The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-28
TEACHERS IDEA OF GREAT BOULEVARD Proposes Route From East Lake to Bessemer
  COMPARES OTHER CITIES Thinks It Should Enter Birmingham Over 11th Avenue, North, Giving Panoramic Views of the En- tire Valley Below
COMPARES OTHER CITIES

After talking with a few prominent
 men of Birmingham and Bessemer they
 all agree with me that the time is well
 ripe to boost the construction of the
 boulevard of 100 feet width from East Lake via Birmingham to Bessemer," said Charles W. Thatcher, the good roads
 apostle, who was in Birmingham yester- day
 q was asked to look over all available
 best course for this important highway. "A very important point to consider is
 the best available entrance to the city.
 This boulevard should pass through Bir-
 mngham as near the business section as possible. This idea has been carried out in most other large cities. Take Chicago,
 Cleveland and Columbus, for instance. In coming into Chicago from the north the
 entrance to the city is made over the fla
 nous Sheridan boulevard and from the
 south over the Lake drive. Those who
 have entered Chicago from both directions will remember the delightful stretches of lake front with passing glimpses of ideal Iy kept parks; and from the south one
 remembers the delightful view of the Chi cago university and various other pub lie buildings.
 Now, these happy impressions. full of indescribable charm, are the greatest ad- vertising medium within the reach of this
 wondrous city. The east and west en- trance to Cleveland over the new 100- foot boulevard, leaves a most pleasing impression of this city, noted for it's
 artistic parks and boulevards. And one who has entered Columbus, O., over the National pike boulevard, which merges
 into Broad street, can never forget the delightful impression of dream in fairy
 land, generously bejeweled by fragrant
 flower gardens and close cropped lawns.
 One will think and dream and talk about
 Columbus for years. And one always
 wants to return to this city of fairy gar
 dens.
 "At this time I would suggest that this | 1O0-foot boulevard enter East Lake on the north side of the city and enter Bir-
 mngham over Eleventh avenue, north. A
 great portion of this avenue is either
 undeveloped or in a crude state of devel-
 opment. And one account of this the
 right of way would be inexpensive com pared to other routes. From Birming-
 ham to Bessemer the boulevard could ap- propriately keep slightly north of the | fair grounds, touching the suburbs of Ensley then through Corey down the valley to Bessemer;, This route would I be practically level and picturesque as
 well. At several points it would skirt beauty-laden highlands, which if not all ready, will soon be studded with artistic connection at East Lake with the
 planned akes-to-the-Guf highway from
 the north and the Atlanta and New York
 highway from the east via Gadsden.
 "One of the most desirable features of this route is that the railroads could be
 crossed by concrete viaducts at a small expense. And another feature that should impress every loyal citizen of | Birmingham is that the approach of this | 1o0-foot boulevard to the business sec | ton of Birmingham is on an elevated | SlTeLCU Ol BIOuliu, SlOhlIB up lHe SKY scrapers and public buildings to good advantage. Take trip over Eleventh I avenue a-foot some bright. sunshiny 1 morning from the east and note the de- l lghtful view and the happy impression | that thrills you as you look at the business section of this wonder wrought city. And without question in l a short time this boulevard would be ex- tended from Bessemer to the Tuscaloosa county line, via Johns. And with the eastern end continued north to Village | Springs and east via Trussville toward
 Gadsden this would give over 50 miles of | boulevard passing through Jefferson
 county. | Now let us take but 30 miles of it and estimate the cost and increase of real estate values. This 30 miles of boule- yard with 100 feet right-of-way and CO., foot roadway should be constructed with prison labor for $500O a mile, making $780,
 GOO for the 20 miles. Estimating upon the l basis of five lots to the block and 12 blocks to the mile, there would be $500 | lots fronting immediately on the boule- I yard. We can conservatively estimate an average increase of 5000 lot on all land | fronting the boulevard. This is far from
 an exaggeration, as lots in the center of
 the city will go at once from 5000 to
 SEQ. 900. One stretch of land not on but near the 100-foot boulevard entering | Cleveland advanced in two years from
 5000 an acre to $50,000. Calculated upon the average basis of 5000 & lot advance the 3eG0 lots would show an advance of
 ss. 600, GOO, and some 1000 lots near the boulevard would advance on an average | of s2O0 a lot This would amount to
 s1. .4OOO O0o. And this added to the s3,6o0,0OO would foot up the handsome sum of s5.- coo. 900 in land values by the construction
 of 30 miles of boulevard at a cost of $50, GOO. A.
 where can you enter into any legiu- mate investment that will bring you such fabulous returns?''
 AANR - -