The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-17


| ly different from the usual eomforta BILE
stations of this corporation. The site is
low, sunken and flooded with water dur
ing rains, the house and tracks are sit
| uated three feet below the street level,
| the building is rotten. shabby, small, and
lily ventilated During the last rain citi-
zens of Talladega were forced to hire
hacks with which to cross the tracks Of
the Louisville and Nashville railroad. The
depot of the Southern railroad is situated
| on better ground, but beyond this it is
but a slight Improvement over the Louis
vile and Nashville. The Birmingham and
Atlantic has no depot, nor has the Atlanta
and Birmingham nor the Great Eastern
That is to say five lines using franchises
and privileges, and doing business in the
city, there are but two passenger de-
pots, and these two could be torn down
and rebuilt in exact duplicate at less
cost than $1,000 each.
Invite Railroad Men to City.
The probable gross annual business in
and out of Talladega secured by the
Louisville and Nashville and Southern
railways is not far from 100000. includ-
ing freight and passengers. The Mayor
and Aldermen and Commercial association
of the city, after a consultation, invited
the general managers of all the rail-
way lines entering the city to meet in
Talladega on March 10 to confer together,
and hear argument in reference to es-
tablishing a union passenger station. Fav-
orable replies were received and at l 80
p m, in the parlors of the Elks' club
notable body of representative business
men, fifty in number assembled to meet
w n Foraker. assistant general super
intendent; j. w. Stanfiel. division super
intendent. b. b. Atwood roadmaster Of
the Southern; j. F. Fleetwood, superin-
tendent of the Birmingham and Atlantic;
Cecil Browne representative of the At
lanta, Birmingham and Atlantic; Presi-
dent Milton II. Smith of the Louisville
and Nashville, and I. S. Brooks, division
, superintendent of the Louisville and Nash
| vile.
Mayor Wellington Vandiver called the
meeting to order and briefly stated the
facts leading to the call, and added a
few reasons why a union station was
necessary. He closed by suggesting that
as President Smith was the oldest man
III the dSStIiDldBts ne SHOulu speak I1Si
But President Smith seemed suddenly
seized with an excess of modesty and
shaking his head smiling avowed his in
ability as a speaker. Then the presiding
officer pleasantly called out Mr. Foraker
who arose and speaking for the Southern
expressed a willingness to unite with
other roads in doing what was right. fair
and equitable G. A. Matteson, president
of the Commercial club, in response to a
.I,, 4
why the Union station was necessary, and
in reply to question designated the site
recently acquired by the Atlanta, Birming
ham and Atlantic road, as the most CEN
trail and best located spot for the sta
ton. A second effort to get President
Smith to his feet fell short. Cecil Brown
read extracts from President Wadley of
the Atlanta. Birmingham and Atlantic
road giving him authority to act for that
corporation. and followed it with reasons
why the site under discussion should be
| selected.
Smith Finally Talks.
President Milton H. Smith finally got
to his feet, and stated that the Atlanta.
Birmingham and Atlantic road had open
ed correspondence with him on the sub
ject. sending him blue print of the
locality, which he would furnish to the
Southern representatives, and to the
meeting # desired. That locating sta
ton at tho spot designated would necessi-
tate the Louisville and Nashville building
1000 additional feet of track, and that up
to the present time the proposition had
not been favorably received by the LOUIS
vile and Nashville. but that his road was
open to argument and conviction. He adj
mitted that the present passenger station
of the Louisville and Nashville was in
adequate, and said that a change there
would soon be necessary. He suggested
that year from now when the Atlanta
Birmingham and Atlantic got ready to
build its passenger station, would be q
good time to again discuss the matter
When Superintendent Fleetwood was call
ed out he referred the speaking to ]. x
Dixon. counsel for the road and that
gentleman assured the body that the
Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic was
willing TO agree to anything fair and
equitable The citizens feel that the
meeting has not been without results.
in that it is beginning. They do not
contemplate giving the matter up at all,
| but expect to continue to press the affair
to definite conclusion