The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-15
MAY MAKE PROPOSAL ID BUILD TWO WADUCTS In Case Commission Turns Down Agreement Now
 Pending
 1Nf LANES DECISION
 EXPECTED TODAY 3Fa
 Extended Hearing Held Yesterday at Which Railroad Officials, At
 torneys and Citizens Made Addresses 

Made Addresses
 It is confidently believed that Com missioner A. o. Lane will indicate his opinion relative to the viaduct con- troversy this morning, as the commis- sion composed of President Exum and Judge Lane received the last remaining information as to the proposition yes terday at a meeting of the railroad ex- ecutives and citizens. both friendly and unfriendly to the councilmanic agree mont.
 When several officials, attorneys and citizens had completed their arguments both for and against the agreement, Judge Lane, who will exercise the final power as to the proposal, said he would give his opinion today. President Exum. whose opinion Is expected to be in favor of the proposal, said that he might change his views to meet any consistent encouragement necessary to get the badly needed work under way.
 The general impression seems to be that Judge Lane will vote against the adoption of the agreement. In that case Ah 10 8dttiolCQ litdi tuCIS VIII lCSulL another agreement suitable to the views of Judge Lane and President Exum While nothing has been given out by the railroads or corporate in- tcrests who are the defendants in the controversy, it is said to be the ruling opinion that the railroad companies will agree to build both the First avenue and Twenty eighth street viaducts at one and the same time. In that event the cost of construction would be ma terially reduced, 1t is claimed, and the city's portion of the expense would therefore be reduced to the smallest idea has been seriously entertained by the corporate interests and 1t is ex- pected they will make such pro posal in lieu of the old one in the event the present agreement is not adopted. They believe however, that the city would be getting fair bargain to accept the plan as previously outlined and think there Is no bad bargain for any interested in the proposal unless it tis the corporations to pay the real money.
 .MapOtHer FlTSL OpedkeT
 The first argument in the proposal was made at the meeting yesterday morning by w. L. Mapother. vice pres ident of the Louisville and Nashville railroad. He was chosen spokesman because of information on viaduct agreements made in other southern cities. He began by saying that it was unnecessary for him to review the pro- posal from it's inception and he would therefore rehearse the main points briefly. He said the city was getting a good proposition and that the rail- roads were anxious for the work to pro ceed. His opinion was now that the companies were pining to spend about S1,000,000 on construction in this ter ritory. MT. Mapother pointed out that the total cost of the First avenue via duct would be in the neighborhood of S315,33S and that of this sum the part to be paid by the city was only s76.000 or thereabouts He said the city was getting something almost for nothing and that the portion of the munich pality was less than that of any corpor- ation participating in the agreement.
 
 Nashville vice president was followed by George Huddleston, who was for a short period an alderman of the board wLich drafted and accepted the viaduct agreement. He pointed out that the viaduct as proposed on First avenue was be only 50 feet wide, whereas the streets were 100 feet wide. He desired to know the reason for the lessening of the width of the streets. The fact that roadways are to be left open on each side of the viaduct for wholesale houses was given as a partial answer to the request of MT. Huddleston.
 McAnally Talks
 R. P. McAnally, formerly a recorder for the city. spoke against the pro- posal, saying that If this question were referred to the voters of Birmingham for the general opinion 1t would be killed overwhelmingly"
 MT. McAnally also suggested that in- stead of giving the city streets for the viaducts that the city give money. This point was followed by the suggestion that if the commissioners did give the railroads the streets as suggested that a real injury would be inflicted upon the citizens and the city.
 The most sensational opposition speech was from Allen J. Krebs, who said the corporate interests or some unidentified. influence had been at work ! : : -- ---