The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-16
WADUCTS NOW
 DEPEND ON LANE Only Two Commissioners
 Will Have Vote EXUM FAVORS ACTION If Judge Lane Votes Aye to the the Street Closing Proposition the Construction Will Be-
 gin at Once

In the viaduct question the commis- sioners of Birmingham will face what Is expected to be one of their most try ing puzzles. The viaduct law, confer ring upon the city government the power to close streets in an affected area where viaducts are wanted, has passed the lawmakers and it is only to be signed by Governor o'Neal to be- come law. When it Is signed the rail- roads are ready to go straight to work on erecting them, providing the com missioners order the streets enumerated in the compact closed.
 AS the proposition now stands only two men will have a vote They will be President Culpepper Exum and Asso- ciate Commissioner Lane. Commissioner Weatherly Is not expected to vote on the matter by reason of his past con nection with the Southern Railway company, which is one of the corpora tions interested in the viaduct aues- ton. He appeared at Montgomery in favor of the law and has consistently advocated it's adoption by the legisla- ture. For this reason he will hold aloof at this period. President Exum, it is well known, favors the viaduct agree ment,. and if the viaducts are ever erected they will stand as monument to his unceasing zeal in their favor. He appeared before the lawmakers in favor of the bill and has worked long and faithfully for it's enactment.
 Lanes Position Unknown l Commissioner Lanee is the last man. He n viaduct proposal and does not, offici- ally, know the first thing about it. While the matter was being threshed out he was holding court and what he knows comes from newspaper reports. However, there will be no half way investigation on Judge Lanes part when it comes to deciding the question: He may make or unmake the work of the president and the lawmakers by his vote. If he votes no" as to the viaduct proposal, where will the oues- tion find solution? That is the burn ing Interrogation that Is being studied by railroad and city hall officials with profound attention.
 No one can fathom the position of Judge Lane on any proposition until he rises slowly at the commission meeting and puts oyer his convictions. Until the law is signed and brought before the commissioners officially, his posi- tion will not be known, unless he takes 8 position that silence is of no merit and desires to place his views before the public.
 As the situation now faces the city and the commissioners it is one of great I'M, Exum matched against the negative of Judge Lane would make the situation an interesting one.
 Railroads Are Ready
 The officials of the railroads agreed yesterday that they were ready to get to work whenever the streets were or dered closed, If the commissioners act this week. which Is possible. the rail- roads gill select an engineer to draw the plans and win make the necessary appropriation. M
 Bids will be asked for and first steps will be taken forthwith to relieve a great danger at the Sloss crossing The railroads will complete the visduot and pay for it. The city by the terms Of tine agreement made heretofore by the council will give their note for the ap- breaches, payable one-fifth every year for five years. That will be in payment of the viaduct paralleling First avenue. When that is completed and paid for the railroads will begin the construc- tion of viaduct on Twenty-eighth street opening up considerable terri tory.
 The viaduct question by reason of, it's recent complexities is crea ting wide speculatio ilt this city and its solution will be awaited with eagerness. Judge Lane it appears, holds the key o-the situation.