The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-08-24
Relief Promised at Twentieth Street
Crossing.
J. F. GRAHAM IS CHAIRMAN
Chairman OIL Each Of Council Commit
tee is Member.
MEETING AT AN EARLY DATE
When Citizens and Engineers Will Be
Heard From-Engineer Johns Has
New Plan for Pro-
tecting Life
MEETING AT AN EARLY DATE

The campaign of relief started by The
Age-EIerald for the thousands of pedes-
Twentieth street crossing daily has as
sumed a business-like shape. Yesterday
the following committee to investigate the
matter was appointed by Mayor Drennen:
J. F. GRAHAM. Chairman;
r. H. KERR,
]. ]. ALTMAN,
JOHN F. HARRINGTON,
]. T. LYNAGH.
GEO. B. WARD.
C. 7. RAINBOW.
C. C. HEIDI,
j. T. M'KNIGHT,
HARRY JONES.
J. NJ. MEIGHAN.
The following letter was sent by the
mayor to each of the gentlemen appoint
ed:
'It has been brought to the notice of
the city government as we'll as all citi-
: zens of Brmin CHAM that some action
should be taken to protect the lives OF
those who are daily forced to use the
. Twentieth street crossing. To facilitate
action on this matter 1t is necessary
that committee should be organized to
inaugurate a thorough investigation,
consider all plans of protection that
may be suggested and finally to formu-
late report emDodying the plan which
seems to guarantee safety to the pub
lie. 1t is for this reason that l APP
point you as member of such commit
tee. Mr.. Graham has been designated
as chairman of this committee, which
trust will hold a meeting at an early
date"
Alderman Graham is chairman of the
committee by virtue of his position as
chairman of the street committee. 1t Is
thought that he viii call meeting of the
body at once to effect an organization
should Hear from Everybody
Mayor Drennen's plan is for the commit
tee to have regular sittings, and summon
before it as many citizens as is deemed
necessary. The committee should first feel
the pulse of public sentiment. Citizens
from every portion of the city, as well as
those having property near the crossing.
should give the committee the benefit Of
their ideas as to the establishment of some
satisfactory safeguard.
1.-The committee" said Mayor Drennen'
should next hear from the engineers as
to plans they may have formulated for
tunneling under the railroads. going over
them, or any plan that is thought feasible.
From the many suggestions and drawings
that will be placed before them the COM
mittee can report some feasible scheme
back to the city council"
Mayor Drennens plan meets with FAVOR
among all persons directly interested in the
matter; that is the railroads. street car
company and those owners of the property
in the vicinity of the crossing.
The committee which has been appointed
includes the chairmen Of the various COM
mittees of the city council which plan the
mayor thought better than appointing an
outside commission, because of the fact
that the board of aldermen will in the end
have to deal with the matter.
Plan for Elevators
The latest plan to be offered for the pro-
lection of the crossing is fathered by l..
w. Johns, a well known mining engineer.
His plan provides that all street trafhc be
raised above the railroad, and this with q
very slight incline each way. The drawing
provides. for an elevated bridge. the cars
to be let down and up at each end by eie-
vators.. The elevators will be worked by
water balance, no steam engines or otner