The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-19

which would supply the needs of por-
ton of the city of Birmingham which is
now i'll served or not at ALL by the pres
ent company, which has a monopoly of
the street railway business In Birmfng-
ham.
After the filing of our petition practical
ly all of the property owners and per-
sons living along the route of the pro-
posed car line Joined in the petition to
the City Council, urging the passage of
the franchise on the terms asked for,
those citizens evidently approaching the
fact that the building Of such line
would be of great benefit to that section
of the city in which they lived and owned
property.
Our petition was referred to your COM
mttee, and after many delays, occa-
stoned as we understand it, by the oppo-
sition of the Birmingham Railway, Light
and Power company, a report was mad
apparently favorable to the FRANCHISE, but
with reference of the matter to sub
committee TO arrange the details thereof.
After this reference to the subcommit-
tee, a member of that committee suggest
ed that the route for reaching the center
Of town be changed so that our line
should be constructed across Eighteenth
street. in lieu of Twenty-second street,
indicating that the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company would with
draw its opposition If this route be adopt
ed.
We had this route investigated by our
engineers, and ourselves Investigated the
feasibility of its use for practical pur-
poses, and we decided that so far as we
are concerned not only would II be I'M
wise to attempt to use this dangerous
crossing, but that on account of objections
of the railroad company and the public
to such hazardous operation, 1t is i'm
t,<o sci, Ia fnr lie n consider
Eighteenth street at grade.
These considerations were presented to
the special committee. The suggestion
of possible viaduct at Eighteenth street
was offered, but as you and all others
who regard such suggestion from the
practical standpoint must realize, a VIA
duct crossing Is too far in the future to
be considered at this time. These con-
sicerations were also presented to the
special committee, and then as we under
stood the special committee instructed the
city attorneys and our attorneys to draft
provisions along the lines indicated by 1t
to safeguard the city's interest, but In line
generally with the terms of the FRANCHISE
requested by us.
These Instructions, as we understood
them. were crystalized into additional
sections by our attorney and submitted to
the city attorney. Subsequent to that,
and without notice to us, the subcommit-
tee met, and in addition to the imposition
of terms OF peculiar hardship, and which
have never been imposed, so far as we
are advised upon applicants for fran
chises before, further agreed to report to
this committee that our franchise should
not be granted over Twenty-second street,
but should be granted over Eighteenth
street, a route which we not only have
not asked for, but which we find 1t abso-
lutely impossible to use.
In view, therefore, of this attitude of
the subcommittee, and Of the action OF
this committee in imposing a $3.50 block
age charge upon us. two and one-half
times the amount ordinarily charged, We,
therefore, beg leave to withdraw our APP
plication for franchise. Very respectfully,
w. ]. CAMERON,
F. Y. ANDERSON,
GEO. c. KELLEY.