The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-12
OF TWO PROMINENT
MEN ON UNION STATION

, animated the men of Birmingham and
made this CITY what 1t is will. l believe,
continue to be felt in every field of ac-
] tivity here"
| Mr.. Joseph, whom all the Eing's horses
and all the kings men can seldom if ever
persuade to consent to a newspaper in
terview, made this interesting and conser-
vative statement:
1T OCCURS to me, as I turn this subject
over in my mind, that fhe Age-Herald' $
editorial article of yesterday Get To-
gether,' sounded the keynote to the stu
alton.
Il may say at the outset that l am in
favor of the present location of the union
passenger station on Twentieth street. 1t
is l think the logical one for a grand
union passenger station. From that point
as center, our city has developed and
expanded. Its convenience to all our peo-
pie is unquestioned and unqnestionable
A change may, it seems to me. cause a
dsoueting influence among many of our
business interests, as is evidenced by the
fact that 10 of our business men and
property holders have sent to the presi-
dents of the various railways entering
Birmingham a petition, requesting that on
the present site new passenger depot or
station, adequate to the growing needs
of Birmingham, be built.
1T is almost axiomatic," continued Mr..
Joseph, seriously that business interests
are most wisely subserved by policy of
gradual rather than of sudden develop
ment. What the business world most de-
sres may be compressed into a single
word-stabilty. Radical or unexpected
changes. in plans supposed to be perma-
nently settled, too often lead either to
unwarranted speculation or to unreason-
able timidity. Values are thereby Inclined
to fiuctuate, industries are likely to be
crippled and not infrequently the business
world is seriously disturbed. 1t is for
this reason perhaps more than for any
other that / am inclined to deprecate
change in the situation of the union pas
senger station.
Il have been, and am now. inclined to
think that the business section of Bir
mingham is embraced within radius of
from three to five blocks, taking TWEEN
tleth street and Second avenue as a
center.
Birmingham is yet in its infancy. l
look forward to the time when it will be
not only a big, but truly great city. |
feel strongly however, that gradual
growth and natural expansion is far pre-
ferabe to enforced expansion and arti-
fetal growth
Now that this subject is under dis
eussion, it is e. etifying to know that the
relations between Birmingham and the
various railways have been uniformly
pleasant and that everything has been
done by both sides to promote their mu-
tual welfare. | firmly believe that If a
proper understanding is reached. the
various interests that seem now to con-
f1ict will speedily harmonize. | hope they
will get together and build on the pres
ent site at Twentieth street a grand union
passenger station IL however, they fail
to do so, and the new station goes up
rear Twenty-sixth street or elsewhere, |
feel quite sure that birmingham will
promptly adjust itself to the changed con-
ditions and that we shall all go forward
and upward on the constantly increasing
tide of progress and prosperity