The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-17
VOTERS URGED TO
GIVE APPROVAL
TO BOND ISSUES
City Commissioners Make
Final Appeal for Passage
of Bond Issues FOR Much
Needed improvements

On the eve of the election day when
decide whether the city will author
ize the issuance of $4,000 600 in bonds
for school improvements, fire protec-
ton and the erection of an auditorium
and a combined city hall and library
building, the city commission yester-
day afternoon gave out a strong an
peal to the citizens to exercise their
suffrage privilege and to authorize
the bonds
The statement came at the close of
a campaign lasting two weeks, in
which the city commission. the vari
ious civic organizations and many
prominent citizens have united to i'm
press the people with the Importance
OF the passage OF the bond issue
The statement appeals to the peo-
pie to keep up the leadership among
municipalities in the south that Bir-
mlngham has had in the past The
statement follows:
RIVAL COMMUNITIES
The improvements that will be pro-
vided under the bond issue which the
people of Birmingham will vote upon
Monday, are not only vitality important
to the well being of our citizenship at
this time but are absolutely essential
II Birmingham is to keep pace with
rival communities.
Everyone recognizes that schools
are essential to the growth of any
community, and we believe that the
voters of Birmingham will unhesitat-
ingly cast their ballots in favor of the
SS,0OO,O00 bonds for school purposes.
Ihese bonds were voted in the past
by large majorities, and since it has
become necessary to submit the issue
a second time, there should be no hesi-
fancy about voting for them The needs
were great when the bonds were first
voted, and the situation is more urgent
now than ever.
THREE-MILL TAX
The S-mill school tax is also being
re-voted the former tax having been
wiped out by a decision of the supreme
court and this proposition should also
receive the unanimous support of our
people. Without this tax il would not
be possible to operate our public schools
Tor more than six or six-half months
in the year a condition that is abso-
luteIy unthinkable. 1t should be borne
In mind with this connection. that this
tax simply takes the place of the three
mills cut off of the sinking fund tax.
and 1t does not make any increase in
the net amount of taxes which the pAo-
pie have been paying for many years.
birmingham has not the money to
provide the police and fire protection
that the city should enjoy, and it seems
to us that it is very fortunate that the
efficiency of both the police and fire
departments can he practically doubled
by the issuance of the 100000 of bonds.
which is proposed for this purpose.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
|, The dual fire and burglar alarm
system will add comparatively little TO
the up-keep of the police and fire de-
partments, but will add immensely to
the security of life and property.
1T is an absurdity for a city the size
OF Birmingham to be without an audi
torium adequate to entertain large con-
ventions and provide shelter for our
people when they wish to enjoy some
form of entertainment and we believe
that our people should rally enthusiastic
ally to this movement to provide Biz
mingham with such a structure We feel
sure that the people will find it one
OF the best investments they ever made
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
THE proposal to erect new munich
pal building which will furnish the CEN
tral library with adequate quarters. is
one that also deserves the support of
our people. Every branch of the munich
pal government s@ hampered by made
quate space, and the situation in the
central library has become almost in
tolerable.
I'VE feel that the time has come in
the history nf oft yuba e1,o,