The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-08
DIRTY STREETS ARE A BLOW ID PRIDE OF BIRMINGHAM AN PEOPLE Calhoun Calls Attention to Gradual Increase in Filth
 on the Th0rOughfares HARD TO EXPLAIN
 TO CITY'S VISITORS Members of Chamber of Commerce Civic Improvement Committee
 Comments on Some of the
 Most Urgent Needs

"A realism to be deplored and mat ter that demands the immediate atten-
 tion of the proper authorities as well as the citizenry as whole Is the | linexcusably dirty condition of Bir- mingham's business streets The Magic City is great in wealth for future great ness but the current laxity in regard to keeping the thoroughfares clean can 1 do more to discount the general inn | pression of progressiveness and up to date ideas than any other one factor | of which I have cognizance."
 These sentences were the opening | sentiments expressed by Charles A. Cal houn. we'll known attorney of this | city and member of the newly ap- pointed civic improvement committee of the Chamber of Commerce. yester- day afternoon.
 Tt cannot be a source of pride to any Birmingham citizen to see the de- bris of paper bags, fruit peelings, pea
 nut hulls and trash of every description scattered along the most travelled por- tions of the business section' con tinued MT. Calhoun. "To apologize to strangers for the unclean conditions Is almost impossible without placing
 the blame either on the attitude of the inhabitants of the city or the re- trenchment policy of the city commits
 sion.
 Gradual Change for Worse within the past few months I have observed a gradual change from the | f... my coming down town in the morn ing after a good cleaning the night previous until now the filthy condition is direct reflection upon the city. I
 have not seen the customary nightly
 parade with it's cleaning brushes busy for some time and can only account for the lack of daytime cleanliness in l this way.
 "As a remedy I would suggest rnar the people of Birmin gham be taken into the confidence of the c,ty commission as to what Is to be done about the
 matter as things cannot go on this way
 forever. It is only by practical con- sideration and cleaning up that the | streets can be made to look as Bir-
 mingham boulevards should and es- IS tlliS true 1S lOHR as the
 Belgian block pavement remains. This type of paving is of itself unsightly
 and with litter of rubbish strewn over it's surface is even more objectionable than a smooth pavement would be un- der identical circumstances. Clean liness is proverbiallyi the consecutive virtue to godliness and this can be ap-
 piled to cities as well as persons in my judgment. Therefore l contend that Brminghams greatest present need
 along the line of civic improvement is a more effective system of street clean ing that the last vestige of the coun- try village carelessness in street ap-
 pearance may be obliterated
 "The civic improvement committee of
 the Chamber of Commerce has not as yet assembled for preliminary meet ing to sketch and deliberate upon the campaigns for the ensuing year. but I presume that report will be com
 piled setting forth the most vital civic issues to be fostered by the commit tee when such session is called. No
 doubt the question of clean streets will be among the most important
 matters in which the committee is to
 become interested. The method used in other large cities of the south, such as Atlanta, Washington, Louisville and
 Nashville in keeping their streets tidy will probably be studied with view of learning the results of such modes in contemplation of a recommendation for local adaptation.
 Not the Proper Setting
 As proper setting for the large
 office buildings already erected and the many structures now announced to
 be built, dirty streets are hardly to be desired and 1t is to be hoped that the
 betterment of the street conditions will be in evidence within short time While the home folks might be lenient
 in overlooking the bad housekecoing,
 visitors arc prone to notice and criti-
 cize such negligence unkindIy. Birmingham is occupying the center of the stage of growing southern nu- nicipalities and is becoming recognized as one of the best stopping points for tourists from the north, so let us. by all means. have clean streets for these guests to walk along that their opinion of this city may be as fine as pos sible."