The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-09
Opposition Was Anticipated


iof the whole community.
Opposition Was Anticipated
Although this is the accepted atti-
tude of the railroads 1t is not believed
that much weight will be carried by
them on this matter. The commission
lit is believed anticipated some slight
opposition from the railroad interests
of the city and are prepared for that.
For when it was suggested that peti-
| tions be secured the commission was
told that 1t would be impossible to get
| a majority of the owners of frontage
| by reason of the large holders of prop
| erty on First avenue being railroads
land corporations. However the petitions
| were placed in the hands of those In-
terested with instructions by the COM
mission to get as many names and as
| much frontage as possible and that ac-
| tion would be taken along that line.
| The commissioners attitude in the
| boulevard matter is one of fair and
square deal to ALL The city commission
ers have legal right to instruct the
engineering department to draw plans for
paving any street. The city commission
| has the right to grant contracts for any
streets and the cost is charged against
| the abutting property. Unless the as
| sessments are paid the property is sold.
| However, the commission did not intend
| to be arrogant about the paving pro-
| granme here 1t was intended that a
majority of property holders should de-
| eide the ISSUE If such majority want
| ed the street paved it would be ordered.
| Otherwise the commission does not take
the initiative and cause paving to be done
regardless of what the property owners
want.
! In this case the property owners seem
! To want the work done, with the ex-
! cention of the corporate interests along
! First avenue not including the Realty
| company, which concern has already sig
nified a willingness to participate in the
work.
Small Owners All Willing
| AS for the individual lot owners, 1t is
! said that so per cent of those approached
have readily signed the petition for the
standard pavement on the boulevard,
| which is at their cost. In many in
stances property owners have requested
copies Of the petitions so they could get
| their neighbors to sign. That co-opera-
| five spirit has worked splendidly and has
greatly encouraged the commissioners.
The attitude of the railroads as gem
erally accepted is said to be due to the
onnion that viaduct will be forced at
| the sloss crossing soon. The railroads
understand that IL the viaduct is forced
|
! ma wing underneath that structure would
| have been spent rather enthusiastically 1t
will cost the railroad interests $4,000,
| II is said to participate In the boulevard
cost. while the small owners will ag
gregate s225,000. The commissioners have
NOT lost sight of the viaduct at Sloss
| crossinr and see in the near future the
| impendlng demand for that structure
When that is built standard pavement
will be required. 1t is generally believed
/ that on account of the possibilities of 4
| yiaduct there the railroads will use every
means in their power to keep the boule-
yard from being constructed.
Citizens Uphold Commissioners
In the meantime the citizens of Ensey
rairyiew, Birmingham. East Lake, Avon
dale. Woodlawn and Owenton are joining
| Mr. Exum and Mr.. Weatherly in the gem
eral plan The property owners are strong
| Tor the boulevard in every direction and
| II is taken that during the next few days
something final will be done. President
Exum has already procured the names
| of all property owners between Bir-
mlneham and East Lake and will use
that data to assist in the general scheme
Nv Tuesday he expects to have like data
/ from the west end of the boulevard.
Following that. final action will be taken
nv the commission The engineering de-
partment is expected to report on the
best route in the meantime.
Baugh Enthusiastic Over Idea
There is nothing the city officials
could do which would equal in value
at the present time the construction of
the boulevard proposed by President
Exum OF the city commission from
&Continned On Page six)