The age-herald., 1901-07-28

nue, thence along Seventh avenue to Fourteenth street, thence along Fourr teenth street to Ninth avenue, thence in westerly direction to Pratt City and Ems Yley.
 Bessemer: and Birmingham Railroad, commencing at Third avenue, at the Western corporate limits of said city, thence on Third avenue to Eleventh street, thence along Elevspth street, thence to fourth avenue. and on Fourth avenue to Nineteenth street, with the right to run on Nineteenth street to ito Second avenue
 Birmingham Union Railway Lines, to-; wit:
 Avondale and Avenue F line, East Lake line, Avondale and Elyton line, Green line, Third Avenue line, North and South Highlands line, Behrens' Park and ware's Grove line.
 These formed the Birmingham Railway and Electric Company. s
 The Birmingham Traction Company.
 The franchises of the East Birmingham Land Company, East Birmingham Land and Railroad Company and the Birming- ham and Gate City Street Railway Com formerly belonging to the East Birming- ham Land Company and the Birmingham and Gate City Street Railway Company were the rights and priyileges which formed the foundation of this corpora tion's rights and franchises. These rights were acquired by George H. Clarke, Alex T. London and John London, by deed dated August 24 1897.
 The Birmingham Traction Company consolidated with the North Birmingham Street Railroad Company August 1, $1Sss, the consolidation keeping the Birrning- ham Traction Company's name. The last consolidation in which this company was interested was when 1t e6nholidated. with the Birmingham Railway Light and Power Company, and the Birmingham, Powderly and Bessemer Railway Com pany, by contract November 5, 1900.
 sundry Charters
 were granted individuals and corpora tions from time to time by the city for new street railroad lines Some may have wanted to build, but it was quietly hinted that in some instances the specu- lative spirit prevailed and charters Ind maps only were contemplated bysthe projectors, and these were the trading commodities. Whether or not thisF be true not all of the chartered lines were built and those which were and which withstood the days of depression Under corporate and court management are this day safely welded together and aI- together form the greatest network of street railroads south of the Potomac and Ohio rivers.
 Comparisons are odious and it would not be good taste to venture here an opinion as to whom the greater credit should go for Birmingham's great street car system of today. Enough to say 1t required men of courage foresight and indomitable will to begin the work and thus make possible this achievement.Yet the means and energies at first displayed may not have been inexhaustib1e: and new life. new money,Eaud new blood, so to sppeak, must needs take hold and carry on the work so auspiciously. be- gun. @s
 For some years there was an apparent struggle for mastery by the then ssev- eral competing lines in our city Month after month the city authorities were applied to for franchises and rights of way for new lines and extensions of the established Mnes and some bitter con tests resulted between the competitors. Injunction suits were instituted and the court records were often burdened with this class of business until September 9th, of last year, when all the rights and franchises of the last remaining com petitor, the Birmingham Traction com pany, consolidated with the present com pany and on the 9th day of November last, the day on which Mckinley was elected to the presidency. the Birning- ham Railway, Light and Power com pany became sole owner and operator of the entire street car system of Birming- ham and vicinity.
 This street railway system now gives regular employment to fs men, and has an immense pay roll. Besides these. the force of men for maintenance and con struction is very large. s&
 The present officials are Robert Jeni- son. president; J. B. McClary, general manager; and J. P. Ross, secretary and treasurer.
 President Jemfson has been officially end financially identified with the street railway system for more than fifteen years, and Mir. J. B. McClary has occu- pied a prominent position with same for fourteen years. Any reference to the splendid executive ability. the liberal management. the broad administration. and the business accumen and indorni- table energy of these two men would be supernuous. The result of their labors is seen to-day in the greatness of our street railway system, spreading as network throughout our magnificent oity. and extending its lines toward every point of the compass FA
 Eighty-five miles of trackage, one hundred and sixty-ive cars and eight locomotives This Is the picture the system presents to-day and this the story briefly told
 From slow mule cars over light rail track to steam motors over a somewhat heavier weight from steam motors with annoying smoke and dust-ratsing rattle to splendid electric cars, modern in con struction, neat in appearance, comforta- ble within. This is the transformaftcn from weakness to strength.
 From single-track line in an unde- -a~~ xJ-