The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-19
This Conclusion Reached At St. Louis Meeting
 Saturday L|GHTNER STATES
 PLANS FOR PRESENT
Illinois Central, Frisco and Central of Georgia VIII Occupy Yards-A Large Number Will Be
 Employed

The Thomas yards of the Illinois Central railroad which have been idle since their construction will be opened and occupied October 1. This was concluded at a meeting of the officials held in St. Louis which was attended by A. D. Lightner of Birmingham.
 The yards belong to the Illinois Cen tral and the Frisco. but In addition to these companies the Central of Geor- gia, which is owned by the Illinois Cen tral, will also occupy a portion of them.
 The model shops which were con structed at Thomas at cost of several hundred thousand dollars will be opened and for the first time the music of the hammers and the blast of repair crews will be heard coming from this plant. This means that many expert machinists will be employed to care for the great amount of work at the shops and yards and large organiza- operating them.
 A. D. Lightner, who last night gave the announcement of the occupancy, said a meeting of the operating officers of the three interested railroads will be held in this city Tuesday, at which time the few remaining details will be gone over and worked out smoothly for the interest of all concerned.
 The shops and employees of the Frisco and Central of Georgia, which have long occupied a place in the heart of Birmingham, will be removed to the new site with the exception of a few men who will handle the passenger trains of the Frisco. The trains of ev- cry kind belonging to the two other companies will be cared for at Thom- as. The three companies will in all probability employ the new machinists and other employees for the new work from those who are now employed by the Frisco system in this city.
 In addition to opening up one of the best railroad shops that has ever been constructed in Birmingham, the remov- al from Birmingham to Thomas Is of great moment. All the grade cross | ing danger affecting streets iron | Twelfth to Twenty-seventh will be | eliminated. The freight and the pas senger trains that cross these points daily will be fewer and the danger will | be decreased accordingly. It was an new line through Norwood had been | completed that almost every train that now operates into Birmingham from the west would be operated in some way as to keep them from passing through the principal streets and avenues of the city
 The line which now parallels the l North Ensley car line, which is used I by the Frisco, will be almost com pletely abandoned. This will do away with a great danger said to be existing g by reason of that track.
 l MT. Lightner said last night in speaking of the removal
 "The occupancy of the Thomas yards October Is of great importance to Birmingham. Besides opening nr a new
 industry 1t means the complete elim
 ination of the dangers from grade crossings said to be existing along what | is known as the Frisco tracks ocupy- ing Tenth avenue. The yards will em- ploy quite number of workmen of various classes, most of whom will be taken from the present organizations The operating officers of the three interested lines will hold meeting l., Rfrmin gham this week to handle .l,o ranaininR details"