The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-17
NORTHS|DERS WILL
 ASK FOR V|ADUCT Want Nineteenth or Twentieth
 Street Made Safe TRACKS ARE DANGEROUS Council Will Probably Take Up Grade Crossing Question at Next Meet
 Ing Under Provisions of
 New Law.
TRACKS ARE DANGEROUS

Very probably at the next meeting of the City Council a petition will be pre- sented to the Mayor and Board of Alder men to take steps to remedy the grade crossing evil at certain of the most dan gerous railroad crossings on the north side of the city. A petition Is being cir culated among the residents of the North Highlands for their signatures and nearly every taxpayer in that portion of the city will probably append his name to the document.
 The petition in question calls upon tho Mayor and Board of Aldermen to take steps, requiring the railroads on Ninth and Tenth avenues, north, to open Twen- tieth street. north by building a via duct for the same, or else build one on Nineteenth street
 There are railroads at both Ninth and Tenth avenues, the Frisco running across Nineteenth street at Ninth avenue and the old Belt line at Tenth avenue. There are three tracks at Ninth avenue and there will soon be two at Tenth. Ninth avenue seems to be the most objection able crossing as street cars, pedestrians and all traffic is delayed at this cross ing very often through the day.
 At Twentieth street and Ninth avenue the Frisco has more than twenty tracks extending across the street. The vladuct at Twentieth street is the one most de- sired, although a viaduct could possibly be constructed more easily at the other place.
 The petition calls attention to the dan ger of the crossing at Nineteenth street, especially to the women and children who must pass along this street to get into town. With the exception of Twen- ty-first street the Frisco railroad has every street between Nineteenth and
 wenty-fourth completely blocked with It's cars, thus throwing practically all of the traffic on Nineteenth street The Nineteenth street crossing has grown to be a very dangerous one on account of the frequency of the passing of switch engines and other locomotives
 The grade crossing bill which was passed at the last session of the legisla- ture was signed by the governor on Wednesday. and Is now in effect, not be- ing a penal statute. Since the recent ac- cidents, a number of which proved fatal, there has been considerable talk and agi- tation of the grade crossing matter.
 Interest In the matter has grown and now that 1t has become law 1t is very probable that 1t will come up at the next meeting of the City Council, next Wednes- day night, and action taken. There are several very bad crossings within the city limits of Birmingham and 1t Is possible that the council will take steps to remedy the condition of these places at once.
 The bill recently passed gives cities over certain population the power to regulate the crossings, thereby giving them the authority to order viaducts built bv the railroads which block the streets of the city. It is not believed, however, that this bill is as strong as it was orig inally. since an amendment 10 the bill which was also adopted, gives the rail- roads the power to appeal the matter to the chancery court
 What action the council will take in regard to the matter cannot be said, but 1t is believed that steps will be taken to remedy the worst of the crossings.