The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-29
FINAL ACTION TODAY ON AVE. r FRANCHISE ASKED BY TWO LINES Large Delegation Heard Yesterday in Behalf of
 B. R., l.. & P. Go. WANT LINE RUN TO HAYWOOD CEMETERY Jemison Points Out That Cemetery Owners Have Been Negotiating
 With Company for Past
 Six Years

holders. a number of well known citizens pleaded with the commissioners yester- day to grant the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company the franchise west of Twentieth street down Avenue F 10 Elmwood cemetery.
 Representatives of the people conferred with the commissioners for two hours valiantly, on behalf of the present street railway company. The plea of tho property holders was that the present company be given franchise down Avenue F at once, Sd the residents of that community and those with interests at Elmwood cemetery may be efficiently served.
 No voice was raised against the Kelly request for a franchise down Avenue to the Standard oil com pany plant, but the property holders ln- sisted that a universal transfer was bet ter, the Birmingham Railway. Light and
 Power company would give quickest ao- ton and the best interests of all inter ested would be served if the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company was ried over until this morning, when final action will be taken.
 Property Owners Pay for Franchise
 Those who appeared before the eommis- sioners made 1t plain that the property owners were paying for the franchise probably to be fixed at S5o0 per block the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company was anxious to build the line, a boulevard would be paid for by the property owners, a subway would be built under the Louisville and Nashville by the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company and altogether quick ac- ! ton would be had. After presenting the above view the men who spoke told the commissioners 1t was up 10 them whether the citizens were served by an imme-
 diately constructed car line or would be
 compelled to walt on q car line, the
 construction of which they said was some
 what indefinite
 Robert Jemison Jr., president of the Elmwood Cemetery company, was the
 spokesman for the delegation, and said
 in part:
 we have been negotiating for the con- struction of a car line to Elmwood ceme- f.,. .ef.- ,ae and long felt want and the time has ar
 rived when the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company finds itself capable of going ahead with the eonstruc- tion Many conditions interfered with this work in the past singulary the
 Kelly franchise and this matter has come before you at the same time.
 "The Kelly interests want franchise only to the Standard oil company with out any move toward Elmwood cemetery We represent a vast number of property owners who feel the need of this ear line. Besides anyone who has tramped down lthat dusty lane from the PoWderly car line to Elmwood cemetery during a hot summer afternoon resents it and demands of us that this car line be al once con- structed We have arranged 10 buy the franchise for the Birmingham Railway, Light ana fO@ef company ana tildl com pany is ready to start work at once. This car line down Avenue F will result in in creased valuations and will result in the construction of a connecting boulevard tO Elmwood and Birmingham. The city gets all this Improvement. What we now in- slst on is action as the property owners
 the street railway company and all in terested are ready and If the people of that community are not given this ear line 1t will not be our lookout.
 No Reflection on Kelly Interests 'I do not impugn the motives of the Kelly interests of undertake to say whether their line will he built. do say this, however. that the Birmingham Rail way Light and Power company Is ready to begin work immediately and win have the line in operation within six months. If the Kelly interests wish 10 they have a legal right to condemn the use of the Birmingham Railway Light and Power company tracks 10 the Standard Oil com pany plant which would not be a depart
 ure for them, as we all know their car line asks the use of Tidewater rails" In addition to Robert Jemlson. who pre- sented the side of those favorable to the l Birmingham Railway. Light and Power lcompany. other speakers included Judge | William M Walker. Capt Thomas S. Smith. ]. II. MeClary George r. Jack lson, John Keiser and l.. A Whitehead Commissioners Weatheriy and Exum | both asked innumera ble questions about 1 thu matter before them and 1t developed l that the Kelly interests had offered to | pay s50,000 for the franchise. embracing l 100 blocks for which sl00.o00 was first asked by the city. Mir. Kelly was at the | meeting and while he did not make any argument he did point out that the Bir-