The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-24
TEN MILLIONS PER
YEAR IS NEEDED
FOR NEW HOUSING
Telephone Survey Shows Re-
suits Of Study Made OF
Birmingham District
CONTINUED From Page One)

city limits.
THE house count made in 1920.
which formed the basis Of our BUSH
ness study, showed population at
that time of 25s,3o0 in the study area
or $4,000 in the city limits. 1t
showed over $1,000 families in the
community. and in 20 years there
will be approximately $4,000 fam
lilies, of which $500 will be in the
area comprised in the city limits and
an additional $500 outside of those
limits but within the community
area. And, whereas. there are about
1000 business firms In the community
at present there will be approx
mately 1900 20 years hence.
These estimates Of future adj
tions made after careful considera-
ton Of all the data by men of ,ltng
experience In this kind Of work have
almost the accuracy Of a mathemati-
cal demonstration. The growth of
many cities in which the telephone
company operates has closely fol-
lowed its estimates. based on similar
studies made years age In these va
rious cities.
Elements Considered.
I'm arriving at these estimates of
growth in population a great many
elements are considered. Under the
head of the character Of the commu
nifty a study is made of the chief in
dustries Of the city; transportation
facilities, both rail and water; the
wealth Of the community, as we'll as
the industrial and commercial rela-
tiGns with the adjoining territories.
IN addition. data Is obtained as to
the character of the population, the
percentage OF foreign or mixed ma
tionalities; the amount OF illiteracy;
the schooling facilities. and all other
factors having bearing upon the
general growth and development.
What may be called the soul or spirit
of a community is most important In
determining Its future. A united. en-
ergetic and progressive civic spirit
is frequently worth more to city
than many material advantages
would be worth without such civic
spirit.
"Data was also obtained as to the
increase in population Of the city and
state for the past several decades
and the apparent causes for such in
crease. All of these various factors
and many others were considered in
with regard to Birmingham prtb-
able future growth.
These studiest Of cities are made
scientifically and seriously and
based on their result are forecast
needs of telephone service for the
population. The commercial surveys
form the basis for a construction
program involving estimates of large
expenditures for telephone buildings.
underground conduits, cables and all
those things which go to make up
operating telephone plant. This
does not mean that all the work I'M
der the plan Is done at one time, but
whenever it becomes necessary 10
10 construction work it Is done In
accordance with plans made from
these surveys"
In discussing the growth Of Bir-
n,ingham, Colonel Bare said that
comparison of this study with those
of former years showed that the
western portion of the community
grew at a much more rapid rate than
the eastern and central portions. this
being due to the desire of the opera
tives Of the steel and its associated
industries to assemble themselves
closer to their places of employment
where living conditions are good ana
avoid long rides on the street cars 10
and from their work.
Disqualification Forecast.
In forecasting the future growth
of Birmingham it was considered
that from all indications the Biz
mineham district Is destined TO pc
come an increasing factor In the
steel Industry. However" said Col.
Rare. "in order to reach it's proper
growth Birmingham must look to the
development of other industries. Not
onlv is this the history Of other iron
and steel industries. but the effect
is clearly shown in Birmin CHAM; ana
effort is being. and justly should De-
put forth to induce other manuiActuI
ing interests to the Birmingham dis
trict ,v.r
with one port on the Mulberry FOLK
at Cordova and another port on the
Locust Fork at Birmingport mas
given great Importance to the war
rior river traffic. Birminsport IS
about 30 miles from tns 81 MN rn ~
district and Is connected by Two sooo
hirhways and one railroad: Self
nropelied barges operate between
Wohiia and Cordoya and two barEes
to Rirmingport. This river traifc
Ia already becoming an item Of I'M
portance, and 1t Is autnoritativeiy
stated that Mobile has been made the
distributinx port for the Pacific coast
with inland traffic via Warrior river
snS n il reported that Atlanta. Chat
tanoora and Nashville merchants are
receivinr goods via the Warrior river.
Thi. traffic will doubtless have 2
strong Influence on tho growth OF
Birmingham and place 1t In q much
better position a. distributing
point"
In outlining Birmingham indus
trial growth Colonel Bare called spe-
cial attention to tho Importance OF
full construction program.
This and the industrial develop
ment were inter-dependent. he said.
$4,000 P.pul.tie. i. 1880.
In making the 1920 survey there
was found Z great lack Of dwellings
to house the people," he continued,
and thcre Ii no small Job confront
ing the citizens Of Birmingham to
house adequately people and business
firms II tho community 10 10 grow
to half million In twenty yeas
Based on our survey We estimste
that this study area Will contain
about $4,000 people In 1880. A not
unreasonable construction program
for housing tho business firms and
families that win como to BirminS-
ham will be approximately $1O,oVv,-
900 \ year for the next ten years. In
othsr words. to care for this in
cressed growth 1t will be necessary
to snend In construction program
lust about twice AZ much - the
average annual expenditure for inc
last ten years. This 10 mater OF
vital Interest to every business man
in BirminEham, and have no doubt
that the business interests Of the city
will take adequate measures 20 care
for this large increase In construc-
ton work" $1,000. =.
Other matters Of great interest," 70
the people Of Birmingham WhIcn ~1se
considered in the survey were the
estimated number and most advan-
taxeous location of school buildings
hospitals and other public buildings,
and also the location Of city parks