The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-06
President DeWberry Says Contract Was Let YeStcT-
 day for S2,OOO,OOO
ALL MONEY ON HAND
 10 FINANCE THE LINE.
Only Forty-six Miles Will Be Built at the Present Time, Extending From East Lake to Bessee
 mer With Spurs
 .ts5s
BY CLYDE W. ENNIS

contract was let yesterday by the Tidewater Railroad company for the con | struction of 46 miles of street railway in the limits of Birmingham. The con tract called for the expenditure of $2,OOO,- | GOO.
 | This was the announcement from the offices of the Tidewater company. which has been assured franchises from Bir- mingham conditional Shat work begin on the proposed street railway In 90 days The officers of the company said one of the largest firms of contractors in the United States had accepted the contact, and work would begin not later than two weeks from this time. It is said the com pany does not intend to wait for ihe ex- piration of the 20 days.
 J. M. Dewberry, president of the conl- pany, said yesterday that the contrac- tors had been over the line in the city of Birmingham and to the southern terminus at Bessemer. The engineers for the con tractors approved the route and the con- tract price, and upon the recommends tions of the engineers the contract was let.
 Berin Work on Fifth Avenue
 The first work contemplated by the con- tract is the laying of rails along Fifth avenue in Birmingham. In order to do this the present paving will be cut down the center and excavated in order to per init the sinking of the cross ties and rails into the bed of the road.
 The rails which will be used in the work will be purchased from the Tennes- see Coal, Iron and Railroad company. The announcement was made yesterday that the Tidewater Railroad company will con1ne its present construction and development to the city of Birmingham and Bessemer.
 The line will come into the eastern edge of Birmingham on Underwood ave nue In East Lake, and from that place will pass through the city proper via Fifth avenue to Bessemer. The work will be stopped at Bessemer and the spurs from East Lake to Chalkville and from Bessemer to Tuscaloosa will be held up until the new line has been in operation for some time.
 All Money Secured The promoters of the work announced that every cent of money that is required for the enterprise has been secured and there is nothing in the way of the begin ming of the construction
 The company has secured the attention and interest of New York financiers. who, 1t is stated. have put up funds with the contractors. who will begin the work in about two weeks.
 The city will within few days be given bond by the Tidewater company pro tecting the city against any damage to the paving along Fifth avenue. This bond assures the rapid replacing of the paw Ing, which will be torn up to put down the new rails The bond will be for $20,- GOO, and will have to be approved Dy the city engineer.
 President Dewberry said yesterday that when the franchises were given his com pany for 90 days longer the information would be sent to New York and the con tractor would immediately place a force of men In the field building the new car line.
 He, said after a wait of about two years, during which time the line had been through many storms, he was glad to say that the sky was clearing at last.
 Official Route for Line >
 The official route of the new inter urban railroad will be down UnderWooo avenue. East Lake, to Second avenue, south Woodlawn: in on the Georgia road and Spring street, Avondale; from that point the line will enter Birmingham dt- rectly under the Terminal station and down Fifth avenue to Agnes avenue, Graymont; from that point the line will enter Ensley over the Jefferson boule- yard, Seventeenth street and Avenues D and E, Ensley; from Ensley the line will go through Corey by way of the 'Possum valley pike, thence to Woodward and into Bessemer on Twentieth street.
 In addition to this main line one branch of the Tidewater will go through North Birmingham to Thomas, thence to Pratt City and over to the main line from the point of origin in Graymont. This short line will be a feeder for the main line and will intersect with the main line at a point not far from Graymont.
 President Dewberry Talks
 J. M Dewberry, president of the Tide7 water line, said yesterday: We have let a contract for the construction of our line from Underwood avenue East Lake, to Bessemer We. will permit that work to suffice for a while.
 ''The contract for that work calls for an outlay of $2,Oo00oO. I have no desire