The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-16

them alone.
 It goes, therefore, without further sug- gestion, that the coming of the Illinois Central railroad is welcome event. it will be a pusher on of the fortunes of the city, and the Mayor must be understood to question merely the price at which, in the shape of concessions, licenses, or fran ehises (as which latter the rights sought are popularly denominated) its advent Is to be purchased
 Concerning Express.
 His suggestion that the citizens have no other means of egress to territory west of the city than through certain avenues named by him, by reason of the present occupancy of other avenues by street rail- way tracks, and the interposition of Smiths park but demonstrates the nec- essity for granting the privileges sought by the Illinois Central railroad. for if there be no other means of egress, 1t Is not seen that there can be other means of ingress, and if the Illinois Central is to come at all, 1t must come over the route suggested, and this may, in fact have been very carefully considered al- ready by the railroad company.
 There can be no doubt that the streets and avenues over which the rights are to be granted, are of great importance; but is not the greatness of the city here after to be measured by the acquisition by railroads of streets and avenues not now thought of in such connection. Many a sigh of regret has been indulged by the citizens over the destruction of the old First National Bank building; but the disappearance of this building is but an evidence of the growing importance and value of the land 1t occupied. The citizens would more regret, no doubt, the raging of the Morris building, the only business structure in the city which can lay any claims to architectural beauty and proportions; but how great must be our city in the day when that beautiful building, and possibly all of those now located on the strip on which 1t is situa- ted, extending through the city, must give place to the demands of progress, whether they be removed to make place for railroads or for other structures which shall better subserve the demands of the extent of space occupied by them. The invitation of his honor savers of some sentimentality on his part to tho mind of the writer, or there suggestions would not cucumber this expression of views to which l am invited by his honor
 To Place of Honor.
 For the Illinois Central railroad to come to the outskirts of the city and there, as 1t were, stand at the outskirts of the aesthetic tea being enjoyed by the other railroads which have preceded 1t at the feast, would give the host and this latest guest but small benefit. It must be in- vited to prominent seat; to a place of honor, and not left to pick up the crumbs as it were. It must have connections with the other roads; locations for depots and tracks at points most convenient to in- tercommunication with the other railroads in the city, and with the commercial houses of the city If the advent of the railroad should happen to throw pail over the district immediately adjacent to its termini, as Is most likely, the eternal law of compensation but brings about the betterment of some other portion of the city, for the butcher, the baker and the candlestickmaker are all going to have their establishments despite the pre-emp- tion by the railroads of this or that street or avenue. 10 invite the expression of opinion on the part of the citizen Is gracious indeed, but 1t Is ochloeratic, and his honor must In the end have recourse to his own best judgment, for he can no more please all than he can follow the ad- vice of all. As I take It, the city Is con- cerned in It's own selfish rights as much so as is an individual; 1t is not the guard ian of the rights of the individuals who may by reason of the location of their property in the immediate vicinity of the streets and avenues to be occupied, be
 
 guardians of the rights of these. and for the city administration to consider them were to put the courts out of office To grant the length and breadth of Second avenue were not too great a sacrifice to the progress of the city. If Birmingham has not reached that hour in the day of progress which demands the sacrifice de- manded, 1t should be denied; but if Bir- mngham can justly boast of sufficient i'm portance to justify the overtures of the Illinois Central railroad there should not, in my humble opinion be any hesi- tancy in'granting all that is requested.
 The time will come when the narrow strips now occupied by the railroads. and we may throw in the proposed grant for good measure. will no more subserve oc- casions than the original strip laid out by the founders of the city from Avenue A on the south to First avenue on the north would now subserve the purposes of the railroads we now have, and when that time shall come. the city will be called on to grant more than five blocks along Second avenue in the western por- ton of the city, and as many more along Thirteenth street. Let the railroads come the citizens can take to the hills: but we will have city. A. LATADY.
 Bi mingham, January t5, 1908.