The age-herald., 1899-09-08
Mill Equip Its New Property With EleC-
 tFiCity at Once. GOOD SERVICE INSURED Details of Purchase Given Out By hF.
 Halls. PURCHASE PRICE IS NOT KNOWN Offer Was Made by the Majority Hold CTS to Purchase Holdings ofMinor- ity Stockholders Before Deal
 Was Consummated.
PURCHASE PRICE IS NOT KNOWN

The Birmingham Traction company has absorbed the Highland Avenue and Belt Line property, and takes immediate pos session.
 The line will be equipped with electric cars, and generally improved as soon as practicable.
 It will be remembered that several weeks ago the Highland Avenue and Belt Line under decree of the United States court E. T. Whitaker, of New York, being the purchaser al $176,Oe0. This sale was con firmed on Tuesday by United States Cir cult Judge Shelby.
 A week ago William Halls. cashier of the Hanover National bank of New York. and Mr. Whitaker came to Birmingham in the interest of MT. Whittaker's purchase. At the same time arrived Former Governor Thomas -. Jones, their attorney. Since that time these gentlemen have been at Eork night and day to straighten out all legal matters and the entire business of the transaction involved.
 On Wednesday the purchaser of the prop erty received the necessary deeds. Last night was completed all the work, and the Traction company is now in possession.
 Mir Halls leaves the city this morning on his return to New York. Last night he gave The Age-Herald an interview. sealing the foregoing information as a fact. At the outset MT. Halls stated that Mr. Whitaker, as was well known, had &C., quired all the property, rights and fran chises in the possession of and belonging to the Highland Avenue and Belt Railroad company in accordance with the decree of the United States circuit court, and his purchase of same al the sale.
 MT. Halls being already the largest stockholder in the Highland Avenue and Belt railroad. has been allotted by MT Whitaker an interest in the purchase, as a matter of fairness and propriety. As to the minority stockholders, of whom there are only a few, MT. Halls had offered to those gentlemen sometime ago the privilege, open to September 1st, for such minority stock holders to either sell their stock to him at a good price, or to join him and MT. Whitaker in the subsequent development of the property.
 The first step taken by these gentlemen has been the incorporation of the Bir- mingham Belt Railroad company, which was a necessary preliminary for the full apio of ha md of the Highland Avenue and Belt Railroad company. The Birmingham Traction com pany subsequently, acquires the Highland avenue division and the passenger equip ment of the Highland avenue line. The consideration for this is, of course, not given out, but is matter of bargain be- tween the parties to the contract.
 Will Put in Electricity.
 It is expected that this new acquisition of the Traction company will shortly be equipped with electricity, so that the bene- fits which have heretofore accrued to the residents along the line of the Birming- ham Traction company will now be shared in by the citizens whose homes are on the South Highlands, and along the other parts of the Highland avenue road. It Is expected that much more frequent and speedy service will be the result of this development, and with this there should come an increased attraction to that dis trict by those seeking homes in Birming- ham.
 MT. Halls attention was called to one of the statements in the decree, to the effect that one of the directors and in- other had acquired control of certain judgment against the company. with the