The age-herald., 1898-07-31
Is Equippins Two of the Best Roads
 In the South.
FAST TIME AND TRANSFER CHECKS
East Birmingham Line Runs Through Rich Industrial District-North Bir- mingham Park to be Improved
 The Company's Officials.

| company. An examination of the work that it has done will convince even the most skeptical of the truth of this asser- ton.
 The company was organized only on the 18th of last August, just eleven months ago, it having bought the old East Bir- mingham dummy line as ] basis of opera tions.
 This line which had been built back in the boom days of S6 and 'S7 had never been success. A part of the track be- yond East Birmingham was built through an entirely unpopulated district; the road bed was poor, being constructed of the old style dummy rail of a very light weight; and besides, the rolling stock of the road was very unattractive.
 For these and other reasons, the line had never proved a success, and twice in its history it was forced to suspend opera tions entirely.
 The New East Birmingham Line
 This was what the Traction company | had on it's hands when it began operations, l but it never faltered. In the first place, | it was decided that a new route should I be chosen for the road after it left East l Birmingham. Instead, therefore, of rum | ming their line all the way around Wood | lawn, as the dummy line did, short cut | was taken and the road laid out through | the very heart of the business and resi- l dence portion of Woodlawn and from | thence on to Gate City.
 In the next place, it was decided that an | entirely new road-bed must be laid. To l make good time and to give good service, | a steady road-bed must be had. Accord | ingly, new ties were obtained and on these | were spiked 60-pound steel rails, the heavi- l est for a street railway in the district, and 1 as heavy as any in the south. In fact 1t l is a regular railroad track. The riding l over these rails is ''as smooth as glass; l Such road-bed as this naturally called l for the very best rolling stock, and that's | what the company obtained The St. Louis Car company has manufactured for I it the seven handsomest electric cars ever | seen in Birmingham, as the public will l readily testify. They have comfortable | seats, electric bells to be used by the pas senger in notifying the conductor when he wishes to alight; Pullman car window curtains instead of the customary jim movable window shutters. In fact, the cars are provided with all of the latest inn provements known to the carbuilders.
 Of course it had been decided at the out set to equip the road with electricity. Dummy lines are now entirely out of date in this city. This work was done by the Electrical Installation company, of Chica- go.
 A .sBirmingham" Power House
 The power house of the road at East Birmingham is as far as possible construct ed of Birmingham material, and by Bir- mingham firms. Its four large boilers were built by the Birmingham Boiler Works out of steel made at the Birmingham Roll ing mill. Its engines were made at the Birmingham Machine and Foundry com pany, entirely from Birmingham iron The dynamos only were the works of foreign firms. They were made by the General Electric company of Schenectady, N. Y.
 The road was opened to the public on Thursday, July 21, by an elaborate sstrolley party" given to hundred or more of the company's guests, and the beautiful coun- try through which the road runs was open ed up to the world practically for the first l Ilme. lHe regular StiCQutC ol thS iooo was put on the next day
 A Faster Schedule Still
 Not satisfied with the fast time they are already making, the company is pre- pairing to cut their schedule between Bir- mingham and Woodlawn by several min utes in order to beat the time of any and all competing lines running between these two points. This fast schedule has not been put on yet, because the motormen were not thoroughly familiar with the road But this difficulty is rapidly being overcome, and the Birmingham Traction company will soon have in operation the fastest schedule in the district.
 Industries on Their Line
 This line which is 7.49 miles long, runs through a district that is rapidly develop ling into one of great industrial wealth.
 After leaving the city it passes the new cotton compress now being erected by the Birmingham Compress company, at Thrift eth street, and other industries, which are situated around it. Further on, only a few yards from the company's power house. is the big plant of the Northing- -Munger-Pratt Gin company. one of the largest concerns of the kind in the south
 At East Birmingham are also situated the Birmingham Machine and Foundry company, the Jefferson County Cotton Oil mill the East Birmingham Iron Roofing and Corrugating company, the Birming- ham Fertilizer company, and numerous other industries.
 Woodlawn is one of the most desirable residence suburbs of Birmingham, as it has quick transportation to the city, cool and delightful climate and other ad- vantages.
 Gate City at the end of the line is a thriving little manufacturing and indus trial city. Situated there is the Alabama Rolling mill, now in successful operation l and other manufacturing industries The