The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-30
.BESSEMER'S MAYOR
CLEANS UP THE CITY
Pathetic Incident at Funeral
of w. Smith Eidge-Mon-
ument Unveiled

! Bessemer, July 29.-(Special)
Adopting the slogan, do it now"
| Mayor I. A Lewis has undertaken TO
clean up the city of Bessemer With
the aid of the street gang. For sew
i eral days the mayor has had the city
prisoners at work on the streets and
| alleys of the north side of the city
and whatever else has been accom-
| plished the appearance of this part of
| the city is decidedly improved. The
| question of the sanitation of the city
has been before the city council for
| sometime and a special committee was
appointed to make suggestions to
remedy conditions. In conformity with
! the report of the committee. the city
| attorney has prepared ordinances that
will be acted upon at the next meet
| ing, of the council.
In view of the warnings that have
been sent out by the government ex-
perts who have investigated the san
itary conditions of the city of Birming
| ham and the present menace of fever
and other epidemics, Mayor Lewis de-
cided there was danger in delay and
proceeded to clean up the city. 1t is
understood theNwork will be continued
until all the streets and alleys of the
city are clear of filth and trash. The
mayor is being generally commended
for his prompt action.
The funeral of w. Smith Edge was
conducted this morning from the fam
lily residence and a large crowd as
sembled to pay the last sad tribute OF
respect to well beloved citizen. The
services were conducted by the Rev.
M. X. Thornton, pastor of the First
Baptist church, and the Rev. j. r. Stur-
divant, presiding elder of the Besse
mer district. Bessemer lodge No. III,
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks,
attended in a body and had charge
Of the services at the grave. Interment
was made at Cedar Hill cemetery.
A pathetic incident at the funeral
was the grief of Ben Jones, a former
employe of the deceased. who went
blind while in his services. and who
has been cared for by Mr.. Edge since
his misfortune. Ben fully realized that
in the death of Smith Edge he had
lost both protector and friend and
the remembrance of the many kind
nesses of his former employer made
poignant his grief and deep his despair.
There was not dry eye at the funeral
as the blind man broke down and Wept
unrestrainedly.
The virtues of Smith Edge are truly
engarevd on marble and whatever
faults he had have been written In
the sand for all his neighbors and
friends paid tribute to his frank and
generous nature. Many beautiful floral
tributes were sent by sorro wing
friends. The pallbearers were: Active,
E. A. Veitch, John Harris, ]. S. Gam
mon. w. E. McWilliams. Clip Hocutt
Chelsea Hagler, Robert Fitzpatrick and
Luke Rawls. Honorary, Ben G. Perry
Thomas T. Huey, Lee Moody, E. A. Lit
tie, Mayor l. A. Lewis, Sam Dunn,
George f. Rutledge, DR.. G. r. Lewis
of Bessemer, w. e. Agee, Emmett
O'Neal, Fred Thomas, John Greener,
John Altman of Birmingham and
James F. Oakley of Centreville.
na A wedding that came as surprise
to their many friends was that of
Miss Thelma Porter Of Woodward and
DR. A. J. Edwards of Bessemer, which
took place yesterday at the parsonage
of the Rev. M. K. Thornton. There were
no attendants. They will make their
home at Fossil, where DR.. Edwards Is
company physician.
Miss Lula May Stevens and Mr.. ]. s.
Fason were married yesterday at the
office of the probate Judge by Clerk
Herbert Ethridge. Quite a large num-
Der of friends of the couple witnessed
the ceremony.
The district union of the Junior
Christian Endeavor will meet this aft
ernoon at o'clock at the First Pres
byterian church and a large attendance
is expected. Every branch OF the En-
deavor in the district will be repre-
scented and an attractive programme
will be carried out.
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