The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-23

/ BOARD, WHO APPEARED BEL
drick explained that the bridge could be
raised about six feet or the tracks de-
pressed Mr.. Barr stated That he would
be perfectly willing to have the tracks
located under the supervision of the city
engineer. clause to this effect was then
inserted In the ordinance. clause was
also inserted providing that the railroad
should pave between its tracks. This
clause was copied from section 81 of the
city charter which has this requirement.
The ordinance was also amended 30 as
to require the road to begin work within
six months from the date of the signing
of the contract and requiring 1t to be COM
pleted to the county limits within two
years, provided that time lost by strikes
or other causes was not to be counted.
The committee then discussed the num-
Der OF tracks which would be placed in
the streets. Mr.. Barr stated that his
road would probably put three or more
tracks on Avenue A between Twenty
fourth and Thirty-second streets. but
only two tracks west of Twentyfourth
street. He also stated that his company
expected to own all the property on both
sides of Avenue A, between Twenty
fourth and Thirty-second street so that
no one would object to the number of
tracks.
Provisions as to spur tracks were in
serted In the ordinance. These allowed
the company to run a spur track from
any part of its line on Avenue A to any
contiguous property on that street 1t
might own, and also on Avenue from
Thirteenth street west to the city limits.
The company was also authorized to
cross streets between any two or more
solid blocks owned by them.
FIXING THE CHARGE.
Everything being agreed on by this time
Colonel Altman said that 1t only remained
to fix the charge per block.
Alderman Jones moved that the judi
ciary and street railway committees re-
port the ordinance as 1t stood favorably
to the next meeting of the city council
with a provision that the company pay
to the city 800 for each block where 1t
placed two tracks and 800 for each block
which had more than two tracks.
Alderman Altman said that 800 a block
was not enough. He did not want to stand
In the way of granting the franchise, but
there ought to be a difference in price be-
tween Avenue A and other streets. He
moved to amend by inserting $500 a block
on Avenue A from Twenty-fourth street
TO Sixteenth street. This motion met
with no second and Alderman Altman
then moved to fix the amount at $500 a
block This was seconded by Alderman
Wheeler
Alderman Jones opposed this. He said:
I'm opposition to this motion. desire
to say this, that for the first time in the
history Of the city in the past 16 years
that 1 have been here, Birmingham has
the opportunity handed 1t for competi-
tive line to the east. My old town of
Nashville within the past year has voted
one million dollars for railroad that is
not as big as this.
ut has always been the custom for the
board of aldermen TO charge 500 a block
for any railroad. This is the only admin
istration that ever got a cent for any
franchise. l will say that IL this charge
of 500 was not rule of this board, I
would be willing for the Seaboard Air
Line to come In for nothing, and If neces-
sary to pay them to come in. This rail-
road will affect Birmingham for the next
100 years. If the steel trust wanted to
they could prohibit the shipment of
pound of steel or iron from this district.
I move that Colonel Altman's amendment
be tabled.
WOULD BE A MISTAKE.
Mayor Drennen said in reply to Alder
man Altman that he thought 1t would be
a mistake to raise the price, as they had
given this year more valuable franchises
at that price
Alderman Altman said: