The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-20
WOOD BLOCK PAVING CONTRACT AGAIN
 IS TRANSFERRED Has Now Been Awarded to Southern CreOsOted Wood
 Block Company
COMMISSION FEELS
 VERY MUCH RELIEVED
Eugene Fies of Southern Asphalt Company Surrenders Contract For Good of Birmingham
 and in Name of Progress"

| The Southern Asphalt and Construction paving contract yesterday before the city commissioners and that work was let to the Southern Creosoted Wood Block com pany of New Orleans Thus the wood block question in the downtown district was finally agreed upon and the city com mssioners breathed sigh of relief
 The work of laying wood block-and only wood block-downtown. in lieu of Belgian blocks. was first let to the Me- Cartin Construction company. difficulty arose and that company requested the commission to allow the Southern Asphalt and Construction company to perform the work. That was agreed to by the com mission. The property owners then ex- pressed wish that the work be per- formed only by interests engaged in wood l block work and fully experienced In that | type of construction Eugene Fies, presi- dent of the Southern Asphalt company, was inclined to relinquish the contract. | except on the grounds that his company could not do as good class of work .as the other fellow" The matter sasslr went into state of negotiations, result ing in the compromise effected yester- day.
 Letter From Earle | When the commissiin met a letter was | read from Samuel Earle of the citizens committee favoring wood block, offering certain concessions. The commissioners turned to President Eugene Fies, who held the contract, and who said:
 Gentlemen, in the interest of the prop erty owners downtown. the city and the general progress of Birmingham. we are willing to waive our contract on the work and are willing for you to award the construction to the Creosoted Wood Block company. We have studied this question very closely and are agreeable to tho transfer for the good of Birmingham"
 The position of Mir. Fies and his com pany caused favorable discussion at the meeting and comments from tho wood block officials, one of whom said that his company appreciated fully tho posi- ton of the Birmingham company.
 Arrange Transfer
 The commission requested capt-t- ro.-ss city attorney, to arrange the transfer of the contract to the new company. which was done yesterday. The work of replacing the Belgian blocks with the wood blocks will start perhaps January l. as the commercial interests do not rel- sh the idea of having the streets still more torn upi during the Christmas holi- days than tBey are now.
 The comm ssioners made it plain yes- terday to thf new contractors. as did the property owners, that the best job of wood block ever placed in the south was expected on this work. which extends from Eighteenth street on First avenue to Twenty first street. and from Railroad avenue oil the south to Fourth avenue on the north along Twentieth street.
 Other than the final settlement of ths Wood block question the commissioners did lttle work other than routine. The entire board was present as President Exun and MT. Weatherly returned home Tuesday. The next meeting will be held Friday.