The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-10
RAILROAD MEN WILL
 SAY NOTHING OF
 v|ADUCT MEETING
Mayor Exum Tells Them That the Time for Action Has
 Arrived
NEW PLAN IS DRAFTED
 SUBJECT TO APPROVAL
senboard Officials Called Away and Proposal Must He Indorsed By Them Before Being Sub mitted To Council

miIttu TO IOuncn
 On account of the nasty departure from the city of John P. Tillman, at torney for the Seaboard Air Line rail- road, who was acting in behalf of Charles H. Hix, vice president and general manager at the afternoon ses- sion of the yiaduct meeting, no final agreement was reached yesterday ex- cept conditional upon the approval of MT. Hix of the Seaboard.
 This failure to get final work done and the appearance of Mayor Culpepper Exum before the railroad executives yesterday formed the chief points of interest centered around the delibera- tions which had as their purpose the securing of viaducts for Birmingham on First avenue and probably Twenty eighth street MT. Hix attended the morning session but was obliged to leave at o'clock with w. L. Sed- don, his chief engineer. He left MT. Tillman in charge for his line, and MT. Tillman was hastily called to Mont gomsry and did not act.
 However, 1t was learned that a plan had been drafted in answer to the proposal of the city and If 1t is in- dorsed by MT. Hix of the Seaboard 1t will be communicated to the City Council through L. Sevier, chairman of the local committee. in the next few days.
 The meeting was called to order by Henry B. Spencer, vice president of the Southern railway, who Is chairma n of the executive committee. The rail . road men deliberated until about 1:30 o'clock when a committee of three is said to have been appointed to write up the formula. This committee was composed of MT. Spencer, Mir. Mcqueen of the Sloss- -She effield and another mem Der. The committee drafted the pro- posal and submitted it to the afternoon gathering. When the session adjourned absolutely no information would be sponsored either by MT. Sevier of the local committee or Mr. Spencer.
 The only information MT. Spencer would give was that the railroads were working comparatively to definite end and that an answer would be made the city on its proposal made several weeks ago. Further than this MT Spencer said he could not go. Hs said the meet ing had agreed to transmit what in- format tion they cared to give direct to the council and not to the public at large. MT. Sevier said he could not give out any facts connected with the meeting and anything secured by the public would have to come through the council and not through the railroads.
 The railroad men attending the meeting took the position that the courtesy if the great number of cit izens of Birmingham who are anxious 1y awaiting some action were informed prematurely of any contemplated ac- ton on the part of the railroads It is understood, however, that many essen tial details in the former plan have been changed and that the plan if ac cepted by the Seaboard management will be perfectly safe for the city to accept.
 The appearance of Mayor Exum was the real feature of the meeting. The mayor went to the gathering volun- rily and made a short plain talk to the railroad operators. He said in sub stance that the viaducts must be built and that 1t was not necessary in the mind of a business man to consume too much time on deliberations. He treated the executives with marked respect and courtesy, but there was no mistak- ing the fact that Mayor Exum left the impression that delays have gone far enough in his opinion and action Is in line.
 In speaking of his talk to the via duct men Mayor Exum said he only wished to impress upon the railroad representatives how perfectly patient the people had been upon the matter and let them know that the city de- sired action. He said he could go no further than to make this move now, but that if any more delays were a part of the viaduct programme he would have something further to say.
 The railroad executives were very quiet about the mayors talk and it was practically out of the question to secure comments upon it. However, Mr. Hix of the Seaboard said he was very much pleased with the position of the mayor and was with him so far as hop ing something would be done is con- cerned.
 1t was stated on the outside that the railroads desired to await the result of the commission form of government plan before work Is started. However, this was laughingly set aside by the railroad men who said they were not interested in any local political fights.
 The railroad operators did not ad- journ their meeting until late yester- day evening.
 Immediately afterward special trains from Birmingham carried the railroad visitors. only MT. Spencer of the South ern remained over night. He will re- turn to Washington probably today.