The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-07

alioW tloSSlHR uuueInedtn tntfui lht
same level attained at these crossing
would necessarily be sufficient at q
point where Nineteenth street should
cross the railroads. This idea occurred
to me Immediately on reading the re
port and before comforting with anyone
on the subject. Greatly to my salts
faction day or so later several gentle
men who own property on South Nine
teenth street came and requested my
cooperation in bringing TO the atten-
tion of the city commission and the
engineers the idea of opening UP Nine
teenth street.
Meeting of Owners Held
"a meeting of the Nineteenth street
owners was held. at which time the en-
gineers went into details and explained
the whole plan, and in answer to di-
rect question they stated that there
would be no obstacles in the way Of
opening up Nineteenth street and pass
under the elevated railroads at that
point. At this meeting a committee was
provided for the purpose of drafting a
petition to the commission setting forth
the reasons why Nineteenth street
formally presented to Mr.. WeatheTly en-
yesterday at a we'll attended meeting.
and talks We're made on the subject by
several thoughtful and practical men.
The engineers were again called upon
TO explain their plans and to state to
Commissioner Weatherly whether there
are any obstacles in the way If treat
ing the crossing at Nineteenth street
the same as the crossings at Etghteenth
and Twentieth streets. The engineers
repeated what they had before said,
that this proposition is entirely feas-
ible.
Considering the importancs of this
great subject. it seems peculiar that so
few of our citizens have manifested any
special interest. and it appears that had
1t not been for the special interest OF
those who own property on Nineteenth,
street very little public expression OF
appreciation of the great work being
undertaken by the commission and
these engineers would have been made
up to the present time.
1T stands to reason that the owners
of property on Nineteenth street, and
especially those on South Nineteenth
street, are more directly Interested
than the average citizen. but this sub
ject is one which should arouse the in
terests of every man and woman in Bir-
mingham. | dare say that If the colli-
sion between a railroad train and an
automobile at Eighteenth street very
recently had resulted in the death of
our tax commissioner Mr.. j. V. Allen,
and his friends who occupied the ma
chine, interest would now be at white
heat. This question should not be
treated with silence or Indifference
Calls on Candidates
1--WE know that it will take some
time to work out these plans, and be-
fore anything is accomplished there will
be a change in the personnel of the
city commission. The term of the presi-
dent of the commission will soon eX-
pire and within a few days mis- sue
cessor is to be elected. We are there
fore interested in knowing the attitude
of candidates to be voted for In the
coming election.
II would therefore call upon Messrs.
Allen, Ward and Wood to declare them
selves on the grade crossing plans now
proposed. I would suggest q definite
answer on the subject For them to
say that they are favorable to some
plan to eliminate the grade crossing.
but are not familiar with the plans sug-
gested by these engineers will not be
sufficient If they are not familiar with
the subject they can easily fanailiarize
themselves by comforting with the en-
gineers. The plans are so simple that
any intelligent man should understand
them without the loss of much time. In
deed. l would say to these busy can
didates that 80 minutes devoted to the
subject should be sufficient for hem to
decide whether they are favorable to
the plans or not.
This grade crossing proposition is
far more important than the question
as to who shall be elected president of
our city commission. Respectfully,
T. II. MOTION.
Chairman Citizens Committee