The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-04-15
WILL ENTER NEW
STATION JULY |
South End VIII Be Ready for
Trains Then
TOTAL COST is $1,750,000
Engineer Harrison Discusses Plans
for InterIocklng Switch System
Which viii Be Most Com
plete In the South. =
TOTAL COST is $1,750,0O0

Only two months and fifteen days be-
fore the railroads will have to vacate the
present union station and move into the
new station which is being erected at
Fifth avenue and Twepty-sixth street. All
the roads are to use the new station ex-
cept the Louisville and Nashville. which
owns the old station.
The new structure will be far enough
advanced In construction by July to be
used. The tracks are being laid now and
Walter Harrison, engineer In charge. is
working out the plans for the construc-
tion of the interloclSing switch system,
which will be one of the most complete
in the country.
Mr.. Harrison in discussing the station
and the prospects for getting opened by
July 1, said:
1--WE are working ON the south end,
which will be completed by the first of
July, at which time the Central of Geor-
gla, the Southern, the Seaboard, the Fris-
CO and the Alabama Great Southern will
have to vacate the present station. We
will have the south end completed in time
It includes the baggage room, all of the
negro waiting room and portion of the
white waiting room.
1.-THE train sheds, which are built like
a ", although the angles are by no
means as great, are nearing completion.
and all that has to be done now Is to
connect the various sheds with each 9th
or, making the solid surface. This will
take Only short time and when the ends
are Joined the train shed will be COM
pleted.
I'VE are now laying the tracks in the
terminal company property and this work
will be completed by July l. 1t is by no
means certain yet that we will have the
interlocking switch system complete by
that time, as the work on 1t can not COM
mence until all the tracks are laid.
ut will require six months to complete
the station after the railroads occupy 1t.
The north end will have to be completed,
the main waiting room, the baggage Of
fees and numerous other parts. This will
require until 1908 at least. and probably
a month or two in that year
other Roads Coming.
In addition to the railroads mentioned
by Mr.. Harrison the Mobile and Ohio, the
Illinois Central and the Atlanta, Birming-
ham and Atlantic will occupy the new
station soon after the other railroads
move in. The Illinois Central expects to
have its tracks into Birmingham COM
pleted by July 1 and operating trains into
the city. Coincident with the entrance
Of the Illinois Central. the Mobile and
Ohio will commence operating trains into
the city. The Illinois Central has its
terminals in Birmingham nearly complet-
ed, and the Mobile and Ohio is expected
to commence work on their buildings
shortly They will be on First avenue
on the old Hardie property.
Cost Above First Estimate.
The new station will cost about $, 700, 900,
which is about 100000 higher than the
original estimates. This is due to the
marked advance in the prices of certain
materials and labor that had to be used.
1t will cost something more than the At
lanta station cost II the present estimate
is not increased. Among other things
the tight money market now has in
creased the cost OF the station. as tho
bonds had to be sold at very much low
err price than the Atlanta station bonds
brought.
Another thing that has increased the
cost OF the station here is the number OF
damage suits filed. When the Atlanta
station was built the AUDITING property
holders did not ask for $1,000 in damages.
while on the other hand the AUDITING
property owners In Birmingham have al
ready secured over $4,000 In damages, and
there are still some claims unsettled.