The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-06

The opening up of Nineteenth street is
to be incorporated In the grade crossing
system of the city now in the hands of
the railroads. After an extended confer
ence yesterday afternoon between large
delegation of citizens city Commissioner
James Weatherly and City Engineer Kirk
patrick and Engineer Stearnes, the grade
crossing expert, Mr.. Weatherly instructed
Mr.. Kirkpatrick to draw up the specifica-
tions for the opening up of Nineteenth
street and submit them to the railroad
representatives at once so that this mat
ter could be added to the former set of
plans already under consideration by the
railroad representatives and upon which
they are to make a report October 10.
Unanimously indorsing the grade cross
ing plans to such an extent that they
declared there was stroke of genius in
the drafting of the system, but adding
that the system of grade crossing elimina-
tion could not be complete until the open
ing of Nineteenth street was Incorporated,
the delegation that appeared before Com
missioser Weatherly yesterday was conn
posed of probably % or 30 well known
citizens
Have Property on Street
Many of them have property interest
along Nineteenth street and made no
secret of tine fact that they have a spe-
cial interest in the matter as well as a
! general interest. A considerable number
of them have no direct property interest
| in the street in question. The delegation
was headed by T. IL. Motion.
A very important development of the
conference, for such it was as Mr. Wealth
! IL,
at present, was the allegation that con-
demnation proceedings are not necessary
In order to compel the railroads to open
the street. Rulings of the Minnesota state
supreme court and of the supreme court
of the United States were cited to show
that the only action necessary was for
the city commissioners to pass an ordi-
nance declaring that the street be opened
This point was first brought up by lGn-
gineer Stearnes, the Indianapolis man
who is grade crossing expert and who
has had charge of the local situation for
the past three or four months. Assistant
City Attorney Monte Ullman verified the
statement and addressed the delegation
at the request of Mr. Motion upon the
legal status of the case.
Speeches were made by Mr.. Motion, Mr.
Harsh. Hill Ferguson, NJ. N, Malone, Mr.
ullman, Frank Nelson. Sam Blaeh, G.
w. Pratt, the two engineers, and others
Want to Pledge Candidates
The delegation at Mr.. Notions sug-
geston determined to secure the posi-
ton of each of the three candidates for
city commissioner George Ward, Vas
sar Allen and Clement Wood, on the
grade crossing proposition and they stated
very canddly that although they We're
already pledged they would change their
minds mighty quick II their candidate
| IL. L..
and the opening of Nineteenth street
Every speaker paid glowing tributes to
Commissioner Weatherly and the two en-
gineers for the work they were doing
/ toward the success of the plan.
Serious complaint was made both by
members of the delegation and the city
officials as to the ridiculous misconeeption
and ignorance of about five citizens out
every 10 as to what the grade crossing
plans are Mr.. Weatherly stated that
the plan would be advertised in the news
papers in the future The delega ton
stressed the Importance and the duty of
the press In taking UP this matter and
making efforts TO better acquant the
public with what the grade crossing plans
really are.
First Adequate Plan Offered
Mr.. Motion declared that to his certain
knowledge the grade crossing plan had
been before the city of Birmingham 27
years and that until the present plans
were advanced there had never been
offered any adequate solution of the
trouble. Mr.. Motion cited an example
from Montgomery, where he said Lee
street had been opened through a depot
of the Louisville and Nashville railroad
under conditions almost exactly parallel
to those In this city.
The speakers frankly stated that they
had nothing to conceal and while some
Of them had special interest in the open
ing of the street on account of being
property holders, this was nothing to be
ashamed of and they had the same rights
as the citizens of any other street. They
advanced many arguments to show that
the entire city would be benefited by
the opening of the street. They also ad-
vanced arguments to show that the OPEN
ing of the street would be of little extra
cost to the railroads, II any, and some
contended that the railroads could erect
arcades or store rooms and warehouses
on their property along the two sides of
the street which would bring in large
income in rentals
1t was also argued that the city would
be benefited by the increase in taxes re-
sulting from the enormous increase In
property values on both sides of the
railroad but especially on the Southside