The age-herald., 1902-02-06

why the street railroad could not make it's loop on Twenty-second street. They had a track on Fourth avenue which they did not use.
 MT. Robert Jemison then stated that 1t was only recently that the street rail- road had enough money to put in such street car system as they thought Bir' mingham ought to have Street railroad experts who had been here thought this connection asked for should be put in so as to make the system of deliver ing perfect. Each man ought to be put off within block of his business
 We do not propose to take any cars from the west end of the town" he said. and I am frank to say I do not believe it will put one niclSle in the com pany's pockets but will cost it a good deal of money.
 ACT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
 We came to this board more than month ago and told you what we needed If you are going to give us these streets do so, if not, say so. We are delaying ordering our material waiting for this matter to be settled I think the Mayor and Board of Aldermen are as much interested in having the street railway system perfected as we are. Within three months we will have three lines to Ensley and I believe it
 will be the policy of the company to
 have five cent fare. With these three i! lines l don't believe any set of men with money will build a fourth. If they do I say God speed them 7" He referred to a petition now pend- ing with accompanying check for s25O0 asking for franchise on Twelfth ave nue, North. where there was not house. as a guarantee of the good faith of his company. They were going to issue trans fers on September l, so that man could go from East Lake to Powderly for five cents.
 MT. Adams in reply, said that if MT Jemison had bought iron for these tracks that his company would take if off his hands and pay him per cent commission for buying it. He said his company wanted to get into the ''deiv- cry district also, and he again urged the board not to act.
 Alderman McNally favored granting the petition of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power Company. He thought 1t to the interests of Birmingham and the merchants on Twenty-first street and the eastern part of the town.
 NOT TO PEOPLES INTEREST.
 Ex-Mayor J. A. VanHoose said he had never appeared before the board since he resigned, but he had watched the actions or the board with approval. But he wished to say most positively and em- phatically that in his opinion it was not to the. interest of the people to grant any further franchises to the present street railway without some modification Of their present contract, which allowed other companies to use their tracks for three blocks only. This ought to be n n nd fla Aldermen should fix the compensation to be paid.
 He did not think 1t to the interest of the city to block up any further the Twenty-first street bridge, which cost the city $S5,00O by laying tracks on Twen- ty-first street between First and Second avenues.
 He warned MT. Adams and others that he would oppose to the utmost any effort to lay tracks on this block (applause). He suggested that Twenty-second street where there was now a track be used for the loop and that the cars go down [ hird avenue instead of Second. He was applauded as he concluded.
 MT. William A. Walker said he had been connected with this monopoly for q long time, but 1t was not as attorney or director he wished to speak, but as a property holder. He referred to the time many years ago when he had put his money in street railroads at a time when MT. VanHoose did, but he (Van- Hoose) got out sooner and did not lose his money like himself. He owned build ing on Twenty-frst street and had worked for years to get the cars brought into this end of town, and he thought that the board, in the interest of these property holders, should allow this con- nection.
 It would not have any effect in making the Twent y-first street bridge unsafe. It was only fair, right and proper that the property holders in this part of town should have the benefit of these tracks. Go to any city and you will find that the business is done on the streets where the cars run. It improves the value of prop erty.
 MT VanEoose asked Mr. Walker if he as a director in the street railway com pany, would be willing to allow the City Council to fix the compensation for other companies using it's tracks if this peti- tion was granted
 MT. Walker said he had no authority to speak for the board; that he thought MT. VanHoose's position was taken to fatter the board. MT. VanHoose denied this and said he had not expected Mir Walker or MT. Jemison to answer this question. MOTION TO POSTPONE.
 Alderman Linnehan then renewed his motion to postpone action until next meeting. This motion was tabled. Alder man Kerr moved that the ordinance as reported be adopted. Alderman Heidt moved to strike out that part of the or dinance allowing a franchise on Twenty first street. Alderman McAnally moved to table the amendment. This motion was lost.
 Alderman Altman resigned the chair at this point to Alderman Heidt and moved to refer the whole matter with the peti- tion for a franchise on Twelfth avenue to the street railway and judiciary com mittees.
 Alderman Graham stated that the con- tractor for the paving on Twenty first street could not wait two weeks before beginning work between First and Sec ond avenues.
 Alderman Kerr favored immediate &C., tion, and Alderman Altman withdrew his motion.
 The motion to strike out Twenty first street was then put and resulted in a tie vote. Those who voted in favor of it were Aldermen Greener. Linnehan, Ward, Copeland, J. R., Graham, Hedt, Stock man. Those opposed Kerr, Copeland, D. R., Moore, McNally, Gum, Altman and Thach.
 A motion to adjourn the franchise mat ter to a special meeting to be held Friday night was adopted. The board then went into executive session.
 ORDINANCE INTRODUCED.