The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-19
Has Acquired Property.

Since that time" said Mir. Leedy, q have acquired 1850 feet of the property for the Illinois Central, and had options on GOO or TOO feet that the road did not want for terminal purposes, leaving the Alabama Great Southern only about 1925 feet The road I represent has come in and invested half million dollars for terminal property, and l cannot under stand why this committee should grant the Alabama Great Southern the priv ilege to build switch track through it. While the deeds have not all been filed, over $6O0,O00 is in the bank, and I have a letter of credit to check it out as soon as the terminal question is settled. The Alabama Great Southern grant means the keeping away of the Illinois Cen tral."
 Attorney Frank s. White, for the Ili nois Central, stated that the road wanted the property for depot purposes and that the Alabama Great Southern wanted it for switch track. He called attention to the Sheffield trouble, when the Illinois Central wanted to build to Birmingham a year ago, and said that it depended on the action of the committees, whether or not it would build now.
 T. II. Motion, secretary of the Com mercial club, argued in behalf of the Ala bama Great Southern, saying that a switch track would enhance the value of property and make the district a great wholesale center. He said freight depot would drive wholesalers to other sections.
 After a discussion lasting over an hour. Alderman Jones moved that the question go over several days in order to let the committeeman ascertain from the prop erty holders which road had the greater number of feet represented on its list, a controversy over an option having arisen This was voted down and Alderman Gray moved that the Alabama Great Southern petition be disallowed. Mayor Ward was the first called on to vote In voting to deny the petition, he said
 Mayors Opinion.
 q have felt inclined to back up the Alabama Great Southern railroad on this proposition all the way along. provided they showed a very large majority oi front footage and provided they paid a fair price to the city.
 Had they showed only small majorit, would have felt duty bound to have objected on the grounds that 1t is a bad precedent to commence putting our alleys to such use.
 Since however, the Alabama Great Southern has shown here only 40 per cent of the property owners signatures in its favor, even after a stiff fight of month for signatures. it Is clear that at least 50 per cent of the property owners want something else.
 Now about that something else. would like to admonish the aldermen that if any speculation is going on by virtue of the value of our alleys, we should be watchful to see that the profit of sucl, speculation should go to the city of Bir- mingham and not to private individuals.
 "Furthermore, feel that in no way is the cause of the Alabama Great Southern | damaged, as they have the privilege of coming back at the next meeting or any future meeting, with similar request if | they think they can make a better show 1 ing"
 The final vote showed: Ayes-ward. Fulghum, Gray, O'Nsal, Moore and For ney. Nays-Parker, D. R. Copeland, Jones and klotz.