The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-16
s348,000 YET
 DUE ! N OLD COURTHOUSE
Board Of Revenue Was
 Carrying S20O,OOO Loan
 When Entire Block Facing
 Capitol Park Was Purchased FIGURES SHOW COST OF MOVING TO NEW SITE Only Such Amount As Received Above S529,OO0 For Old Structure Can Be Applied To Constructing New Building

Now that the majority on the coun- ty board of revenue has definitely decided to proceed with the erection of a new court house without sub hitting the question of removal to voters for their views and to sell the present court house at price to be named by an appraisal committee of the Real Estate Board, some facts in connection with the county's indebt- edness may prove Illuminating to Jef- ferson citizens.
 The October statement of the couu- ty treasurer showed that the county's total indebtedness on bonds, interest bearing road warrants and tempo rary loan was $6.470,45S.56. This IS divided as follows:
 Bonded indebtedness ..s5.112 900. 60 Interest bearing road
 warrants ...'..''...... l,loS.4oS. 56 Temporary loan ......... 200.000.0O
 The statement shows that Jeffer- son still owes Ssts.0O0 on the present court house, which is represented by bonds, due in 1887, held by the Na- tional Park bank in New York, and S19s,000 of 51a per cent court house and jail refundinE bonds, due in 1S49, held by the First National bank of New York.
 O
 Big Road Issses.
 There are sloo,0o0' of fl per cent bonds on Hiliman hospital due in 1863. which are held by the Chase National bank of New York. The road bonds outstanding are the largest single Item. There is re- funding issue of $50, ,00o in per cents held by the First National bank of New York, but the big total is that represented by the bond issues au- thorized by the people February Is. ls2o. and January 30, 1929. Under authority of the latter election s. 100000 have been issued, s2,00O, ,0Oo at per cent and s1,000,000 at per cent, all held by the Central Trust company of New York. As a result of the 1s20 election s1.1S3ooo 5 per cent bonds are still outstanding, due from 1924 to 1883, also held by the Central Union Trust company.
 Hsrkins backward, there are stilt outstanding s451,0oO of A per cent sanitary sewer bonds, all due in 1881 and issued in 1901, 1902 and 1903, held by the Hanover National bank of New York.
 The board of revenue has paid or agreed to pay nearly 32oo.0o0 for the capitol park property which 1t is proposed to use as site for a new
  CTS statement shows that the board already has temporary outstanding loan of ssoo, 900.
 Estimates Of Cost Vary.
 Estimates vary as to the cost of a new court house but the lowest fig ure given by members of the board for an adequate building, whether located on Capitol park or on ths present site is $1.500,000 There has also been considerable difference of opinion as to the amount that could be realized by the sale of the pres ent court house. The estimates run all the way iron. half million to < million or more dollars. It is to be borne in mind, however, that what ever is received will not be net be- cause of the ss4s,OOo of bonds out s.anding against 1t. The property on Capitol park cost the county approxi- mately s1S1, 900 which is s15,0eo more than the board contemplated when the deal was made.
 Should the obard of revenue decide later to submit tho issue to the electorate the voters would have to decide three things:
 First. shall tho county have | new court house?
 Second, If favorable, shall it be the present site, or moved to Capitol park?
 Third, do the people favor issuing necessary bonds?
 Most people of the county seem to want a new court house because they realize the inadeqtacy of the pres ent building.
 o O O
 Cost Of Removal
 The question of site brings out some interesting figures. The arEu- H.ent is used by those favorinE re- moval that enough money can be se- cured for the preesnt structure to
 (Continued on Last Paxe)