The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-22

faculty of making friends who have con-
f1denee in him and believe in him both
as good 6nancier and good fellow.
He is liable to DC mayor of Cincinnati
and perhaps whole lot of things in poll
tics before he ends his career.
Another grade crossing accident is add
ed to the list Of Birming..alns casualties.
It is claimed that Yesterdays tragedy was
case Of suicide. However that may
be 1t Is certainly fact that the grade
crossing matter Is an important one to
be considered by the people of Birmng-
ham. It is natural for all CT Us when in
a hurry TO want to cut of a brock or two
eff a journey by crossing the tracks at
Eighteenth, Twentieth or Twenty-ifth
streets. We take our lives IN our hands
when we do this 50 to speak There are
apparently too many tracks at these
crossings for the ordinary gates. Either
the railroads will have to move their
shifting yards out of the city. or else
these crossings must be bridged or tun-
nelled As it is now, with the street cars
crossing these tracks in great numbers
and delayed trains attempting TO make
speed, or freight trains to be rapidly
made up there is serious danger every
day of accidents resulting in much loss
of life
Birmingham is big enough to give mat
tiers of this character serious considera-
ton. What is a few thousand dollars
compared to the loss of many human
lives. The Board of Aldermen and the
railroad people and the street railway
people should Immediately consider this
matter and make plans without fur-
Their delay to remedy this serious defect
of Birmingham.
I am hopeful also that the street rail-
way people will be bit more active in
supplying their cars with proper tenders,
They should get the very best tenders and
put them on at once. Such action would
protect the people and in the long run be
economy to the street railway company.
Speaking of the street railway COM
pany, there seems to be disposition on
the part of many of its patrons to take
advantage of the facilities afforded them.
| have noticed that many of the new and
really handsome cars which this company
has recently put into the Birmingham SER
vice have been badly defaced. Many OF
the seats have actually been Whitfield
with pocket knives, and there seems to be
an element In birmingham which takes
pleasure in splitting on the floors, to the
destruction of ladies' dresses and causing
the cars in many instances to appear
anything but neat. The conductors OF
these cars should be given police powers
to arrest men who violate the city ordirs
nance against splitting on the floors Of
street cars. If a few of the men who
persist in this were vigorously punished,S
the Birmingham street cars could be kept
as clean as they are in well regulated
cities.
The board of aldermen can well give at
tentlon to these matters | have referred
10. Ard in this eonnenction, Mayor
bremen and the board oil aldermen should
take up the matter at once of an increase
III the police force of Birmingham. 1
cont know that the city just at this time
is financially able to double the force,
but at least twenty or thirty men could
be added to it with economy to the city,
Otherwise property holders must continue
10 be at the mercy Of thieves and thugs. 8