The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-18
Third Avenue West and
First Avenue on. East
Meet Most Favor
EXUM WILL SUBMIT
REPORT THIS WEEK
Street Railway Company Owns the
Entire Street for Considerable
Distance Along First Avenue
Near Gate City Crossing

Following an inspection yesterday of
the proposed boulevard between East
Lake and Ensley President culpepper
Exum announced last night that he
would make report to the commission
either at the meeting today or the one
to he held Friday.
Mr.. Exum and Mr. Weatherly accom-
PANIED by w G. Kirpatrick city en-
gineer and NJ. Nicholson. assistant city
engineer made a tour Yesterday of the
west end of the proposed boulevard.
They looked over the two feasible
routes, and the officials all favor the
route out Third avenue. However,
from Owenton to Fairview extends the
area which offers some engineering diff
ficulties
The commissioners asked the en-
gineers to look into the advisability OF
following the street car line to Fair.
view from the point where the present
road turns near Miller station. That
information will be handed the COM
missioners perhaps today or at least
before Friday. The commissioners de-
voted several hours yesterday to study
ing the proposed boulevard, and it is
said to be almost certain that the work
will be ordered without delay.
AS to the east end of the proposed
route. it is stated that First avenue
will be followed. Some difficulties are
expected in that connection, as the ave-
nue. will be widened for several blocks,
beginning at a point east of Spring
station and continuing nearly to the
railroad crossing en- route to East
Lake. The engineers as well as the
commissioners recognize that it would
be ruinous to attempt to construct the
boulevard without that point being
made wider.
Company Owns Entire Street
1t developed yesterday in connection
with the boulevard that the Birming-
ham Railway, Light and Power COM
pany owns the entire street beginning &
at a point where the Gate City car line
crosses the East Lake line in Wood
lawn to a point near Wauhoma sta
tion. The company not only owns a
right of way, but so feet on either side
of the rails. That takes In the entire
day while Mr.. Weatherly and others
We're discussing the matter that the
city had an implied dedication of that
property for a street as 1t had been
used for many years as a street. How
ever, it will be a matter of negotia-
ton whether the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company will be
forced to pave between its rails and
also give to the city the necessary right
Of way which, it is stated, could be re-
fused if the company officials were SO
inclined. Officials of the Birmingham
Railway. Light and Power company,
as well as the city. said offhand yes
terday that they believed the matter
could be worked out to the interest of
all concerned.
Other than the inspection yesterday
by the officials and the two engineers,
there were no further developments in
connection with the proposed boule-
ward. President ENum said last night
that he was very we'll pleased with the
manner in which the proposed work
was encouraged and believed the i'm
provements would be authorized with
out much difficulty.
Exum Discusses Situation
I'VE made an inspection of the west
end Of the proposed boulevard" said
Mr. Exum. I'VE are trying TO figure
out the best way to start the work.
| favor the Third avenue route. How
ever whether the boulevard will par
allel the car line to Fairview Is a mat
ter for the engineers to take up and
figure out. Which is the best route
must be answered by the engineers and
we will be guided by their recommen-
dations. | will report upon the pro-
posed boulevard either at the meeting
tomorrow or the meeting Friday That
depends upon some data that is to be
given me-"
Taken as a whole, developments are
coming very satisfactory on the pro-
posed boulevard. The commi missoners
as well as the engineers are deeply in
terested in the problem, and 1t is gem
orally accepted at the city hall that
the work isswell past the speculative
stage. That Birmingham will have the
boulevard IA miles long, connecting up
East Lake and Ensley Is a foregone
conclusion. That this boulevard with
standard pavement will cause other
property owners to ask for similar
boulevards east and west as well as