The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
CROSSING SWORDS ON TUNNEL SCHEME Age-HeraId Receives Letters
 For and Against BEAUTY OF THE VALLEY One Writer Tells How Tax Valuations Will lncrease-Another Says
 Only Property Owners
 Are Interested.
BEAUTY OF THE VALLEY

Are lntCECStC0s
 Taxpayers are crossing swords on the Red mountain tunnel proposition. On one side the construction of the tunnel is be- ing urged with much enthusiasm. On the other side there are those who would have the Board of Revenue consider well to what other advantage the surplus now in the general fund of the county might be used before they take up the project of building the tunnel through the moun- tain.
 The question is argued on both sides in letters to the editor received yesterday. William Davies favors the tunnel project. He writes as follows:
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 The tunnel through Red mountain has been discussed from many standpoints, and the general opinion seems to be that 1t should be built at once. The cost of putting it through is small when eom- pared with the advantage the city and county will derive from it.
 People in Shades valley will not be the only parties benefited. Farmers living within a radius of six miles southward from the proposed tunnel route will be benefited. The Irondale- -Oxmoor road is being macadamized and the county is building one of the grandest mountain roads in the south from the end of the present road that crosses Red mountain at the head of Eighteenth street. This road will pass Valley Springs, winding up the mountain at a per cent grade to Gains place, and continuing through the rich mountain lands connecting with the Rocky Ridge road at Weldman's, where the steel bridge will be thrown over Little Shades creek, and following the present road to the river.
 Beauties of Shades Valley.
 Anyone acquainted with this country south of Red mountain will realize the importance of building the tunnel. The day when the Irondale and Oxmoor roads and the road to Shades mountain and to the river are completed all travel will be centered in Rosedale, demanding entrance into Birmingham, not over 10 per cent grade, but through a tunnel of per cent grade
 seventy-five per cent of the people liv- ing in Birmingham have never been across Red mountain. They imagine that this country is a waste and barren sec- tion of the county. only fit for goats to range or. To the contrary, Shades val ley and Shades mountain are fertile and cannot be surpassed for healthy locations and beautiful scenery. There are several noted mineral springs in the valley and on the mountain.
 The elevation at the Rosedale postofice is 750 feet On the first bench of the mountain it is 900 feet. and where the new road reaches the top of Shades mountain the elevation is 1150 feet.
 With these advantages within four miles of the courthouse of Jefferson coun- ty. why should the city and county hesi- tate in commencing on the tunnel?
 The increased taxation received in hye years will pay the cost of building the tunnel While at the time the building of acres of land within four miles of the tain was started it was impossible to get more than $50 an acre for the choicest land. today the same land cannot be bought for less than $500 an acre.
 Can the county afford to have thousands of acres of land with four miles Of the court house assessed at an average of Slo an acre when by building the tunnel $lOo an acre would be a low assessment? From a business standpoint, they cannot.
 WILLIAM DAVIES.
 Birmingham, July 23, 1908.
 Mcconnell Takes Opposite View.
 I. w. Mcconnell takes somewhat op- posite view He writes as follows: TO the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 A good deal is being said about cutting a tunnel through Red mountain in order to provide a better means of access to the city for the people living beyond the mountain. and it is being urged with con- siderable earnestness and apparent en- thusiasm by some advocates of the prof ect. and pressure is being brought upon the Board of Revenue for an approprla- tion for that purpose; but, so far no gem eral popular interest seems to have been aroused.
 The expediency of the undertaking de- pends on several things, and these should  hefor, any definite action is taken. It is fortunate. therefore, that the members of tte board have refused to allow them seleys to act precipitately in this matter.
 What amount of money will be required for the completion ol this project? What will it cost? Can anybody tell? It is deep down below the surface of the earth, and who knows what is there?
 Is it not true that in railroad building and other similar construction. material is not infrequently encountered that pre- sents unanticipated difficulties, greatly delaying the work and augmenting the exnense? Instead, therefore, of cost or s75 oO0 the maximum estimate, I believe if is possible for it to He twice that amount.
 Rut allow that it can be done at ap- | nroximately the above figure, will the nnplic benefits to result warrant such an axnenditure? Can not the money be bet | ter expended? Can 1t not be used In making other improvements whose bene- fits will insure more to the general pub | lie?
 1 That this tunnel is something that IS desirable and would serve as a great con- venience to the people living beyond the mountain, and would benefit certain in- | tarests in that locality, there can be no