The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-30
RAILROADS At WORK
ON V|ADUCT PLAN
Counter Proposal Will Proba-
bly, Be Made Soon
DISCREPANCIES IN COST
Railroad Engineers Find Considerable
Variation Between Their Figures
and Those Submitted BY the
City Engineer
DISCREPANCIES IN COST

The viaduct proposal of the city of Bir-
mingham which was made several days
ago to the railroads. is in the hands of
the executive committee of the railroad
interests. The local committee having in
charge the question is daily awaiting
an expression from the executives as to
whether the city's plan will be accepted
The local committee, after receiving the
plan, forwarded it direct to the executives
city engineer, in regard to the cost of
subways estimated, as well as viaducts
estimated.
After the report of Mr.. Nicolson, copy
of which was furnished the railroad In
terests, an engineer for the companies
made an investigation. According to the
general impression the most vital show
ing of the railroad engineers is that a
subway at Twenty-eighth street is abb
solutely prohibative as compared to the
cost of a viaduct and this will not re-
ceive serious consideration from the rail-
road representatives at this time.
The question of viaduct at First ave-
the railroad interests involved, but work
will not start for some time to come.
1t is estimated by the city that via
duct on Twtnty-eighth street would cost
about 1921, 1872 10. while the railroads think
the coust would not be greater than $50.
900. 1t is estimated that cost of $1,000 per
year will be fixed to illuminate the VIA
duct along Twenty-elghth street. 1t is
stated by the railroads that subway
along Twenty eighth street will cost
about $4,000 with no fixed charges for
lights. An estimated cost of 1858, $50 SO
a subway along First avenue with a fix
ed charge of $1,000 for lights per year. A
viaduct along the same avenue is ap-
proximated to cost $34O,s31.75.
In addition to the cost of construc-
ton the report of the railroad engineers
does not agree with Mr.. Nicolson in re-
gard to several items in his report. The
charges on the removal of excavated
debris is not fixed in the railroad report,
but It is said to be high. The city en-
gineer, SO the railroad engineers claim,
did not make any provisions for the pass
ing of traffic during the construction.
AS this Is large item the railroad en-
gineers pointed this out to the commit
tee In filing the report
The engineer for the city In the subway
scheme provides a certain amount as a
cost for the foundations. This Is not
agreed to by the railroad men. 1t is
claimed that the city man does not go
deep enough in his foundation estimates
and that 1t would be a bad piece of judg-
ment to place structure costing several
| thousands dollars on a foundation that
would last perhaps no longer than 10
years or 20 years.
The report of the railroad engineers has
also been sent to the general officers
of the various interested companies and
the manifold discrepancies between that
of Mr.. Nicolson and that of the rail-
roads Is expected to bring about another
conference in Birmingham relative to the
grade situation.
While no definite announcement has
been made here 1t is generally expected
that the railroads will make a counter
plan for the city within the next two
weeks or SO.