The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-01-20
RAILROAD WORLD.

The Memphis Morning News of Sunday
says: The Memphis Birmingham line or
the Frisco system will get some extensive
improvements this year in the way of bet
terments to the roadbed. The Frisco has
undertaken to abolish all wooden trestles
on the line before 1t will be necessary to
again replace them. Where these trestles
are over small streams stone and con-
crete arch viaducts will be constructed,
leaving sufficient opening for the free
passage of water at all seasons, and the
remainder will be filled with earth. This
plan of Improvement was commenced late
In 1902 and two or three of the trestles
were thus abandoned This year num-
Der of the older trestles will be filled, and
next year the work will be continued I'M
til all the trestles have disappeared.
In addition to filling the trestles. about
fifty miles of the line will be relaid with
new eighty-pound steel, replacing lighter
weight steel now in use In the sixteen
months that the Frisco has operated this
line, since it has passed out of the hands
of the old Kansas City, Memphis and Biz
mingham Railroad company, great deal
of the track has been improved with
heavier steel The work in that line this
year is continuing the improvements of
last year.
As has been previously published in the
Morning News, the Frisco contemplates
establishing switch yards for the Mem
phis- Birmingham line east of the city, IN
the vicinity of Kansas City junction. This
work will probably be commenced In
few months. The plans, however, have
not yet been perfected by the engineering
department. The engineers will COM
mence their preliminary work as soon as
the weather becomes settled.
Improvements to the Frisco's Birming-
ham terminals may also be made this
year. About six months ago the Frisco
came into possession Of the Birmingham
Belt railroad. Since then traffic arrange
ments over the Belt and the Frisco's
other Birmingham terminals have been
made with the Seaboard Air Line. That
system will have its connection from At
lanta to Birmingham completed and In
operation by September, according to
present plans. These arrangements will
necessitate some improvements to the
Friscos Birmingham terminals to accom-
modate the increased traffic resulting
from the Seaboard's entrance.
II. M. Fickinger, superintendent Of the
southern division Of the Frisco, will go
to Birmingham tonight. Tomorrow he
will make a close personal inspection of
the Friscos Birmingham terminals, with
view to possible future improvements.
He will spend Tuesday there also to at
tend the January meetings of the Ala
bama Car Service association and the
Birmingham Railway superintendent as
ISOLATION. He will return to Memphis on
Wednesday.
Assistant Superintendent Sheehan Of
the southern division, whose headquarters
are in Birmingham, arrived in Memphis
last night, having made an inspection trip
over the Memphis Birmingham line yes
terday. He will return with Mr.. Fickinger
tonight.
Superintendent Fickinger Of Memphis Of
the Frisco arrived here yesterday and will
remain until tomorrow. He comes every
week or two to look after the Frisco's
transportation business and properties.
and there is no significance in his pres
ent visit. He will attend the meeting of
the Alabama Car Service association,
which meets today.