The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-16


 vey to deliver addresses enlivened by Reclamation and Drainage of Swamp Lands These gentlemen are trained in addressin gaudiences and the occasion should be a most interesting one.
 "She routine business of the chamber will be disposed as rapidly as circum- stances permit, and the meeting will not be long drawn out. Trusting that you will be present. I am, yours truly,
 RICHARD W. MASSEY, President ->~>-r>--~>~-~-~->-~-~-~-~- -~-~--~-~~~---~~-~~~~ pany to the west line of Thirty-second street. The city also agrees that upon the construction of the First avenue yiaduct and approaches it will provide that those portions of First avenue described as fol- lows, namely: First Beginning at point on the northerly line of First avenue 4s.7 feet westerly from it's intersection with the westerly line of Twenty-seventh street, thence easterly along said north erly line of First avenue, distance of 19o feet more or less, to a point 691 feet easterly from It's intersection with the east line of Twenty y-seventh street, thence southeasterly 115 feet, more or less, to a point on the south line of First avenue, which point is 119S feet easterly from the intersection of said south line of First avenue with the east line of Twenty-sev- enth street (produced), thence westerly along the south line of First avenue 294 feet. more or less, to point on the said south line of First avenue 93.S feet, wes- terly from it's intersection with the west erly line of Twenty-seventh street, thence northely 112 feet more or less, to the point of beginning. Second: Beginning at point on the north line of First ave nue, which point is S7 feet easterly from the intersection of the said north line of First avenue and tho east line of Twen- ty-eighth street, thence easterly along the said mort hline of First avenue to it's intersection with the west line of Thirty second street, thence southeriy along the west line of Thirty-second street to it's in tersection with the south line of First avenue. thence westerly along the said south line of First avenue to a point 75 feet easterly from it's intersection with the east line of Twenty-eighth street, thence northeasterly, parallel with the main line of the South and North Ala bama Railroad company, 235 feet, more or less, to the point of beginning, be closed as street at the present grade, and the dedication thereof to be vacated in so far as present grade is concerned; and further, that upon the construction of the Twentyeighth street viaduct, it will also close that portion of Twenty eighth street between the south line of First avenue and the north line of Ave nue as a street at present grade, and vacate the decication thereof in so far as present grade is concerned, the viaducts said street to constitute the only dedica- ton highways between said points.
 Shall Bear Cost
 "The contract further provides that the city shall bear the cost of the approaches to said viaducts; the cost of the ap- breaches to the First avenue Viaduct is estimated by the companies to be $0,900; and the cost of the approaches to the Twenty-eighth street viaduct, being now uncertain (as it may be six years off) would, of course, depend upon the prices of material and labor at tbat time. It is true that the city would have six years within which to pay said sum of s70, 9o0 the payments to be made in six yearly installments of $11,s16.66, without interest: but it will be seen that this would amount to nearly $l00O month, In addition to these yearly payments, which would be extremely burdensome, the city is required by the contract to close and vacate the streets, avenues and alleys above named. have had the city engineer to furnish me the number of lots that would be affected injuriously by the closing of these streets, avenues and alleys, and the same is found to be 179. 8 lots and by the act of the legislature au- thorizing the closing and vacating of the streets, it is provided that the city shall pay or cause to be paid to the owners of lands abutting upon any suchs closed streets or public highways, such dam ages as may accrue. I need not tell you that in cases of this kind, jures are ac- customed to award liberal damages against a city or other corporations; and I calculate that the sum total of dam ages and costs which would be entaied upon the city would be more than it could pay and maintain it's credit. It is true that the act is so drawn that the city may contract with the corporations in terested for a division of the damages suffered on account of the construction of the viaducts but 1t will be observed that when 1t comes to the assessment or damages for the closing of the streets, avenues and alleys, the city only is lia- ble. and the damages accruing from the construction of the viaducts would be mere bagatene as compared to the dam 
 ages which would accrue from the clos ing of the streets, avenue and alleys. The streets, avenues and alleys sought to be closed aggregate 2S and Sl5.1ooo acres.
 Unduly Magnified
 Tn my opinion, the paramount impor- tance of constructing viaducts at this time, has been unduly magnifed, and that while they are desirable, they are not ln- dispensable and even if the two viadncts mentioned iwere constructed, the city would stir lbe in a wretched condition as to the tossings at Twentieth street, near Moray avenue; at Eighteenth street, near Fir MiNenues at Fourteenth street. near Aavenue; at Twenty-fourth street Einth avenue; at Twenty fourthjlreCtS near Avenue A; at Nine teen acv e.tand Ninth avenue; at Thir- teen4la anlAnd Third avenue. and sev- eral d, inc fLt I could mention.
 Fir custonEt the city is now in no