The age-herald., 1899-03-31
THE COLUMBIAN
 EQUIPMENT co
Will Get Decision in Highland
 Ave. 6 Belt R. R. Case.
DECREE NOT YET ENTERED
Judge Bruce Made Announcement of His Decision Yesterday-Appeal Will be Taken-Doings on
 the Days Session.

An important announcement was made in the United States court yesterday in the case of the Columbian Equipment Company vs. the Highland Avenue and Belt Railroad Company, which leaves the affairs of the latter company in the same unsettled con past few years. Judge Bruce, who has had the case under advisement for several months. announced that he would render his decision in favor of the plaintiff.
 A formal decree was not entered, but as soon as this is done an appeal will be taken to the United States court of ap- peals.
 The date of the litigation in this case dates back to 1894. when the Columb an Equipment Company secured an option on the property of the Highland Avenue and Belt Railroad Company for sS50,0O0 and entered into contract to operate the road for eighteen months, paying sso,OO cash to be credited on the purchase price. Dur ing the period of the option the Equipment Company expended $S5.0oo on improvements, and on the day before the option expired had the property thrown into the hands of Ii. l.. Underwood as recover.
 neAr4 by Consent
 The matter was heard by consent before Juoge Faraee of tho court of appeals, who ulsInissed the receiver. Inc equipment company then filed suit against tic railroad company for s65O00 to cover the amounts paid on the pun chase money and expended on Improvements.
 The property reverted back to the High land Avenue and Belt Company who con t1nued to operate it until the latter part of 1897, when the Columbian Equipment Company amended It's Diii and tho road was asa.n thrown into the hands of d re- ceIYer. Pnll Campbell, Of SneIneld, gen eral manager oI the Birmingham, Snef- fed and Ionnessee River rauIoad was appointed receiver, Who in turn appointed A. Latady, the well-known attorney, his local representative, Who assumed control of ana mas operated the road up to the present time.
 The Highland Avenue and Belt rail- oad was DuiT by the Elyton Land company. and was the first steaIa dummy Ane Ill ,he city. 1t was built especially to furnish transportation to Lakev.ew, Mh.ch became a popular outing place, aiso opelated by the Elyton Land company.
 A Ureat Revenue Producer
 The road is said to have pad for itself the first eighteen months of it's operation, and was afterwards transferred to tile highland Avenue and Belt Railroad com pany, a separate corporation made up of the stockholders of the Elyton Land com- pany. The Belt line, which extends around the entire city, connecting With all roaas epcering the city, was built several years later, but did not prove as successful as was anticipated.
 The case has been to the court of appeals several times, and the complicated ntiga- tion which has resulted has prevented any possible improvements being made. It has been rumored that as soon as the case was settled the road would be converted into an electric line, thoroughly equipped with up-to-date cars and appliances.
 Receivers ert.. 0 .tts
 In the case of George II. Courson ct al. vs. the Gadsden Water Works company, a decree was rendered authorizing the re- ceiver, William G. Brockway, to issue two additional receivers certificates for $1, 900 each, which will stand as a prior lien