The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-04
T|DEWATER LINE
 STRUCK A SNAG. Bessemer Churches Oppose
 Route Taken VERDICT FOR DEFENSE Fitzpatrick Loses $1O0,000 Damage Suit Against Southern and En-
 gineer Riser-Roosevelt
 Comes Next Week
VERDICT FOR DEFENSE

Comes Next Week
 Bessemer March 3.-(Special.) )-That ''the way of the transgressor is hard" is generally conceded; but from indica- tions past and present, the way of the Tdewater Railroad company is harder. After the smoke of battle has cleared away, and the company has compiled with the ultimatum of the city fathers of Bessemer and inflicted a few dents in the face of mother earth at point somewhere in the neighborhood of the west gate of Corey thus complying with the conditions of the Bessemer fran chise, new Richmond appears on tho. field in the shape of the Baptist and Presbyterian congregations of the irse churches of Bessemer. The church con- gregations propose to do battle against the proposed route of the new railroad. which passes in front of the two named church edifices, and to the congrega- tions aforesaid street car lines closer than city block are an abominatlon
 The route proposed will enter the city limits at Eighteenth street, thence ,o Second avenue, thence to Twentieth street, thence to Fifth avenue, thence back to Eighteenth street. This route will make loop around the Baptist church, and will pass in front of the Presbyterian church on it's longest side The grievance of the two churches is q reasonable one, as both of them were formerly located on Nineteenth street and at a great sacnhce removed to their no nfh than to get away from the car line with it's ever-present noise and dust. And, furthermore, these two congregations have erected buildings that are credit to themselves and the city
 So anxious were the Baptlsts to move that they almost gave away their for mer holdings, but the Presbyterians, with the "canniness" of their Scotch ancestry, held on and sold at a fair price.
 This afternoon the deacons and elders and deacons some more, met at their respective churches to protest against a return of conditions that they had ap- parently overcome at a great cost and much personal sacrifice. While oil and water will not mix, yet the immersion ists' and the "predestinarians' have joined together for the time being, to wage a fight against a common enemy From all accounts when the city coun- cil meets again in regular session and complaints and grievances are heard, in the parlance of the street, there will, be something doing"
 Fitzpatrick Loses Damage Suit
 After being out less than three hours the jury in the case of Fitzpatrick ys the Southern Railway company and J M. Riser returned verdict as follows; -''We, the jury, find for the defendant . The case was one of the hardest fought in the, history of the city court of Bes- semer. and, owing to the awful nature of the accident which brought about the suit. and the prominence of the parties involved, aroused more than general in- terest. The amount of damages claimed was $100000 and the suit was instituted by J. T. Fitzpatrick for the death of his daughter, Miss Margaret, who, with several others, was killed in a collision between a Southern tram and an auto mobile filled with young people on their way to West Lake, pleasure resort near Bessemer. The accident occurred on railway crossing near the lake.
 The case has been on trial all week and nearly 100 witnesses have been eX amined. The case was ably presented by the opposing counsel. and close at tention to the testimony wass,given oy the jury, the youthful appearance If which was the cause of much comment Judge Gwins charge was able.
 Attorney PinlSney Scott, counsel for the plaintiff, stated that an appeal to ,he supreme court would be taken.
 Col. Roosevelt to Visit Bessemer
 In response to an invitation extend ed by the Board of Trade of Bessemer, through it's president, Capt. Ii. w., Crook. Col. Theodore Roosevelt has expressed his willingness to make q ,1-- short address to the people of the city.
 The invitation was to have Colonel Roosevelt make this one of the stop ping places of his southern tour, but the route and dates had been com pleted before the receipt of the invi- tation. II the proper arrangements can be made the distinguished visitor will make his stop here while on his way to Jackson, Miss. at which point he is booked after his visit to Bir- mingham.
 The full details will be given later and an opportunity given the people of the city to see and hear the 'hu- man seidlitz powder"
 Local Items
 Bert G. Covell, the we'll known pho tographer of Birmingham, is in the city taking a number of views of the public buildings sch ools, industries and other points of interest in the Bessemer dis trict which will be used in the Besse mer "booster" that is being prepared by the board of trade.
 Camp Rose McAdory, United Confed crate Veterans. will meet Saturday morning at 10 o'clock at the city hall for the purpose of electing delegates and sponsors for the annual reunion at Little Rock. Ark.
 The officers of the Bessemer Athletic club are getting the boys that will compose the baseball team together and will commence practicing in a few days. They hope to have as strong a team as the one that won the cham pionship last season.
 The business men of Brighton are CO., era ting with the Bessemer Board of Trade and will help to secure and locate new industries for the district
 Personal Mention
 Miss Callie Wood and Miss Allie Buck are the guests of MiLs Eula Wood at Blocton.
 w. A. Kirkpatrick, who has been seriously i'll at his home on Fourth avenue, is much improved.
 Mrs Iris Taylor has returned from a pleasant trip to South Alabama
 Mrs. l. J. Roll of Dora is visiting her sister, Mrs. J. J. Tyson.
 Mrs. l.. B. Bradley has as her guest Mrs. E. Hendricks of Newcastle
 c,1 Irrliol, has left fnr New York