The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-20
DECIDED ID PAVE
 HIGHLAND AVENUE Mayor and Aldermen at Last
 Settle Question MEETING FULL OF GINGER By Overwhelming Vote Property Own CTS Decide to Pave Street With
 Wooden Blocks and Bitu-
 minous Macadam.
MEETING FULL OF GINGER

ern limits of Birmingham
 From Twentieth to Bay street, or the Woodward residences, creosoted wooden blocks are to be used and for the balance of the way bituminous maeadam will be the class of material used in improving the thoroughfare.
 This was decided upon last night at a meeting of property owners along High land avenue, held before the members of the city council of Birmingham. The meeting of property owners was a very l lively part of the proceedings of the reg ular semi-monthly meeting of the coun- l cil.
 After hearing property owners speak for and against the proposed improve ments the city council adopted a resolu- tion offered by Alderman Henry B. Gray, declaring it to be the sense of the meet ing that the judiciary committee be in structed to report favorably upon the or dinances providing for paving the avenue. The ordinances will be presented and adopted at the next meeting of the coun- cil which will be on the first Wednesday night in November.
 OVSrWnelmtng vote.
 The motion to pave Highland avenue with bituminous macadam and creosoted wooden blocks was adopted by an over whelming vote. It came as a compromise, and it settled a question that has been pending before the street committee of the city council and the property owners for several months past
 After the regular business before the council had been transacted last night, Chairman Walter Moore of the street committee presented an ordinance pro- viding for paving the entire avenue with creosoted wooden blocks There were thirty or more property owners present at the meeting, and upon motion the rules were suspended in order that they might be heard.
 The ordinance introduced by Alderman Moore was in three sections. The first providing for paving the avenue from Twentieth to Sycamore street, the second from Sycamore to Orlando and the third from Orlando to Pink street, all with wooden blocks. As was customary a mo- tion was then made to refer the improve ment ordinance to the judiciary commit tee for report at the next meeting.
 Discussion Begins.
 The discussion then began. Mayor Drennen told of the meeting of the street committee Tuesday. when the matter was discussed. and 1t was finally decided to postpone action until last night, in order that the members of the city coun- ell might be able to hear the property owners.
 Upon the request of Walker Percy, City Clerk Murray was instructed to read from the minute book everything that had been done with reference to paving Highland avenue since the matter was brought up on May IS, 1904. Mayor Dren. nen then explained that bids had been asked for on bituminous macadam, as- phalt, vitri1ed brick and creosoted wood- en blocks, and that the wooden block proposition had been accepted. Dunn & Lallande Bros., representing the wooden block people, had been given until Au- gust, 27, said the mayor, to say whether or not they would take the contract for paving with wooden blocks at $2 per yard.
 Questions Asked.
 Alderman Moore-"Is there anything in writing that shows the proposition was accepted?
 
 engineer of your city that we would &C., cept the proposition at those figures"
 John P. Tillman-"Mr. Chairman, as point of information l would like to ask what effect there would be on the prop erty owners in referring this matter to the Judiciary committee. Would the prop erty owners be given a chance to appear before the committee before final action is taken?"
 The MaVor-sfXVbv certainly
 Alex T. London-"This matter has been pending for some time past and l think that it should be settled now The prop erty owners shrould not be brought here again. I do not think"
 Alderman Gray-"Can we do anything Low, MT. Chairman, but refer the matter to the judiciary committee
 The Mayor-''We cannot"
 Alderman Gray-"I move, Mir. Chair man, that it be left with the property owners as to whether or not they shall discuss the matter now or wait until the judiciary committee meets.''
 MT. London-"I think inasmuch as the property owners are now here, they should be heard"
 Property Owners Heard. The Mayor-"We will now hear from the property owners. When the matter comes up before the committee they can | be heard again, too, if they desire. There is no use in referring this matter to the l judiciary committee if the property own l CTS do not want the Improvements" The first property owner to speak was l Col T. G. Bush. When he was recog- nized he stated that he wanted to get rearer to the councimen; that they were the only ones he could convince. There was laughter in the council chamber, and everybody moved up nearer the rostrum. up to this writing l have had nothing to say" said Colonel Bush, 'and I think am one of the few. do not like to see | neighbors disagree-we all agree on one thing, and that Is Highland avenue is in a bad condition"
 He said that he did not think the prop erty owners should confine themselves to bituminous macadam and creosoted wooden hlncks dncidirnr i,rn,n tho al b ru