The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-23
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.


First avenue, south. The Birmingham
Railway. Light and Power company are
required by their franchise to build and
maintain this structure.
Twenty third Street--At Twenty
third street the track grade Is not
changed. A viaduct, therefore, would
have north and south approach
with per cent grade. extending across
Avenue A, thus necessitating changing
the grade on Avenue A and raising
that street about feet The Kelley
street railway if built. will be re-
quired TO construct a viaduct ut this
point.
"Twenty-fourth Street--At Twenty
fourth street the track grade is not
changed A viad,sct win begin its
north approach at First avenue. north,
with per cent grade and It's south
approach at Avenue B. with rer cent
grade This viaduct is not included in
the construction proposed at this time.
Until this yiaduct is constructed, this
would be grade crossing as ut pres
ent and would require such precau-
tions for safety as necessary
aTwenty-fifth Street--At Twenty-fifth
street the tracks are to be lowered about
three feet The approaches would have
per cent grade, beginning at First ave-
nue., north and Alley A.
Twenty Street-At Twenty-sixth
street the tracks are to be lowered about
eight feet. so that the vladuct would have
4 per cent approaches. beginning on the
north side of First avenue north, and
on the south side near Alley A. Tho
grade of First avenue, south, would
probably, in construction be raised about
five feet to Join this approach. Possibly.
in construction. the tracks on Powell ave-
nue. can be still further lowered, where
by this approach can begin at Avenue A.
Twenty Street-On Twenty
eighth street the Alabama Great South
ern tracks will be lowered about 10 feet
and the Louisville and Nashville tracks
about II feet whereby the approaches
would begin on the north near First al
ley and rise to First avenue viaduct; that
is, the Twenty-eghth street and. First
avenue viaducts would be united on the
north. On the south the approaches
would also be per cent and begin at
Avenue A. This yiaduct is longer than
that ON any of the other streets.
To Lower Terminal Approaches
First Avenue-On First avenue the
Southern track approaching the Terni-
nal station will be lowered II feet and
the Louisville and Nashville track nine
feet. The viaduct will be raised above
the present level of the street with per
cent grade and reach full height at the
track over which the passenger trains
on the. Alabama Great Southern and
Southern railways approach the Termi-
nal station. the viaduct would continue
on a level across Twenty street
and the Louisville and Nashville tracks
and would then descend on the east ap-
proach with 3.S per cent grade TO Thir-
tieth street. AS before stated, this via
duct would have an approach from the
north on Twenty -eighth street at its mid
die point ami would connect with the
Twenty eighth street viaduct when con-
p "a 6a m
south side would be confined to the prop
erty of the Southern railway and Sloss
furnace: on the north side to a one-story
brick machine shop, one-story restau-
rant and the Sloss furnace property. The
Sloss Stag track would be depressed so as
to pass under the eastern approach The
width of this and the other viaducts is
proposed 20 be 60 feet. having 40-foot
roadways and two 10-foot sidewalks This
viaduct would be properly placed in the
center of First avenue.
Second Ayenue--At Second avenue. tic
Southern railway tracks would be lowered
about seven feet. which would bring the
tracks approximately to grade crossing
with the present streets The Louisville
and Nashville tracks would not be
changed leaving a grade crossing for
Second avenue at this point. Unless the
tracks of the Central OF Georgia can be
removed from Secand avenue, the length
the great difference of elevation. would
make this crossing both difficult and OK
pensIve.
AS Third and Fourth avenues have
been vacated by legislative enactment.
no attempt is here made te provide for
these crossings.
"Other studies for this project have been
carefully considered. The next best plan
was that OF eeyating the tracks from
Twentieth street eastward, until they
had crossed First avenue, thence descend
ing to the Terminal station. This would
make subway instead of viaduct on
First avenue. but the disadvantages would
be a. making impracticable any cross
ing at Twenty-ffth or Twenty-sixth
street: (2) more difficult access to the
freight yards between Twentieth and
Twenty-fifth streets; (S> sleeper railroad
grades; 1t had. on the other hand. the adj
vantage of getting more practicable un-
derpass at Second avenue On the whole,
no plan has been suggested that has Of
fered as many advantages as the plan
here proposed, and 1t Is hoped that on
careful consideration 1t will be found sat
isfactory to all parties concerned
Definite Action Deferred
ION completion of this statement the
city engineer invited the engineers pres
ent to discuss the plan. Very brief discus
sions followed and the following resolu-
ton was introduced by Mr.. l.. Sewer,
which was seconded by Mr.. Doughty and
passed:
Whereas, what is proposed by the city
engineer of the city of Birmingham In his
letter of August IS, addressed to the engi-
neers of the trunk lines entering Birmins-
ham, contemplates many track changes
and involves heavy expenditure to the
trunk lines. and 1t being apparent that q
careful consideration of what Is proposed
is necessary, be it
. Resolved, That plans as proposed by
the city engineer be submitted to the par
ties interested and be considered at a
meeting to be held in Birmingham on
some date after October 15. 1913, that will
be satisfactory to all parties at interest.
The exact date to be nxed by the city
engineer.
''The city engineer was then requested
to forward to each Of the chief engineers
copy of the four prints and of the above
memorandum description of the plan Tho
meeting then adjourned subject to the cali
of the chairman. The city engineer is to-
day sending to each of the chief engineers
a copy of the prints and of this report.
Respectfully submitted
WALTER G. KIRKPATRICK.
"City Engineer"