The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-15
FRUIT STANDS ON
 STREET CORNERS
 MAY BE REMOVED
Exum Has Matter Under Consideration and, It Is Believed, Will Order
 Their Removal

It is believed that City Commission President Culpepper Exum will reeom- mend that all fruit stands be removed from the streets and avenues of Birming- ham.
 The matter has been referred to him for investigation. and if he says the fruit stands must go he will be supported by the two associate commissioners.
 Yesterday the opinion was general that MT. EXum had in mind recommending the removal of the stands. It has been found that the city cannot collect rent for the space used on the sidewalks and ave nues, and therefore the city commission is said to be of the opinion that the fruit stands have no legal right on the streets. Mr. Exum has not indicated what he will do, but it Is expected that he will report Tuesday. If he says the stands should "go" 1t is believed strenuous opposition will be created by the fruit merchants of Birmingham, who have been aceus- toned to occupy small amount of space on the principal street corners.
 ~~~~~~-~~~~~-~~-~~ ~-~~~~~~-~-~~~~~-~~~-~-->- money order documents, registry books and papers. postal supplies. etc, that we can hardly turn around, and have actually had to use the coal bin for the storage of stamped paper.
 "The total receipts and disbursements of the financial department for the past four years have been as follows: 1909 ................. S5, ,6O9, ,603.79 1910 ,.................. 6,194,747.43 1911 .................... 6,597,26S.81 1912 (estimated) ...........7 1000, ,OO00O
 Parcel Post Business
 '"rhe addition of the parcel post busi- ness to the postoffice activities means great deal more space for the future independent of the other governmental activities. Birmingham being Q rail- road center it will no doubt become state clearing house for the parcel post business the same as it is now a clearing house for the financial busi- ness, stamps and stamped paper, and Internal revenue business. This all em- pharizes the necessity for a new build Ing which will require at least three times the space we now have. The cost of such a building compared with the cost of the present building would be something over $1 900, ,00O and it seems advisable to provide plenty of ground for the growth of the parcel post busi- ness especially.
 "The supervising architect of the treas ury can furnish an estimate of the pres ent floor space from the old plans, but | wish to say that during the last 12 months we have been obliged to occupy a sub stantial part of the lobby devoted to the public for the finance department and stamp booth, and in this way we have managed 10 get enough room to handle the mails in the space left to us. The whole of the postoffee floor inside has been rearranged within the past l2 months and these arrangements will probably last two years without any great need for an increased space, but after two years 1t will be necessary for us to hire room outside of this building. We cannot possibly last longer than two years with what we have now.
 ''This building is a fine one and a most substantial one, in good location, but the growth of the town and the new rail road connections make the new location q much more convenient one than the present site.