The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-19
SQUABBLE BETWEEN
RAILWAY COMPANIES
Crossing at WoodIawn the Bone
of Contention.
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING
Laborers of the Traction Company Laid Rails
Across the Track of the East Lake
Line and Euchred the Elec-
trio Company.

An interesting squabble between the Bir-
mingham Railway and Electric company
and the Birmingham Traction company is
going on. The Traction company desired
to cross the electric company's track at
Church street, Woodlawn, but an injunc-
ton restraining them was obtained.
Guards were placed along the tracks Of
the East Lake line with instructions to
promptly notify headquarters If the trac-
ton company attempted any funny busi-
ness" One Cunningham, an ex-policeman,
was doing patrol duty in the early hours
of Sunday morning, but he was decoyed
while an army of laborers of the traction
company, under the command of G. M.
Williams stormed the redoubt and began
laying track to point about 100 yards be-
low Church street, while another deach-
ment put in a crossing with the electric
company's track.
The work was done in the night time, and
the electric company was not allowed an
mixing of the plan lest they obtain another
Injunction, and thus Illustrate the trac-
ton company's scheme. AS soon as the
work was completed. traction company
dummy assumed a position across the
electric company's track and would only
move in order that a car might pass.
This was kept up throughout the entire
day. As the last electric car came In last
night, trailer was dropped on the crossing
and the dummy was unable to get back on
the crossing. 1t stayed near by on sentinel
duty, however.
Attempted to Tear 1t Up
During the "wee sma'" hours Iyester-
day morning a force of hands employed
by the Birmingham Railway Electric COM
pany proceeded to Woodlawn with the in
tention of tearing up the crossing and thus
euchering the Traction company.
When the Electric company's forces hove
in sight, the dummy engineer pulled the
whistle and made the welkin ring with its
terrific blasts. At the signal the citizens
of Woodlawn began TO gather, and by the
time the company of laborers were pre-
pared to go to work at removing the cross
ing, the entire town was up in arms. The
laborers attempted to remove the trailer
from the crossing so that they might take
up the track, but the inhabitants seated
themselves on the rails and the car staid
in its position.
Inc pOpulaCS, neaded by the city O1HclalS,
stood true to the Traction company and
would not allow the crossing removed. One
young man began flourishing a revolver,
and the negro laborers took fright and fled
from the scene.
Obtained an Injunction
The Traction company was notified, and
early yesterday morning Fergus Mccarthy,
clerk of the circuit court, was aroused from
his slumbers and was carried to the resi-
dence of Judge Banks for the purpose OF
securing an injunction to prevent the Elec-
trio company from tearing up the cross
Ing. The injunction was obtained and
served on Superintendent McClary at $3.50
a. m.
1t will now require a lawsuit to remove
the crossing
The citizens of Woodlawn are in favor
of the Traction company, as their success
means composition between the two lines.