The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-25
WILL ASK BIDS
 ON DIGGING TUNNEL Board of Revenue Takes Im- pOrtant Step In Matter ASCERTAIN EXACT COST c. o. Simpson Writes a Letter To The Aae-Herald In Answer To That
 Submitted Yesterday By
 J. w. Mcconnell.


 The Red mountain tunnel project re- ceived its first impetus at the hands of the Board of Revenue yesterday after noon. The meeting of the citizens' con- mittee before the board terminated fay- orably to the advocates of the tunnel in the passage of a resolution calling for the advertisement for bids on the tunnel as soon as right of way through the moun- tain has been received.
 On the resolution passed yesterday the whole tunnel fight has hinged for more than week. When Alderman John W. O'Neill appeared before the Board of Revenue last Tuesday, upon request of the citizens committee, to represent the City Council, he stated that the city could not afford to come to any agreement with the Board of Revenue relative to the tunnel without first having definite idea of what the tunnel would cost. Ac- cordingly Hugh McGeever of the board introduced the resolution presented again. yesterday but Commissioners Reed, Crook and Dickey would not vote for It, claiming the advertisement for bids un- necessary unless the board intended to accept one of the bids received.
 The same matter was brought up again yesterday afternoon, and after a hard fight MT. McGeever and Job Going, who have led the tunnel fight, succeed ed in bringing about the unanimous adoption of the resolution, which reads as follows:
 Text of Resolutions.
 Resolved, That as soon as the county engineer receives the right of way from the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company that he be instructed to adver- tse for bids subject to the approval or rejection by the city of Birmingham for their portion of the tunnel in the cor porate limits of Birmingham, and that the county reserve the right to reject any all bids for their portion of the same."
 The tunnel project is now considered by it's advocates to be well on foot As- surance has been given that the right of way through the mountain would be granted by the Tennessee company, and this done, and bids received, the Board of Revenue and City Council committee can get together and act definitely on the tunnel proposition.
 A letter was received yesterday from c. o. Simpson, president of the Jefferson Publishing company who replies to J.. w. McConnells letter printed in yester- day mornings issue of The Age-Herald. MT. Simpson writes as follows: Letter From Simpson. To the Editor of The Age-Herald: I do not quite understand Mr.. J. w. McConnells position relative to the Red mountain tunnel proposition. It certainly seems to me unwise for a man who has the interests of the Birmingham district at heart to oppose even in @ small way, any improvement or advancement for our district. If. MT. Mcconnell had attended meeting before the board of revenue the fore part of this week he could have had the pleasure of meeting a great num- Der of property owners and residents of the district beyond Red mountain who are especially interested in the tunnel and the road, which are absolutely neces- sary to open up this district. MT. Mc- Connell was not there, therefore he is not in a position to judge who is inter ested or in whose interest this project is being pushed.
 I also wish to say that we are careful and most deliberate in our actions and do not expect anything definite until most accurate estimate and cost of the tunnel can be fixed In fact, 1t would not be a business proposition for the county or city to enter into any contract or promise until the details of the proposition have been properly worked out. We can tell in A rough way about what it will cost, and feel sure that the deeper we go into the proposition the smaller the figure will be.
 If an expenditure of say $100,OOO can be made, not only will the public be bene- 6ted but the city and county generally, and AIS to the final result warranting such an expenditure, almost anyone who Ia familiar with figures can itdown and take into consideration the increased tax alton as based on the assessors reports, and he can see that in the course of one or two years the total cost of the tunnel can be paid
 The tunnel, without question, is desired hy the majority of people. Its value can only be estimated by the people liV- ing beyond the mountain, and the funds of the county cannot be used for a better advantage for the general public good. There should be no hesitation within req sonable limits about undertaking this en- terprise.
 Therefore, in answer to the questions in the last paragraph of his letter: The proposed tunnel is an improvement and Advancement into the future of our dis trict and should be constructed by the county and the city of Birmingham. I have no special interest in the dis trict beyond the mountain, but have for the whole district, and especially have birmingham itself at heart, and will do all I can to push forward any move ment which shows progress and advance ment. Yours very truly, c. O. SIMPSON. Birmingham, June 24, 1908.