The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-11
BUSINESS MEN TALK
OF UNION STATION
Their Opinions Regarding Its
Situation Differ Sharply
WHAT Is THE BEST SIZE?
Enlarge Present Station, Say Many.
Others Want 1t Up Town-ReaI
Estate Values and Trade
centers Involved.

OpihioHs VI bliinluBndu business men
differ sharply regarding the question as
to where the new union station should be
situated. The proposition to erect a sta
ton at Twenty-sixth street near Second
avenues has awakened a great deal of
interest. Persons who have business west
of Twentieth street are, as a rule. opposed
to having the railway station center re-
moved, satisfied as they are with the sta
tions present site. To this rule there are,
however some exceptions. The feeling of
merchants east of Twentieth street is as
a rule in favor of, or at least not opposed
to, the Twenty-sxth street site. OF these
merchants however, a few are satisfied
with having the station where it is.
There is a unanimous demand for in
creased station and depot facilities in
Birmingham.
Almost all the business men are in
favor of having a union station. believ-
ing that public convenience requires 1t.
Here are number of brief interviews
with some of the active business men
of the city ON the subject:
Not Against New Site.
Sol Caheen of Caheen Brothers: Il am
one of those who, though doing business
near the present station, declined to pro-
ties. against the erection of a union sta
tior near Twenty-sixth street. take
little stock in all this talk about real
estate values rising and falling and trade
centers shifting because a railway sta
tion is to be erected at this or that point
in the city. 1t H. not likely that one of
the railways will leave Twentieth street
l. the others wish to 80 farther up town
and build a union station. let them do so.
1t might inconvenience the travelling pub
lie, but wouldn't hourt the city. Going
from one station to another the transient
population would have a chance to see the
am in favor of whatever is to be done in
this matter.
IF they enlarge the present station and
increase its facilities cry well. If they
can't agree o., that, and most of the
go up town, 1t will suit me
equally we'll"
Opposed to New Site.
II. j. Porter & Co.:
II am most emphatically opposed to the
to move the railway station
center to the neighborhood OF Twenty
sixth street. | believe that the present
site is the logical one. 1t Is, in fact an
ideal situation. To remove the station,
or depot, to the point suggested would,
in my judgment, be unjust to a large
number of business interests between
Twentieth and Eighteenth street and
First and Fourth avenues. Business men
in this section have rented or purchased
or improved property there with the ex-
pectation that the trade center of the city
would develop normally and naturally.
The present situation of the station is
one of the assets of these business men.
They invested their money in the section
referred to with the belief that tine sta
ton would remain where 1t Is They have
made long term contracts upon that I'M
Outstanding. TO remove the station now
would impair the property of these bust
ness houses, blight their progress and In
in no small measure retard the healthful
and natural development of the CITY,"
FaVors Getting Together.
Sid W. Lee, an officer of the Alabama
Grocery company: I'm In favor of hav-
ing a union railway station. Let all the
railroads get together al | agree to in
crease the facilities of the present sta
ton, so that 1t will be accessible to all
lines running into Birmingham. This can
be done by charging the present station
expanding IT in width and extending 1t in
length. | want to see the station kept
where 1t is, and when the extension Is
made / want to see 1t run down to Eight
zenith street"
j. ID. Davis of the b. F. Roden Grocery
company: Keep the station right where
1t Is"
r. W. Haverield manager of the re-
tail department of Gray & Dudley: 1--WE
are in favor of the station staying where
1t now is. If they want to enlarge It,
let them extend 1t to Eighteenth street"
Oliver Chalifoux of j, L. Chalifoux e.
Co: I'VE are In favor of keeping the
railway station where 1t is. To remove
it would disturb business values Tho
present site Is the logical one
]. Friedman of j. Friedman & Co: I'D
rather have the railway station right
where it is than anywhere else"
j. d. Collins of the Collins Shoe Co.. "It
is imma terial to me where the railway
station is I am in favor of union sta
tion but am Indifferent as to where 1t Is
built If 1t is built near Twenty-sixth
street. the change would not, in my
Judgment. affect business in this section
of the city"
know. Whatever suits the railroad suits
u.s."
d. Rich of the Rich Shoe Co: Enlarge
the present station and let 1t remain
where 1t is
Ben We'll of NJ. We'll & Brother. Let
the station like the American flag, stay
put"
r. d. Burnett of the tobacco house of
r d. Burnett & Co.: Let the station
stay right where 1t is and extend it down
to Eighteenth street. That's the reason
able natural thing to do 1t Is mistake
to suppose that trade centers and real
estate values depend on the site of railway
stations"
Austin Sims of the Tobacco firm of j. r.
Brown & Co "Im in favor of the station
staying right where 1t Is, If you can find
words that will express my views more
emphatically on that point. please employ
them"
Present Station.
J. T. Doster of the Doster- Northlngton
Drug company: IT am In favor of having