The age-herald., 1899-08-19
To Investigate the Twentieth Street
 Death Trap AND DEVISE MEANS0F RELIEF It Should be Composed Entirely Oi Impartial Citizens. THE ENTIRE CITY IS AROUSED
 / Every One, Together With Street Rail- way Company and the Railroads, Favors Mayors Plan-Coun-
 cil Discusses Matter
THE ENTIRE CITY IS AROUSED

The entire city is aroused on the subject
 of remedying the Twentieth street cross
 ing. That it is veritable death-trap is
 agreed upon by every one and 1t is the
 unanimous sentiment of the citizens of Bir-
 mingham. including the railroad companies,
 the street railroad company and city off,
 cials that some remedy should be devised.
 Mayor Drennen and the members of the
 board of aldermen are in favor of taking
 immediate steps towards building tun-
 mel or viaduct. or making some other ar
 engagement by which the danger to life at
 this crossing can be avoided.
 Something should be done and done at
 once, said Mayor Drennen yesterday. T
 believe that whatever is done should be
 done for the best interest of all concerned.
 1 believe the best plan of settling the mat
 ter would be the appointment of commits
 sion, composed of seven or nine prominent
 citizens of Birmingham, who arc properly
 holders and interested in the city, to de-
 wise ways and means for remedy. This
 commission should be aoffrded every fa-
 cility by the city, the railroads, and the
 street railroads for a proper investigation,
 in order that they may report thoroughly
 and concisely upon remedy. l believe
 that a commission can be appointed of citi-
 zens of Birmingham who would devise
 proper means for remedying the existing
 evil which would be satisfactory to all in-
 terested."
 Mayor Drennen further stated that If a commission were agreed upon, the city en- gneer would make every possible investi- gation suggested and would make esti- mates of the costs of the various plans that might be devised.
 Talks With the Citizens Age-Herald reporters talked with num- bers of prominent citizens in regard to the matter yesterday afternoon. Without single exception, everyone agreed that Mayor Drennens suggestion of 0 con- mission was good. majority of them ] thought that a tunnel should be built | under the Twentieth street tracks to &C., | commodate the street cars and traffic gen. orally.
 Dr. F. D. Nabers said he thought the suggestion of City Engineer Kendrick in yesterdays Age-Herald was an excellent one. A tunnel or viaduct should be built at | once. He believed that the city could we'll afford to appropriate s5O,000 toward the expense, and he had no doubt but that the railroads and street railroads would do | their part. He believed that something | should be done at once and he believed | that all parties are equally interested, and | if commission were appointed they would act in concert.
 When seen by an Age-Herald reporter, | Robert Jemison, vice-president and gen. l eral manager of the Birmingham Railway l and Electric company said that he was l highly in favor of Mayor Drennen's sug- | gestion, and that the Birmingham Railway | and Electric company would do it's part | toward remedying the existing evil. | H. c. Abbott and, indeed. nearly all of | the Twentieh street merchants-espeeially | those who live on the Southside-express | themselves strongly in favor of Mayor
 Drennens proposed commission. They be- | lieve that the appointment of such com
 mission would bring about action in the | very near future.
 l Railroads Will Do Their Part 1 Several of the officials of the railroad; | centering in Birmingham expressed tht | opinion that their companies would be glad to do their part in providing a remedy for | this dangerous crossing. Unfortunately l for Birmingham, none of the general of. 1 fees of the railroads centerng here are in l Birmingham, and therefore there are nc | officials of any of the railroads here who l can speak with authority. But those in l command here have already taken up the | matter to the headquarters of their re- l. spective systems, and they believe that the | chief officers of the different roads will | thoroughly unite with the citizens and the | public officials of Birmingham. The rail- l road officials here thoroughly realize that l there Is great danger of serious accidents