The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-13

Gus railroads which traverse the city
as 1t is evident that either the rail-
roads or the streets must be depressed
to do away with the level crossings.
The iron, coal and lime which have at
tracted the capitalist to Birmingham
are not yet exhausted and bid fare to
make it one of the great cities of the
world. In addition to these unusual
conditions we find that Birmingham
has become a distributing point, man
ufactories of various kinds have been
established. Life insurance societies,
trust companies and banks have found
homes here and these industries have
attracted the railroads until Birming-
ham Is now a railroad center
what do you consider Birmingham's
best asset" inquired.
zone of Birminghams chief assets"
Mr. Leavitt said, '1s Its fine climate
and it should become primarily resi-
dence city 1t Is centrally located,
within nights journey of almost all
the large cities of the south and many
of the central portions of the United
States. Almost all the usual delevop-
ments of large inland cities are pos
sfJiuvsor Birmingham, and, If properly
encouraged, will come. In order to
make it possible to ship Birminghams
products to all parts of the world with
out the customary port charges it is
proposed to build port of Its own on
the gulf. If this Is done great i'm
petus will be given to the growth of
the city"
what are the main defects7" I
asked
"There are some things which must
soon be corrected, such as the conges-
ton of traffic, the railroad crossings,
the smoke nuisance. the lack of arterial
ways between the various villages
which are contained within the city.
The addition of Fairgrounds, parkways
and parks. The drainage of the city
and putting the wires underground.
But none of these are serious prob
lens or difficult of solution, or par
ticularly expensive, II taken up now
while there Is so much undeveloped
land that may be acquired for these
purposes at comparatively little ex-
pense."
"How can some of these defects he
remedied?' | asked.
THE congestion of traffic can be
handled by cutting through some new
streets, SO as to form a comprehen-
sive system of diagonal, as we'll as
radial thoroughfares and make proper
traffic regulations. The smoke nuis-
ance can be abated by having up-to-
date systems of combustion. Proper
connection between the villages can be
arranged for by making great park
ways through the undeveloped country
lying between these points. At the
same time areas adjacent to these,
thoroughfares should be taken now for
parks. The drainage of the entire city
end the surrounding country should be
carefully planned using the separate
system; that is. one set OF drains for
the surface and storm water these to
empty into the nearest water courses.
The other, or sewerage system, TO take
the sewage of the city to some con-
venient point or points where proper
disposal works should purify this sew
age before 1t is permitted to flow into
the streams. The wires can be placed,
where possible, on poles in the alleys
and underground where 1t may he
necessary to either cross or run
through the streets, II they cannot all
be buried Around some central square
should be arranged the municipal
buildings so that the city's business
NAV be carried on with dispatch. A
recreation group of opera house, thea
tres, music halls, restaurants. art gal
leries, museums Of natural history, ct
eetera, might be arranged along one
Of the main arteries.
'.The steam and electric railroad situ-
alton should be so arranged that one or
more central depots would handle the
arious roads and the electric, surface
cars planned to distribute the. people
rom these central points about the city,
18th the lea st possible congestion to reg
lar traffic." Mr., Leavitt continued.
',rhe market should be placed near to
he railroad transfer yards. The car
forage and switching yards for the rail-
,ad should be ON the outskirts of the
.Ity and away from. the business and resi-
ence districts Factory and nanufactur-
ing plants should be arranged along =