The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-20
Kirkpatrick Submits Recon-
mendations toC oCommission
Which Are Approved
PROPERTY HAS NOT
BEEN ASSESSED YET
No Unpaid Improvement Assessment
Against Third Avenue Owners,
While Property Along Other
Routes Has Been Taxed

After investigating all four feasible
routes to Ensley for the proposed Ensley
to East Lake boulevard, Walter G. Kirk
patrick, city engineer, recommends tile
Third avenue route. The other routes
which suggested themselves were Eighth
avenue, Fifth avenue, First avenue and
Third avenue, the one selected. Mr.. Kirk
patrick finds that the Third avenue route
presents the best grades and also that
the property holders have never been az.
sessed for pavements, which is not the
case in reference to the other proposed
routes
The recommendations of the city engi-
neer stand approved. Mr.. Exum and Mr..
Weatherly had already made up their
minds that Third avenue was the best
and 1t only required the expert opirion to
finally decide that proposition The CON-
missioners are engaged now in working
out the same detail in connection with
the East Lake end OF the boulevard before
requesting an ordinance authorizing the
work.
The communication of Mr.. Kirkpatrick
follows.
March 49, 1913.
ITO the Board of Commissioners. City
Hall:
1T is understood that your Instructions
contemplate paving a boulevard from the
central business district to Ensey -Four
routes suggest themselves.
Third Avenue Route s.
I'D The Third Avenue Route-Ths
would extend from the end of the present
paving on Third avenue at Fourteenth
street along the line of the south EnsIey
car line; that is, along Sarah avenue,
Railroad avenue and Ensley avenue, pa ss-
ing the baseball park and tho fair
grounds. The distance between the end of
the present paving on Third avenue and
that on Nineteenth streer. Ensley, is ap-
rroximatey four and eight-tanths miles,
out of which Ensley avenue is paved
distance of approximately eight
miles, leaving a net length of paving to
be constructed of about four miles The
advantages of this route are. 1t has never
been assessed for paving, and therefore,
has not any deferred unpaid assessments
it passes close beside the baseball park
and the fair grounds; it passes mostly
along a well settled district and It's
grades are good.
New Paving on Eighth Avenue
20 Eighth Avenue Route-Eightii ave-
nue. is soon to be paved as far west as
thence as far west as the end of the
Owenton car linet joining which the
Highlands Lake Land company is now
grading a 100 foot boulevard westward
to the end of the Tuxedo car line. There
still remains a gap of about one-half mile
of unimproved 30 foot street to reach the
Nineteenth avenue pavement In Ensley
phis route will soon be improved through
out its whole length, except the last men
toned one-half mile and lis improve
ments are in too good condition to be
taken up and repaved, especially as 1t has
recently been assessed for this improve
ment. This macadamized street should
be used without further Improvement
until such time as it becomes unservice-
able and the property owners are willing
to stand another assessment 1t is. there
fore, not easily available for the present
purpose
"(3) First Avenue Route-This runs
along First avenue. Tuscaloosa avenue
and Lomb boulevard to a point near the
fair grounds, where 1t joins the above de-
scribed Third avenue route. The condi-
tions here are similar to those on the
Eighth avenue route; nearly all Of this
pre- perty having been assessed within re-
cent years.
Fifth Avenue Route
30 The Fifth Avenue Route-1 his
would extend through Smiths park and
along the line of the Birmingham Ensley
and Bessemer railroad TO its crossing with
the Highlands Lake Land company's
boulevard, beyond which point it would
be the same the Eighth avenue route
The Fifth avenue portion would be as
sessa BILE but like the Eighth avenue
route, 1t has not the advantages of pass
ing the fair grounds and baseball park
and goes through a community not we'll
settled up
the Third avenue route Is the most suit
able and is recommended. There is some
question as to whether it will be best TO
follow along Hayes street or along Rail-
road avenue and certain portions of this
route will require widening of the streets.
1T is understood that your instructions
do not cover making any detail plans or
estimates. Respectfully submitted,
waiter G. KIRKPATRICK.
City Engineer"
The letter Of Mr.. kirkpatrick calls at
tention 10 the fact that with the new
boulevard three excellent boulevards will
have been created between this city and
Ensley The best one and shortest will
be the new boulevard by way of the base
ball park and the fair grounds. The other
will be through West End, cutting into
the new boulevard at the rear of Rick
wood field and entering Ensley by way
of Ensley avenue. The other route will
be through Owenton by way of Eighth
avenue to a point where the Bush estate
and the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company are engaged in perfectiug
some new Improvements. That company
is TO build boulevard similar in phys-
cal construction to Highland avenue. Still
another route to Ens1ey would be through
Owenton direct to Shady Side, thence
into Ensley avenue.
May Mean Other Highways
1t is believed that this boulevard will
cause the promotion of other highways
connecting the east and west ends of the
city The Fifth avenue route 10 East
Lake will be in addition to the route along
Fifth avenue.
Tba commissioners are being given In
form ,on almost constantly about tte|
proposed east and west highway and are
eager to get the work well under way
as soon as possible. In connection with
the proposed connecting highways II is
Understood that George H. Miller. the
widely known Boston architect. who is
engaged in plaunipg civic eoherua