The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-01
Peoples Telephone Company Will Continue Business
 Month Longer
EXTRA MILK AND MEAT INSPECTOR ALLOWED
All Bids for City Printing Rejected. Resolution to Abolish Signs Over Sidewalks Introduced - Inn
 prove Certain City Lights

A lengthy session of the board of city commissioners was held yesterday and many matters of importance were acted upon, including the purchase of a play ground for the East Birmingham public schools, the continuance of the Peoples Home Telephone companys contract for month longer to allow them to make the necessary physical connections that the present subscribers might not be in- convenienced, steps to improve the street lighting system of North Birmingham, an additional inspector allowed pr. Duncan, the city meat and milk inspector, pure ice cream ordinance passed, all bids for city printing rejected and new bids asked for, resolution seeking to abolish the electric signs that overhang the sidewalks and many other matters of routine nature introduced.
 In the matter of the playgrounds Com missioner Weatherly stated that 10 lots adjoining the school house could be pur- chased for $500. and having made a per- sonal investigation of the property. recom- mended it's purchase. The continuation of the contract between the city and the Peoples Home Telephone company for one month longer was made to protect the present subscribers from annoyance by changing connections and other matters In connection with the telephone service. The city commissioners had at a recent meet ing allowed the franchises of the tele- phone company to be surrendered and the contract with the city to expire on May 1. Thousands will now be continued by the company until the first of June, and all contracts will be carried out by the con- pany
 The street lights of. North Birmingham were reported by the inspector to be in a bad condition and almost unserviceable. City Electrician Abernethy reported that the cost of repairing the lights practically would be as much as the cost of new ones. It was suggested that a number of lights could be purchased from the Bir- mingham Railway. Light and Power com pany that were practically good as new. The matter was referred to Commissioner Weatherly with power to act
 Judge Lane introduced a resolution that an additional inspector be allowed Dr. Duncan, the city bacteriologist and meat and milk inspector at a salary of $50. Judge Lane said that Dr. Duncan had re- quested the commissioners to grant him this extra man on account of the in-- creased number of places to be inspected as the summer. approached. The resou- tion was concurred in.
 A matter of much importance to the city in general and the business man in particular was the request of the city electrician and the chief of the fire de- partment that the board of commissioners pas an ordinance prohibiting the hanging of electric and other signs over and above the sidewalks of the city. The contention of the city officials are that the wires and guy lines necessary to support the heavy signs are a menace to human life and to the safety of the building from ire. The matter was continued, to get the ideas of the merchants and others inter- ested in the present system of hanging signs across the sidewalk