The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-01
MANY ACTIWTIESARE PLANNED FOR YEAR BYC|VICASSOCIATION
Committee Is Working on Measures That Look to the Meeting of Birmingham
 and District

The year just closed was the most sue cessful in the history of the Birmingham Civic association and extensive plans are being made by the association for the work to be done by this organization during 1919, according to c. L. Harold, secretary-manager.
 One of the first activities to be taken up this year by the association is the pasteurization of milk, which will in- volve the construction of one or more modern plants with the scientific machin- cry to pasteurize raw milk At least one such plant is under way at present and the people of Birmingham are assured they will have the opportunity before the winter is over of purchasing pure pasteurized milk in sufficient quantities for their needs, at no greater price than is paid for raw milk at present. The Civic association Is cooperating with the city and county health departments to bring about a general demand on the part of consumers for pasteurized milk to the end that such diseases as typhoid fever, tuberculosis and others may not be communicated through unpasteurized milk.
 FARMERS COMMITTEE
 The association is now creating a com mittee to be known as the farmers CO., operative committee to promote the growth of more fruit in Jefferson coun- ty, and to establish more cordial trade relations between farmers and the in- terests in Birmingham handling fruit and live stock products. To that end the first big conference on fruit growing will probably be held in Alabama and the association is arranging to cooper ate with the United States farm dem onstration agent, II. s. Brown, for the purpose of bringing the fruit growers and prospective fruit growers of Jefferson county into a convention with experts from the staff of the Alabama Polytech- mic institute at Auburn. This conven- tion will be held in Birmingham the lat ter part of January. As usual the Civic association will be host to the short courses of study for which the junior farmers are brought to Birmingham each sumner
 The association will speed up more than ever the activities which will protect the public against the misuse of franchises by utility companies now serving the city The committee on public utilities of which F. E. Butler is chairman which includes special legal counsel and en- gineers, is showing keen interest in the protection of the public as against poor service.
 RETURNING SOLDIERS
 Every aid will be given through spe- cial committees to important work of the United States employment agency to restore the returning soldiers to re- employment. Plans are to be worked out not only to assist the U. S, employment agency, but to offer active aid in secur-
 
 by soldiers.
 The industrial committee will continue at full speed it's work of putting Bir- mingham on basis with Pittsburg as basing point for steel prices. To this point the Civic association is strongly committed and for several months has been actively cooperating with the city of Duluth, which also claims the same privilege for that northwestern center.
 PUBLIC UTILITY PROBLEMS
 The association will also work towards the establishment of home rule for Bir- mingham by the enactment in the next legislature of a measure giving complete autonomy to handle the public utility problems in this city.
 Measures will be provided by which steps will be taken to reduce the auto speed menace and other public safety measures, enhancing the health, educa- tional and general cultural advantages of the city, which are the essential fac tors considered by prospective manufac- turers in locating plants here. The open forum as a permanent institution will be carried on by the Civic association as an educational medium and vehicle of democracy At least once month some distinguished speaker will be secured to address the forum.
 The association will continue to work with other organizations in the city in securing the great freight rate adjust ment by connecting the rail lines with the Warrior river barge operations, and in effectually adjusting race relations by removing all gross inequalities and dis criminations for mutual advantages of the races.
 WORK ACCOMPLISHED
 The above mentioned are few of the things planned by the Civic association for 1919, and judging from the work ac- complished by the association during 1918 this will be but small percent of mat ters undertaken during the present year.
 The Civic association was organized February IS, 1917, with 150 members, and although it has not yet celebrated it's second birthday there is now a mem bership of more than 2000 James Weath- erly was the first president and he was succeeded to that office by Judge w. E. Fort the incumbent.
 The rooms of the association are being repainted and number of repairs are under way which will greatly add to the appearance of the club rooms which in cude the three top floors of the Jef- ferson County Bank building.
 The Civic association is one of the most active civic organizations in Bir- mingham and is always ready to under