The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-28

Sydney J. Bowie general chairman of the committee to be in charge of the mu. nicipal bond issue election for s1,25O,0Oo on April 12, yesterday issued his first formal statement answering objections that in some sections have been made and sug- gesting the arguments for the bond issue
 Headquarters have been opened at room, 401 First National Bank building and a vigorous campaign in behalf of the bond issued will be waged from now on.
 Those supporting the issue state there is no doubt of it's success, but that the object of the campaign is to make il complete. and overwhelming. A campaign committee representing every section ot the city is now being named by the citi- zens of different parts of Birmingham and with few additions to make it complete will be announced in full early this week
 Statement by Bowie Mir. Bowie's statement is as follows:
 ''To the People of Birmingham:
 There seems to be so much misunder. standing of the proposed bond issue by men whose intelligence and patriotism i. not open to question that a statement oi the situation as it is seems advisable. Tn the first place, the issuance of tn, bonds does not increase the indebtedness. of the city by penny The indebtedness will remain the same. Payment will sim ply be postponed for a period of 30 years during which time the city will enjoy g lower rate of interest than it is now pay. ing upon it's debts, thus meaning in the aggregate a very substantial saving ir that item.
 ''Second-Most of the indebtedness whicf is outstanding is for improvements per. manent in their nature. of which posterity will be the beneficiary, as we'll as our. selves. It seems just and equitable that posterlty shall help to pay the expenses of parks, buildings and other improve. ments of which it will be the beneficiary and that the entire burden for permanent improvements so largely represented by this bond issue ought not to be borne by this generation.
 "Third-The debt is due and there is ab- solutely no way by which it can be met at this time. The only choice is between repudiation and the bond issue. The peo- pie have received the consideration for this indebtedness. The money has beer neither stolen nor wasted: 1t has been ap- piled to public uses some of which are as follows:
 How Money Was Spent
 Improvement of parks at Ensley, Lake view, North Birmingham. Pratt City, West End, Avondale; equipment of parks; lowering grate at Twenty-sixth street, north; public improvement assessments rebated and paid out of general fund; bridges at Avenue F, Ensley, Twenty sixth street, North Birmingham, Sixty fourth street, Woodlawn; purchase of equipment for offices in city hall for police department, fire department, health de- partment street department, prisons North Birmingham water and light plant; urchase of lands and improvement, Ave nue prison, warehouse, blacksmith shop stables, sidetrack to warehouse, crema- tories, East Birmingham fire station land and building, East Birmingham play grounds, Ensley stables, Fairview fire sta tion, land and improvements Helena Heights property, Idlewid park. North Birmingham park, Richmond Place fire station; Woodward park, West End; re. pairs and additions to schools all over the city and numerous other items actual. ly paid for, amounting to $6s9, ,340.S4, to. gether with debts incurred. but not yet paid for. amounting to $176.21697. or a total of over $S65,o00 for permanent i'm provements. To tlis must be added al (Continued on Page Six)