The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-06
McLendon Says MN Leuy
 WEI Retire School Bonds
President of Commission Replies to Junior Question naire Incorporating Expenditures of Harrison's De-
 pertinent for Parks and Fairgrounds

Payment of interest and sinking fund on the s7,0oo.o 900 proposed city bonds, if issued, can amply be made with the present levy of mills and the additional l F mills asked for in the bond issue, according to a state ment made by D. F. McLendon. pres ident of the city commission. yester- day in reply to the questionnaire sent out recently by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
 The answer was completed by Com missioner McLendon yesterday aft ernoon at 1 o'clock and mailed to Charles M. Allen, president of the Junior chamber. His answer was ac- companied by statement from ". l.. Harrison to the junior chamber in re- gard to city parks and playgrounds involved in the bond issue.
 In the statement of Commissioner Harrison a plan for Improvements in the parks and playgrounds to the amount of s3S0,o00 is announced The Green Springs park would secure SlOo,000 in improvements and several proposed park sites would be pur- chased in different sections Of Great CT Birmingham should the issue carry. 1t was announced in the statement
 Last of Replies
 Answers of the board of education and library board, which were made public three days ago, were incor- porated In the answer of the commis- sion president. Plans for the com pletien of the three high schools of the city and several new lementary schools. as well al additions to pres ent schools are outlined in McLen- aon's answer while the plans of the hnrary board showing where the money if voted will be used, are also outlined in detail.
 ' The answers sent to the junior chamber were accompanied by a let ter form McLendon, stating that he hoped the information was as they desired.
 The following are the questions Here's Interest Plan Q. How does the city propose to pay the interest and sinking fund on shoo0.0o0 worth of bonds? What rate Of interest will these bonds hearp
 A. Our present levy for interest and sinking fund is mills. This. supplemented by the additional levy or F mills as now requested. will amply provide for payment of in- , terest on our present bonded indebt- euhess together with the s7,00o GOO contemplated. This levy of SIS mills Will provide fully for the retirement at maturity of bonds at present ont standing; also the s7o0o,o00 contem- plated. ''' ei''- The s7,00o,0o0 will bear per cent interest, as provided for in legal puh- , ncauon for election for purpose of voting these bonds.
 S435,000 From Lew
 How much does the city est,- mate wlli be raised by the additional tax of three mi1ls2
 A on oasis of our present assess ment, S1f5. 5.000.0o0. the three-n, lay,, Will produce the first year sasE ma rms amount will be materially tn- creased from year to year as our assessment increases which Is very Haturai condition of all growing and prosperous cities like Birmipeham Anticipates Increase V. IT the city estimates that the taxable value of property will tn- crease In the future. then please give 'he percentage of such estimate.
 A. The tax assessment of 1911 wac i,ooo,0o0. For 1921 s140.o0o 000 or an increase of 97 per cent or an aver age or approximately $7,0o0. GOO her wear. In approximating the probable revenue to be derived for the next 3o years from levy of 6Ia mills for interest and sinking fund we have used the more conservative estimate based on an average increase Of , S'ooV'ooo in our assessment each year. This would then give us an assessment in 1852 of s35s. GOO. 900 whlch IS little less than 2lz times our present assessment and when considered ba ipbf experience as well as that of other cities, We believe that s7,O00. 900 an hual lncreaes is very conservative If , we were to take the percentage of population gained from 1920 over 1910, our assessed value at the end of 30 years would be, (based on our present assessment) about s45O.o 900. : ooo insead of s34S.000.000 above mem toned.
 Constitutional Limit O. If your constitutional tax limit is reached after the ,evy of the pro- posed additional three e-mill tax how IS 1t contemplated to raise money for interest charges on any new bonds that may have to be issued for emergencies. such as fire stations and deficits?
 A. The 61z mill levy for interest and sinking fund for the payment of interest on any further reasonable amount of bonds that may become necessary to be issued for other civic purposes. All of this in addition to taking care of the obligations men tioned in question 1.
 Q. What provision is made for liquidating the present outstanding indebtedness of the city?
 A. As before stated in question l. The 6iz mill levy will amply take care of same
 Park Improvements
 e. What is the estimated cost Of the construction and maintenance of the proposed golf links, and by whom were these estimates prepared?
 A. By A. J. Hawkins. city engi- neer and Hartley Andrews. landscape engineer and gardener. Estimated at s75.000.
 l c. Will additional lands have to be purchased for parks and playgrounds or will lands already owned by the city be improved for this purpose? If lands will have to be purchased what is the estimated amount needed h for this purpose?
 A. We propose to develop as far as possible lands that we own and if necessary purchase other sites.
 Auditorium Site
 Q.-What is to be done with the present auditorium site? Have new auditorium plans been drawn for building to cost some s900, 0e0? How many persons will such building seat. and what features vii it con tain?
 | A.-The present auditorium site was purchased under condemnation | proceedings and we now have a test