The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-06

NEW DEPOT QUESTION
Is NOW DISCUSSED AT
LENGTH BY I. H. MOTION

establishments Independent of trade from
the travelling publ which is proven a
source of profit to birmingham.
Now let us see what effect it will have
upon the present business section to have
business established in this new section:
suppose that the new establishments will
only get a small percentage of the trade
whether it be 10 per cent, 20 per cent or
30 per cent, whatever the amount is will
be that much taken from the already
established business houses. | grant that
this view of the subject would be COM
sidered selfish one on the part of those
whose interests are already established
but would it not be better to leave these
houses undisturbed, and let the town
spread and grow gradually from this cen
trail point? l am of the opinion that those
who own property in that section north
of Third avenue and east of Twenty-First
street will be benefited. but fortunately
or unfortunately a considerable portion
of this property has passed into the hands
OF SPECTATORS who are not entitled to
the consideration which is due those who
have invested in substantial buildings and
legitimate business enterprises. Those who
own residences and do not expect to move
will only be effected by higher taxation;
their homes will be no more desirable
than they are now. Those who build bus
mess houses (if Ii is true that depot
does not improve a locality will make
mistakes.
l predict that if very many business
houses are built in the vicinity or the
proposed new depot, the result Will be
failures. not only there, but in other sec
lions of the city, for the reason that
there is not sufficient trade in Birming-
ham to Justify a multiplication of busi-
ness houses.
am a believer in Birmingham, but
my observation in the past leads me o
fear there is probability of OVERRIDING
the thing in building more houses than
can be occupied to an advantage ana at
profit What we want is steady. healthy
growth, and to avoid making investments
that will not pay. l trust we will never
have a REPETITION of what occurred mere
from 1893 to 1898; during this period we
saw the greatest shrinkage of values OF
business houses just & little too far from
the passenger depot. merchant sue
cess depends on the amount of trade he
GETS: If there are too many merchants
and not enough trade, failures are IN
evitable and every failure hurts every IN
terest in the city
am free to confess that l am interested
in pecuniary way, owning properly SIT
uated in the business center, which rear
may be seriously affected by the building
of a new depot on Twenty-sixth street
which will develop = new business district
On the other hand / have an interest In
property on Fifth avenue concerning
which an enthusiast on the subject or
the new depot expressed the opinion that
it Is worth about five times as much as
the value I had heretofore placed on 1t.
To my friends assertion / ansE red that
7 would rather wait for more rain ana
let the pond spread gradually than un-
dertake to furnish water for two ponds;
for YOU know city is compared to
pond of water which in dry times shrinlks