The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-27
First Avenue and Twenty
Eighth Street Both to
Be Affected
is BETTER TO BUILD
NOW THAN TO PAVE
Weatherly Sponsor for Twenty Eighth
Street Opening and Exum Is
Keen for Opening First
Avenue Boulevard

In the opinion of Commissioner James
Weatherly the proposed. paved street
from Fifth avenue. north, on Twenty
eighth street to Avenue G., south, will
involve a viaduct between First ave-
nue. and Avenue A. or in that imme-
diate territory. Between the points in
dicated a perfect network of railroad
tracks is now existing and the over
coming of the terrible dangers of that
situation in the event the street is
opened will be only through the agency
of viaduct. IL this street is opened up
as it is stated to be probable and the
Exum boulevard is constructed between
East Lake and Ensley then 1t is
claimed the consideration of two via
ducts will surely develop. on this ac-
count at the city hall it is believed
the commissioners have unconsciously
started another viaduct agitation and
that some definite results will be OBJ
tained this time.
Mr.. Exum is more serious in this
matter of the east to west boulevard
than in any proposition he has faith
cred yet with few exceptions. Mr.
Weatherly and Mr.. Exum jointly are
very much in favor and deeply inter-
ested in the south and north opening
1t would seem, therefore to be a GER
tainty that two viaducts will spring
up in connection with these two street
openings
Mr.. Weatherly suggested yesterday
that the Twenty eighth street viaduct
on the south and north boulevard
would not develop except in connec-
tion with the Tidewater request for
street railway franchises on that and
other streets. The engineers are now
working out that proposition. The
Tidewater wishes that street as a
north and south ss-town street and
it is stated will get it when the fran
chise as a whole is granted. That grant
will carry the construction of a via
duct. However. the Tidewater will not
be forced to pay for the entire struc-
ture. The other railroads and the
property owners will be participants
in the general scheme and are expect
ed to assist in defraying the expenses
of the bridge.
This viaduct will be the fourth to be
started The city has two at this time,
one on Twenty first street and the
other on Twenty second street. They
have served long and faithfully. The
Kelley interests promised to build one
viaduct over Twenty third street With
the Tidewater on Twenty-eighth street
the mooted quested of north and south
openings. 1t is claimed, will be solved
for good. The commissioners are deep
ly interested in the problem present
ed to them in connection with these
two street openings and no doubt Will
find time for negotiations soon. Mr..
Weatherly said that the engineer was
expected to hand in some information
on the Tidewater request within the
next few days. Then the whole ques-
tion will be taken up
AS for the Exum boulevard, no defi-
mite route has been suggested, but
it is believed First avenue is the most
feasible. 1t is the line of least resist
ance and will probably be selected as
the east and west artery on the east
side of Birmin CHAM. If that is true it
is felt there cannot be any doubt but
what the railroads and property inter-
ests will start negotiations for a VIA
duct at SlosS furnace as they reallze
it must come some time On that basis
it is not believed the railroads Will
wait until $25,000 worth of paving is
placed underneath the structure and at
that hour begin negotiations for via
ducts at that crossing.
The commissioners are said to be
quietly working on the two streets and
as the viaduct question will enter the
proposition definite announcements in
that connection will come up soon.