The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-05
LETTERS TO EDITOR
BIRMINGHAM's SCHOOL MONEY

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 splendid Birmingham woman in letter published in Birmingham paper May makes the following plea for bonds "We are living III the twentieth century, and our southland is coming into her own," and that should not follow our motto, "Here we rest, and allow schools and library to lag behind, in the eighteenth ox-cart century," She says fur ther "Boston, Mass, is called the center of cul- ture for the United States because she has had a vision for years that education is an invest ment. In 1921 she invested for the building, maintenance and equipment of her schoolis S8. 03 out of every $1 1000 of taxable prop erty."
 Has this good woman forgotten that the eighteenth or ox-cart century gave the United States such brilliant men as John Hancock, Richard Henry Lee, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Wash ington, Patrick Henry and others? Thank God for the ox-cart days, madam, and pray that God may some day raise up another Patrick Henry, who will lead the people back to the American Declaration of Independence and the consti- tuition of the ox-cart century.
 In her praise for Boston, the seat of culture, etc, this good lady, like many others, over-
 
 "Here we rest" has Boston showed away down to second place and panting for breath. If they will only investigate they will learn that in 1921 the city of Birmingham, on tax valua- tion of $1S2,0 ,995, gave to the maintenance and equipment of her public schools Or. Glenns schools) as follows (see 1921 financial report)
 Maintenance of schools. .... $1,S1s, ,67o.e4 Interest on school bonds ..... 160,905.00
 Total $1 ,474,b75
 Do the good women know that this is over $11 out of every S1,0o0 of taxable property in Birmingham as compared to $8. 03 in cultured Boston, or over $3 per $1,000 in Birmingham's favor? And in addition we gave $3,000,000 in school bonds, $1 ,o00, ,000 of which our board of education and city commission has never sold and no effort made to relieve the conges- tion in our schools with this extra million idle and available?
 Don't you think that it's tirne~to say "Here we rest" until cultured Boston catches up within haing distance of uncutured Birming- ham? Do the good women know that in 1921 Birmingham schools cost about $50,000 more than our health department, sanitary depart ment, garbage, sewers, street cleaning, street lighting repairs and maintenance of paved and unpaved streets bridges, police department, fire department and public library all combined, and this does not include $3,00o,00o bond money? Some food for thought in above. (See city's 1921 published report.)
 The trouble in our good city is the real truth is kept from the people, carefully pre- pared propaganda is kept before the eyes of tender-hearted women and uninformed men.
 In the ox-cart century soap box orators like Patrick Henry and John Adams told the peo- pie the truth and the United States of America was born and the Declaration of Independence was written. Oh for the spirit of the ox-cart century!
 If Christ were preaching on our streets today from His great text, "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free," some editor would yell, sSoap box orator;''
 Four hundred thousand dollars per year interest on $S,000,000 school bonds for 30 years is 12,0O0,000 interest alone, and at the end of that time we will still owe the $s,oOO-- GOO!
 Why not save this money, which can be done by requiring our city commission and board of education to build at least one schohouse each year out of our tax money and stop this waste of public funds.
 Take down the signs "Owned in New York; Very respectfully, JAMES R. TINDAL.
 Birmingham, May 4, 1922.