The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-22
SEAbOARD SPENDING
S26O,0O0 ON LINE
Wooden Trestles Abandoned
and Tunnels Reinforced
TALKS OF PLAN
General Superintendent of Transporter
ton BeIietes Fall Business VIII
BE Good-Discusses Extern
sion to Admission

An appropriation of 100000 has been
made by the Seaboard Air Line railroad
with which to improve the Birmingham
division. Announcement to this effect
was made yesterday by H. w. Stanley,
general superintendent of transportation
for that company. He came to Birming-
ham yesterday accompanying two fl
nanciers of New York who are making
an inspection of the Seaboard properties.
The improvements include the absolute
abandonment of wooden trestles and the
construction of six tunnels between Bir-
mingham. and Atlanta.
The. Seaboard In replacing trestles de-
cided that it would be better to fill in the
cuts with dirt and dicontinue wooden
trestles. The trestles over streams will
hereafter be constructed of steel.
The tunnels afe now being lined with
concrete and when competed 100000 will
have been expended on these improve
ments. One hundred thousand dollars is
to be used in replacing trestles.
Mr.. Stanley In speaking of the work
said yesterday: THE Seaboard manage
ment realized that progressive railroad
Ing demanded the abandonment of wood
en- trestles. They frequently burn, often
need repairing and sometimes result in
serious accidents and delays. We have
started to work to do away absolutely
with all of them on the Birmingham d.
vision. The future trestle points will be
filled in with dirt while those over
streams will be of steel The Seaboard is
planning extensive improvements in the
right-of-way work and we intend to give
Birmingham and all the cities served by
our line the best possible road equipment
and service.
Last winter we were forced to heavy
expense by tunnels caving in and stop
ping the normal operations We have de-
cided to spend about $4,000 in lining
every one of our tunnels with concrete
and steel. This will render them abso-
lutely fire-proof and they will last for
years without renewals. These two items
constitute rather large appropriations for
this season. The railroads have been
feeling along and have held up many i'm
provements, but we decided that these
were imperative, hence they were author
lied"
In speaking of general business condi-
tons, Mr.. Stanley said
Business in Birmingham has been fine
Our trains have been operating overtime
and the haulage has been very large
The general railroad situation is i'm
proved over this time last year. Our Of
ficers feel very optimistic over the out
look for fall business. There seems to
be little unrest among railroads just now
and the feeling is concurred In by all the
leaders that a fair deal will be the por-
ton of all the railroads.
When questioned in regard to the con-
struction of the Seaboard to Admission
Mr.. Stanley said:
THAT question has been up for con-
sideration from time to time for several
years. The officers believe that some
thing will be done but we cannot state
with any degree of positiveness when the
work will be authorized. The line will
eventually be constructed but We have
been rather hard pressed for some time
and have been looking ahead very care
fully"
Mr.. Stanley will leave today for Nor
folk. He visited Ensley, Bessemer and
many points In Birmingham yesterday
accompanied by the New York f.nanciers.
Later he returned to the Hotel Hillman
when the visiting bankers entertained
him and It. w. Parsons at dinner.