today of brand new year entitled to moro than passing attent It Is the conviction born of knowledge the work to be done which causes the opinion tosbe held at the city hall that perhaps the most progressive municipal era in the history of Birmingham opens today with the commission at the helm. The days of ths new year will see more municipal progress made than any like period of time in the history of the city. The commission has been in since April H. 1911. A vast amount of house cleaning has been done and although the financial ills of the city arc far from being cured, yet the situation is said to be in better shape than in the past five years in Birmingham.
 It is said to be a certainty that the | commissioners have in mind many ad- vances which. if realized. will stamp the expiration of 1912 as the best year Bir- mingham has ever witnessed
 It is the firm conviction that beginning with the next few days the pressing needs of viaducts will be taken ID and settled ono way or the other. Much as to this depends upon the opinion of Capt Romaine Boyd, city attorney on the Nor wood subway case. If his opinion is that the city may force contributions to a sub- way scheme, tho situation will be bet tered. It Is said to be the idea of the commission, however, to go after viaducts in diplomatic way and secure sse-opsfts- . ftfr, GIro d. question.
 The solution of the Bell case leaves only the Birmingham Railway and Power conn pany troubles to be settled when the pub lie utility questions will leave a little tims for the transaction of other and perhaps more pressing business.
 For More Crematories
 The commissioners will start to work perhaps this week on the crematories for Birmingham. One has been authorized and Frank Gafford. street commissioned. expects the engineer who designed the small plant to come here and start off the work. The city will possess perhaps fivo of the smaller type crematories by the end of this year.
 Negotiations for the purchase of .he Birmingham waterworks company this year is not out of the range of possibil- ties. If that plant is not purchased, the city will create a neuclus for municipal ownership In North Birmingham by spending about s2oo,o0o there on the light plant and the waterworks plant. The water plant, according to engineers, is far from desirable. but the light plant Is said to be a very good one. That will be settled during the first six months of the present year.
 Opinion will be moulded this year in- splred by the commissioners for the crea- ton of special taxing district for Bir- mingham. The plan is for Birmingham to get the money 1t pays In and spend it on this city and not distribute it over. sparsely settled county at the instance of the board of revenue as is now the case. If taxing district is not created. the city will perhaps be compelled to raise the rate of taxation which will call for much opposition. Something must be done. it is said. to insure the healthy financial condition of Birmingham. At this time the city Is running behind ana can never catch up unless more revenue Is secured.
 Big Things in Park Line
 Great things are expected in the park line. The city, by recent acquisition. now possesses a large area of park property which will receive attention from the city park commission during the year. In ad; dition the city will buy some additional park sites during the present year ac- cording to the plan heretofore outlined.
 Caldwell park. now e sunken hole, will i,xrc m n a y,la of rare beauty because of the | assumed in that strip of land by that have been given the right by M to spend all the money they care fn the identification of the park.
 The Green Springs park. fl added to, will be developed, VI is a likely proposition that a cons zoo will be established at AvondaJe paVn during the present year. In Norwod the city and the owners of that land pr( pose to create fine park of tho B acre1 donated by the company to the city sony time ago. One of the plans is for the creation of Myrtle grove in the park for the special fulfillment of an ambition Of Commissioner James weatherly.
 A continuous boulevard. paved and oi' : between East Lake and Ensley will started and perhaps completed durlt 1912 if present Ideas are realized by as commssion The road will be the cl sf artery between the city's furtheru confines. The creation of a city mat at Ensley, East Lake, North Birmingh Woodlawn and Five Points is a maitelU of an ordinance which will be adopte, at once. 1t is said.
 Measured by and large, the new chi1 year, born today. has promise of belt one of the lustiest infants that has con to Birmingham for 12 month visit many years. As in the case of the vent of all juveniles, the commission will be forced to sit up some at nj will have to walk the floor and will haps step on various and sundry t in the passing of time. but all of worth the candle for the promise q suture>