The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-09
Heartily Tired of Delay Tac- tics Employed by Two of
 the Roads Involved
CITIZENS COMMENT
 ON DELAY IN WORK
Commissioner Says Obstructionists Will Have to Pay Dearly for Trying to Hold Back Prog
 ress of the City

TeSS O1 tHe Ollg
 Although Commissioner James Wealth. ery has announced very positive policy towards what lie terms "bickering rail- roads in regard to the Norwood viaduct delay. he was visited yesterday by D. F. stovar general agent for the Illinois Central, who wished to confer about the apportlonment of cost.
 MT. Weatherly listened patiently to MT stovan and Augustus Benners, attorney for the Illinois Central and subsequent ly announced that he did not propose 10 grant any further delays. He gave a soft answer but his determination was unmistakable.
 The railroads involved have angered MT weatherly intensely, so much so that he said yesterday: "The most hurtful cit izens we have are railroads that have no- broad policies or have officials who are unpatriotlc." He added that the Louis vile and Nashville was the most pro gressve railroad and T. E. Brooks the most progressive official here.
 Mr. Stovall however, wanted MT weatherly to discuss with him the cost that had been assessed in constructing the viaduct in Norwood. It seems that the Southern railway has agreed 10 pay so per cent of the total cost and tho remaining 10 per cent is to be paid by the Illinois Central, the Frisco lines and the Birmingham Belt. Mir. Weatherly is convinced that the apportionment is cor rect, for he said
 Cost Figured Carefully
 q have no idea of allowing this cost business to delay the construction of the Norwood viaduct. The cost has been figured out carefully by MT. Nicholson for the city and Mir Durham, principal assistant engineer for tho Southern rail way.
 The Southern railway has right of way of 100 feet, while the other lines interested have only a right of way of 90 feet The engineers figured that the Southern did have that much space, but did not use all of it in the span that is to be built. In addition, the other lines, 1t is claimed. enjoy as full trast,c rights as the Southern and have just as much access through Norwood to the Terminal station. MT. Weatherly told MT Stovall pointedly and emphatically that he believed the apportionment was beside the question right now and that the main thing was to build the via duct.
 dust Be Built Right Away
 T was not informed by Mr. stovall W hat his company intended to do," said MT. Weatherly, "but that viaduet is to be built and that right away. The rail roads were permitted by the city 10 change around several streets in Nor wood. provided they would build that vIaduct. It has been months since the city ordered that work to proceed. Yet they have delayed and delayed until I am completely out of patience with them. Unless the work is started on that via duct soon .he railroads will be forced to pay dearly for trying to hold back the progress of this city I know of no more hurtful citizens than unprogressive rail roads"
 The Southern railway, which com pany is to bear the heaviest financial burden in constructing the viaduct through L. sevier, general agent, ln- formed the commissioners some time :, .ra +l,at t1ta oonno,u ryau NuilIino to with the construction of the viaducts. The commissioners have been trying since that time to get the llli nois Central and Frisco lines to make d move resembling something tangible in connection with the improvement.
 Appealed to Them as Friend
 q appealed to the railroad men as a friend" said Mir Weatherly. T told them that the city commissioners wanted to give them a square deal and treat them properly, but to get ready to build that line. MT Seyier of the Southern was the only man that has come across like he was willing to help make Birmingham bigger and bet ter. That bridge will not cost a fear full amount of money and for it the city has. paid in favors score of times. We even closed streets for the railroad interests and they contracted to build the viaduct, but even in the face of that the interests demand more time for one am opposed to any further courtesies in the question. They nave bickered out of all proportion to req son"
 General Agent Daughty of the Frisco lines, which company threw the first stumbling block into the path of the city, said that he had not received any advices from his company In reference to the question. He said, however. that his company would most assuredly live up to it's obligations and stand its part of the cost of the viaduct. He sad that he expected advices plmost daily from headquarters.
 MT. Stovall said that the question had been referred to the executive officers of his company and would be acted upon perhaps at once. Mir. Stoyall in- dicated that the cost of apportionment was the only question that his officials were undecided about and as to the general proposition it was well under stood that the work was to be done.
 Comments by Citizens
 The failure of the railroads to build the viaduct at Norwood and their ap- parent inattention to the engineering work, which was supposed to have been pretty well completed several months ago has created intense interest in the city. The commissioners s..tn tf1 f. 1tf.fu