The age-herald., 1897-11-23
THERE MAY BE \ MEANING
Birmingham Traction Company
 Making Improvements.
.POSSIBLY A NEW RAILROAD
East and West Alabama Road Said To Be Dick erng For the Track-To Gain En-
 trance Into Birmingham.

The Birmingham Traction company, owners and operators of the Gate City dummy line, is making extensive im- provements on it's property.
 The work has given new life to the rumor of the East and West railroad se,l1ing an entrance into this city. This line now has no terminal points of van- tage.
 All of the old rails formerly used by the Gate City dummy line are being re- moved and replaced by new 60-pound stel rails. The latter are regulation railroad rails. The track is being repair ed and reballasted.
 One feature of the many Improvements which probably lends color to the rumor is on Eighth avenue about Twenty eighth street. Here the dummy line passes under the Southern railroad tracks. The former space was only suf- ficient for the passage of a dummy coach. The tracks have been still fur
 ther depressed, and now the highest freight or passenger car can pass under
 the tracks with ease.
 CHANGED TO AN ELECTRIC LINE. It is understood the Traction company contends that these improvements are
 b-irg made with a view of changing the present steam line into an electric line.
 It claims that the tracks under the
 Southern road were depressed in order to allow room for the trolley pole.
 On the other hand, it is said that these improvements are being made for the
 benefit of the East and West Alabama
 railroad. That line now extends from
 Gainesville, Ga., to Pell City, Ala. Pell City is on the Southern railroad, about thirty-eight miles from Birmingham.
 The East and West, to build as proposed,
 would reduce this by sixteen miles. c. P. Ball was at one time, receiver for the East and West road. He is now
 connected with it in another capacity. He was in Birmingham recently, but his visit is said to have had no special sig nificance.
 RECEIVERS CERTIFICATES.
 While receiver MT. Ball Is said to have
 issued about $50o, ,o0o in receivers cer-
 tificates. This money was used to inn
 prove the road and rolling stock and strengthen the Nine.
 G. H. Clark, one of the leading mem- bers of the Birmingham Traction com pany, came here from Cartersville. That is the headquarters of the East and West road. He is credited with being closely connected with the prime movers of that railroad.
 Alex London, of Birmingham, another leading member of the Traction com- pany, is said to be the attorney for the East and West road. He is a member of the law firm of London & London. This firm and MT. Clark are virtually owners of the Gate City dummy line Their close connection with the East and West railroad has given added in terest to the reported extension. Some years ago this railroad is known to have made an attempt to get into Birmingham. It was decided to come in through the gap near Gate City and Irondale. At that time 1t was thought that the company was after the Gate City dummy line.
 The East and West road is now in liti- gation in the chaneery courts. The | fight is among the bondholders to deter mine who owns the road. Over $400,00O is involved in the suit Part of the liti- gants, who are sure of gaining ultimate control, are alleged to be dickering for the Gate City road.
 At any rate, if the East and West road line, that road will be vastly improved and electric cars substituted for the present dummy trains.