The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-23
ELECTION RESULT BEING ANALYzED
 BY THE CITIZENS Interest Centers in Probable Outcome of Big Majority
 for Bond Issue CITY'S FINANCES
 NEED FOSTERING No Definite Steps Can Be Taken Un- til Legislature Gives City More
 Power to Raise Money
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Yesterday there was no more excite ment in Birmingham than on the day oe- fore. The news that James Weatherly of 1000 people had declared for water works bond issue was received with un- usual equanimity.
 The day brought no developments. MT Weatherly reported for duty at the city hall and received the congratulations o1 his co-workers in the service of the mu- nicipality. The silence which character pany during the campaign remained un- broken. There had been no hope that the company would immediately offer to turn over its property to the city, and in con sequence no one was disappointed
 Since the people have authorized the city authorities to issue bonds in the sum of $4.5oo,000, it is generally thought that preparations will be made immediately in that the expressed wishes of the con stituency might be gratified. A great deal of work is in store for those who will be at the helm in this new and probably more serious campaign.
 In the first place. a definite plan will have to be agreed upon. It is taken for granted that when bond merchants are requested to buy that they will listen 'o no inducement, however, alluring, unless the city can tell plainly and illustrate with drawings exactly what will be done with the money desired.
 It is probable that the city engineer will begin immediately on this job. It is agreed that it will require him several months, perhaps years, to devise a an whereby Birmingham today and tomor- row can be served with abundant water, pure and cheap from the most available and accessible point. While the engineer is thus Investigating, it is possible that the waterworks company will offer to sell. If the company does not offer to sell the plans will be presented to the commission and favorably acted upon.
 
 Before such action is taken. however. Birmingham, it is believed, will be better prepared than it is today to handle a sit- uation of such magnitude. For the city hopes that the legislature in it's next ses- sion will permit 1t to tax itself for its own improvement. If that is done. then the city will have hope of being able rot
  ming behind in finances at the rate of s1oOo per day, but to pay the interest on it's bonded indebtedness, present existing and to be acquired It is said by those who should know--and said with a deal of assurance-that the legislature in it's next session will so correct the munich pal government bill that it will no longer be true that one of the commissioners of the city of Birmingham is also in the limelight each year with a candidates burden to bear.
 There is difference of opinion in regard to Birminghams ability to dispose of bonds in the sum of $450O,0O0. When the legislature acts in accordance with the wishes of the city hope will be brighter. At the present time, however, the outlook is not too propitious.
 In the first place, while the bond issue received about s5 per cent of the vote which was cast on that issue Monday it unfortunately happened that only about TOGO people expressed themselves either favoraby or unfavorably on that ques- ton. It is considered doubly unfortunate that fewer people voted on the bond issue than voted for candidates for the commits sion Bond merchants will be impressed, it is feared. with an idea that Birming- ham, al city of 10000 people. did not dis play that enthusiasm which should be dis played on such momentous proposition.
 
 In the second place, authorities will have to give an account of Birmingham s
 tContinued on Last Page)