The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-12
Grand Jury Scores City Officials
 In Charge of Streets and Roads

lncOmpetency and Neglect
 Responsible for Bad Con-
 ditiOn of the Streets Is
 Charged = Money for
 Street Work Spent Inju-
 diciously, Is Stated-In-
 stitutions and Officials of
 County Praised.
 In a lengthy report submitted to Judge w. E. Fort the grand jury for the January term gave seething denunciation of the condition of the streets of Bir- mingham, and declared the condition was due to the neg feet and incompetency of those in charge.
 The grand jury condemned the sale of street equipment and states that if the money spent by the city on streets had been judiciously expended the streets would have been in fairly good condition.
 The various county institutions in vestigated by the grand jury are de- clared to be in good condition and the several county offices efficiently con- ducted. Solicitor Joseph R. Tate is commended for the manner in which the duties and work of his office are expedited and attending officers given praise.
 The report was made yesterday aft ernoon and is as follows:
 Hon. William E. Fort. Judge, Circuit Court of Tenth Judicial Circuit, Grim inal Division.
 We, the grand jury impaneled by your honor on the 9th day of January, 1920, for the January term, 1920, beg leave to submit the following report of our work We have been in session thirteen days, during which time we have examined ySS witnesses, returned 234 true bills, found twenty-six no bills. and Iassed four cases for investigation by the succeeding grand ljury.
 COUNTY JAIL
 We visited the county jail in body, and found it to be in first-class condi- tion, we'll kept, and clean and sanitary We received no complaint from any in- mate as to i'll Urea tment. bad conditions. or other things which prisoners would De likely to complain of. Those questioned emphasized their good treatment their appreciation thereof, and stated that they were served plenty Of substantial anu well-prepared foods.
 BOYS INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL | We visited the Boys Industrial School and found this institution being kept in as good condition as possible under the texisting circumstances. We were advised I by MT Weekly in charge, that the school would soon receive an appropriation rom ] the state, and that he hoped. with ths' to make considerable improvements We feel that this is a worthy institution ana deserves the loyal support of the public. OFFICES OF JUDGE OF PROBATE,
 TAX COLLECTOR AND
 COUNTY TREASURER l We visited the offices of the judge or probate, tax collector and county treas urer. We found each of these offices to l officials endeavoring to render efficient service to the public We found the rec ords therein well kept and systematized.
 COUNTY FARM | We visited the county farm in 2 i,cdy and found 1t well taken care of hy MT. sam Elliott. superintendent. COUNTY ALMSHOUSE
 We visited the county almshouse in a body. and found is well kept. but that new buildings are very much needed. Under the excellent manage nent of NIT. Ben Sims. snperintend- ent. all necessary supplies are fur nished for the maintenance of the in stitution. leaving a surplus of agricul-
 tural products of approximately $5,o0c in value which sum is turned over to
 HILLMAN HOSPITAL
 We also visited the Hillman hospital in a body We find that more nurse, iere needed. and would recommend that Il that the necessary number of nurses may be obtained.
 POOL ROOMS
 l From the evidence that has beer heard bv US. we find that the poo ll rooms of the city are very hurtful tc the good morals of the city and would 1recommend their abolishment by the Al City aufcnrl'leS
 Ia STREETS AND ROADS 1 On account of so very many com Fl plaints reaching this body as to tho kcondition of the streets and roads, we ltset aside one day for the investiga- lion of the same. On the 9th day ol
 February we met and. in private cars went in a bodv oyer some of the streets in Birmineham. Pratt City Enslev. Vivian. West End. Avondale Woodlawn and East Lake. We mus saN that the streets in the suburbs arc | in an awfully bad condition. We found them full of holes. ditches, and 1T l. some cases. an impassable condition We found great deal of this trouble was caused by ditchss that had beer ,cut and excavations made by plumber. . land others and which had been left 1T : an improper and unsafe condition. W, ifound this condition to exist on some , of the paved streets of the city. From ! the testimony of witnesses. we learned lthat some of these ditches have bee, left in this condition from three t' 5 four weeks. We find that there hay. been numerous accidents caused b, :, these ditches. and we believe them tt
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