The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-28
ILLINOIS CENTRAL
 FRANCHISE MATTER
Representative of the Road
 Gives His Views
POINTS OUT SOME FACTS
Leedy Calls Attention to What the lIlI- nois centraPs Coming Means for Dlstrict-Petltion of Prop
 erty Owners.

The Illinois Central petition for fran chises in Birmingham will be discussed ht a joint meeting of the railroad and judiciary committees of the City Council Tuesday, February 6 The Alabama Vest ern Railroad company is the legal title by which the Illinois Central is known here.
 I really do not know what action will be taken by the railroad and the judiciary icommittees, to whom is referred the mat ter of franchises of the Illinois Central Railroad company, which comes up on February G. said w B. Leedy, the Illinois Central real estate representative in Bir- mingham. Tt is, of course, up to them to say whether this great railroad shall en- ter Birmingham in the manner in which they have petitioned the council or whether they shall be so restricted by the Board of Aldermen as to render it inn possible for the railroad to do the city, the district or themselves justice in the handling of freights. The Illinois Central has selected at great cost to the com Iany freight terminals that for the con venience of shippers there is no equal in Birmingham.
 Ask for No Bonus.
 If Mayor Ward could, as he has asked for. get an expression of the people, there would be, in my opinion, an over whelming majority to say Give the Illi- nois Central what they ask for They ask for no bonus. but simply to get into this great city with a railroad that will open UT the great west to ths district. If the Illinois Central had months ago stated to the City Council, the Board of Trade and the Commercial club, that if they would secure for them bonus of $100,00O and the franchises now asked for, they would bring their railroad into Birmingham. ther proposition, in my opinion. would Have been accepted with hurrah. Look, if you please, what Norfolk, Va., has re- gently done. I asked the secretary of the Board of Trade of Norfolk to give me some information relative to the right-of- way recently granted a railroad by that city. Under date of the 18th he writes as follows: Replying to your inquiry of the 22nd inst, will state that this city, Nor folk. gave as an inducement to the Tide Water, Deep Water Railroad company, to make this its easterl terminus a right-of way about thirteen miles long, which was bought from property owners by the city at price of S950O0; said railroad de- livering to the city bond with security and penalty of S125.00O, conditioned on the return of said $95,0O0, with per cent in terest, to the city upon the failure of said railroad to construct and operate a railroad from the coal regions of West fO 1'u Dofp in, years from the date of the ordinance. The distance from Norfolk proper to Sewalrs Point is about eight miles but it makes connection with the Belt Line railroad, which gives to merchants and shippers the same transportation facilities as they would have otherwise. Assuring you of the willingness with which this informa- ton is given. and trusting that it will serve to straighten cut any trouble you may have in Birmingham, remain, yours very truly
 Tt seems that the railroad referred to gets a bonus of s950OO to build within eight miles of Norfolk, while the Illinois Gen. Hral at the expense of $S OO0,0O0 will build direct into this city. l do not know how large road or how wealthy road this Deep Water, Tide Water Railroad com pany is but we all know what the Illinois Central Railroad company is, and we should not forget that this great system will be potent factor in the develop ment of our industrial and commercial conditions. Many railroads entering Bir- mingham have been given greater con sessions than those asked for by the Hi nois Central