The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-12
MAKE NO SPLIT IN
 HIGHLANDS ROUTE Commission Decides To De-
 fer Entire Question CITIZENS ARE HEARD
Numerous Protests Made Yester- day-President Ford Appears and Speaks in Favor of
 the Plan ~

The plan to rearrange the North High lands and South Highlands car service in such way as to make the two lines sep arate and distinct was abandoned yester- cay before the Board of Commissioners by the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. This is the second time the plan has been swept away by public disapproval \
 In the place of the proposed cut of the through line the officials requested the commission to grant them permission to First avenue to Sixth, but to split the lines in a general way as first proposed.
 The commissioners declined to act upon the question yesterday and nothing will be done for several days by the govern ing body. a
 President A. IT. Ford of the Birrning- ham Railway, Light and Power company requested that all South Highland cars he permitted to come into the city as now operated, go to sixth avenue and Nine teenth street and return the same way to the end of the line on the South High lands In this way Twentieth street would be served as 1t is now by the same car service. It was proposed by Pres- be permitted to come into the city on Twentieth stree, thence to First avenue, thence to Twenty-first street. thence to Second avenue, thence to Twentieth street. and out as at present The off cias displayed maps to- the commission CTS of the proposed line and seemed will ing to abide by any decision rendered.
 Harding Appears
 Several citizens appeared before the commissioners yesterday. anticipating that the question of a separation in the car service would come up. President w. F. c. Harding of the First National bank for the first time in the history of the commissioners addressed that body on the proposed change. He said 1t was objec- tionable to the business men on Twen- tieth street and recited in many ways how the change would be injurious to the property owners on what is now regarded as the main artery of the city. MT. Hard
  commissioners. He was followed by for mer Mayor w. M. Drennen, who said that merchants east of Twentieth street were certainly unfairly treated by the proposed change and he insisted that the commis- sioners refuse to sanction such an ar engagement.
 E. B. Smyer also made short talk, Gatti,,p o,,t further obiactions o the DrO- posed change. In addition to the protests of the prominent citizens, Ferd Marx pre- sented a petition to the commissioners signed by over 150 persons, residents Of the North Highlands, who objected to any change whatever in the car service. It was represented that In changing the service fewer cars would probably be operated on the north line.
 When President Ford asked the com mssioners to act upon the requests as speedily as possible, as the company de- sired to get to work, Judge Lane request ed that permission be held up until some later date. Commissioner Weatherly con- cured and the matter ended there for the time being at least.
 Other Matters Taken Up
 The commissioners met yesterday morn- ing with President Exum away and with Associate Commissioner Weatherly pre- siding as president pro tenn. The body first heard the controversy as to the street car changes, after which numerous small matters were taken up and adjust ed as rapidly as possible. Many details such as permits, appropriations and such like were acted upon and the. meeting adjourned without having acted upon any pending questions of large moment Formal action was deferred on the bond sales because of the absence of President Exum.