The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-08-12
Subway or Viaduct Will Cost About the Same-Another
 Meeting Monday
ALDERMEN OPPOSED
 TO CLOSING STREETS
First Avenue Will Be Taken Up First But the City Will Also Contend for Crossing Along Twen-
 ty-eighth Street

The City Council committees last night decided to leave 1t to subcommittee of seven and the city engineer to draft a counter proposition on the viaduct question.
 The sentiment which seemed unanimous among the aldermen last night was that the streets and avenues must not be closed forever. but only so long as they are being used by the Sloss furnace and the Alabama Great Southern Railroad shops; that the First avenue proposition must be taken up first. but that the Southside must be connected with the Northside at no late date.
 The situation is now reversed, and in stead of the city accepting the railroads proposition, the railroads must follow the directions of the city. we intend to give the railroads a square deal" said Alderman Dan Hogan last night, Out we do not intend to tie up our streets and avenues so that future development can not be looked after.
 "The viaducts or subways are going to be built on a reasonable agreement or the city can at any moment order the streets opened through the Sloss furnace at Thirtieth street. and through the Ala bama Great Southern shops on Twenty sixth street. These streets, under the original plat of the Elyton Land com pany are supposed to be open, and can be opened at any time. This, of course, will never be necessary, as I believe the railroads now mean business"
 Viaduct or Subway Undecided
 It has not yet been decided whether viaducts or subways shall be construct ed The railroads state that subway can be built and properly drained across Twenty-eighth street at about the same cost as viaduct. Engineers have not yet investigated the drainage of First avenue The railroad engineers estimate the cost on First avenue at $450,000 and Twenty eighth street $375,000 Many of the aldermen favor the subway. After hearing Chairman L. Sevier's ex- planation of the proposition the four council committees last night instructed Chairman M. J. Gregg to appoint com mittee of seven, with himself as chair man, and the city engineer, to draw up counter proposition on the First avenue project and report to the big committee next Monday night. Twenty-eighth street was left to be taken up later. This committee will be appointed this morn ing and will meet this afternoon. | The aldermen present at the meeting last night were Chairman M. J. Gregg, Burnett, D. R. Copeland, Gambill, Moore, J. R. Copeland, Perdue, Williams, Ho- gan, Morgan, Metcalfe Martin, starbuck. Mcdonald. Causey, Gibson, Mackinaw, Rogers and Mcdowell.
 Among the citizens and railroad men present were A D. Lightner of the Fris- co, James Weatherly of the Southern, L.. Sevier of the Southern A. G. Smith of the Alabama Great Southern, T. E. Brooks of the Louisville and Nashville. J. w Mcqueen of the Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company, J. T. Stokeley of the Southern, W. D. Nesbitt. chairman of the state railroad commission, Culpep per Exum, Gen. E. w. Fucker, John L. Parker.
 Railroads Invited to Explain
 When the meeting was called to order the proposition which was prepared by the railroads and corporations affected was read Walter Moore then asked that the railroad men present be given hear ing. Chairman L. Sevier stated that they had nothing to say. "The proposition is definite and we simply await your ac- tion." MT. Moore then made motion that a committee of seven, including the city engineer. be appointed to draft counter proposition and report to the big committee Monday night.
 Alderman John Copeleand protested that the committee should not adjourn until the matter was further discussed. and thought that they should at least de eide which of the viaducts should first be tuilt, but MT. Moore explained that it was not his intention to cut off debate.
 "As I understand it," said MT. Moore. this is proposition to build one or the other of these viaducts We don't want to build one and then stop. Both must be built. The thing should be put in tangible shape so that we can act with judgment"
 Upon the request of Alderman Perdue that MT. Sevier explain why he wanted the streets and avenues closed forever, MT. Sevier distributed maps of the sec ton affected, and made the explanation.