The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-25
Called Meeting Of City CGun-
Gil Held to Grant Rights
ALDERMEN WERE UNANIMOUS
Petition for Franchise Filed Last
Wednesday, the Committees Met
Thursday and Council Acts on
Saturday-Mr. Barr Pleased.

rights of way for entering Birmingham
The petition of the company was present
ed to the board Wednesday night and
final action was had within three days.
The aldermen had their minds made up
and 1t did not take them long to vote
Birmingham a new trunk line
Vice President and General Manager
Barr of the Seaboard will leave this morn
ing for his home in Portsmouth, Va. He
has spent the past ten days In Birmng-
ham and is greatly pleased at the treat
ment accorded him here. He said last
night:
al feel that the Mayor and Board of
Aldermen and the people of Birmine-
ham In general have treated the Sea-
board Air Line Railway Company most
generously. | expected fair treatment,
of course, but the promptness, unanim-
ity and enthusiasm with which the
board has acted on the company's Pc
tition for franchises exceeded my eH-
pectations. Speaking for our officials,
|
probation of what has been done and
the way in which 1t has been done.
And now hat our line Is about to en-
ter Birmingham | take pleasure in as
surinq this community of the COM
panys best endeavor to give good
service and to pursue broad and lib
eraI policy in handling traffic."
The special meeting of the council had
been called for Monday night, but the
mayor on. second thought decided that
a day had better be saved and, therefore,
had the call changed for Saturday night.
In no other large city, perhaps. did a
railroad company ever obtain its street
franchises without more or less opposi-
ton. Here there was practically no OPP
position from any source.
The ordinance IN favor of the Sea-
board Air Line was not rushed through
In the sense of undue haste. On the
contrary every detail was carefully con-
sidered and thoroughly understood and
the aldermen knew that the taxpayers
and citizens generally were eager lor the
Seaboard to come here and eager for the
petition Carefully Considered.
The committees on judiciary and street
railroads had gone over the petition and
discussed It fully at a joint meeting
Thursday night, and their recommenda-
ton for the adoption of the ordinance
covering all it's points was unanimous.
The quick action of the board, then, but
emphasized the sentiment of the public in
this important enterprise
The meeting last night was we'll at
tended, there being only three absentees
Mr.. Gray, Mr.. Graham and Mr.. Kerr
who were unavoidably kept away. Mayor
Drennen wrapped for order few minutes
past o'clock and after stating the object
of the meeting the report of the joint
committee, recommending the passage OF
the amended ordinance with the under
standing that the said Birmingham and
Atlanta Air Line Railway Company pay
the treasurer of the city of Birmingham
800 per block for all city blocks asked
for in said franchise where there are no
more than two tracks laid and an addi-
tional 500 per block for each block where
there are more than two tracks,"
Motion to Grant Petition.
Alderman Thach read the amended or
dinance and then moved that the petition
be allowed. Alderman Jones seconded the
motion. Alderman Altman said he thought
a clause should be inserted authorizing
the Mayor to close up the contract. but
NJ ;,,f i'm hat
been provided for In the ordinance. Mr..
Thach's motion was adopted, the Mayor
and Aldermen Wheeler Linnehan, Ward,
Copeland, d. r.; Copeland, J. R.; Moore,
Gum, McNally, Altman, Thach Heidi,
Jones, Harrington and Stockmar. all who
were present, answering aye
Mr.. G. X. Harsh, attorney for the
Avondale steam laundry, located on Ave-
nue. A., under the Twenty-first street
bridge, arose and said that his client
like all the other people of Birmingham.
welcomed the Seaboard Air Line to Bir-
mingham; he protested against the road
building two tracks in front of the laun-
dry as these tracks would interfere with
free access to the entrance of the laun-
dry Alderman Jones explained that the
company had agreed to raise the bridge
and lay it's tracks-far enough to the side
of the avenue so as to prevent any incon-
venience to the laundry. After this ex-
pIanation Mr. Harsh did not press his
protest.
Alderman Jones then moved that the
rules be suspended and that the ordinance
be put on its second reading The motion
was adopted and upon its second reading
all the voters were ayes. Alderman Jones
moved that the rules be suspended and
that the ordinance be put on it's third
reading and Passage. The motion prevail
ing, all the votes on the third reading
and passage were ayes.
The meeting then adjourned, after a
session of less than three-quarters of an
hour.
All Were Pleased.
Mr.. ]. NJ. Barr, vice-president and gen.
eraI manager of the Seaboard Air Line