The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-04-14
ISSUES INVOLVED
IN THE THREATENED
Referendum PLAN
Conditions Under Which the
Three Recent Franchises
Were Granted
CHIEFLY THROUGH
ACREAGE PROPERTY
Only Four Blocks in Outskirts of Bir-
mingham Were Granted Directly
to Birmingham Railway,
Light & Power Co.
Nv CLYDE w. ENNIS.

At the city hall and elsewhere the re-
cent granting of three street railway fran
chises for railway extension is causing
wide discussion.
That the granting of the franchises may
involve a third referendum for this city
is suggested. The three grants by the
city present such an odd situation that in
tho main an erroneous impression may
have been given as to the entire stua-
ton. The grants were favored by Presi-
dent Culpepper Exum and Judge A. ..
Lane. Mr.. Weatherly opposed all of
them. 1t is singular that the Birmingham
Railway Light and Power company asked
for but one of the grants. the others be-
Ing petitioned for with every evidence Of
dire need by taxpayers Of the communi-
ties interested.
The commission gave two franchises to
the petitloning propertyholders and one
TO the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company. The three grants fol-
low
North Birmingham Extension
10 the Birmingham Railway. Light and
Power company direct; -Four blocks in
the city limits at North Birmingham, at
500 per block The property traversed
is somewhat removed from high priced
real estate and paved streets. The block
age will be used to build the Lewisburg
extension, costing about $4,000.
That grant on the part of the commits
sion win assist in building up that sec
ton and giving people of Lewsburg and
surrounding territory a quick entrance
into the city. Taxable values will he
created and the entire community beneft-
ted In fact. spectators have already
turred many sales near the Lewisburg
route since the announcement. The de-
velopment of that section will be impossi-
BILE without the car line. No other COM
pany ever applied for it. The line fol-
lows county highway. so the board Of
revenue must assent.
The Norwood Grant
The second grant circles the Norwood
boulevard At a great expense the Bir-
mingham Realty company has created
boulevard at Norwood which will rival
Highland avenue for grandeur. In the
center of the boulevard over 36 acres have
been given the city as a park and dedi-
Gated Myrtle trees have been placed in
lavish profuson there, at the suggestion
and personal wish OF Mr.. Weatherly.
That boulevard Is private property. The
street way is especially reserved on the
map as a place for a street railway. The
Birmingham Realty company owns that
right of way and the city cannot grant
II to any interest It Is said. except by per-
mission of the Birmingham Realty COM
pany.
The realty company has caused to be
built houses costing over 100000, near
4-s.l ctr
railway lines. In order to get that CONF
munity street car service, the realty conf
pany negotiated with all railway inter-
ests here and finally received ASSURANCES
of immediate relief from the Birmingham
Railway, Light and Power company. pro-
vided the realty company would build the
line and allow the street railway COM
pany to lease 1t. Virtually paying for its
own right of way around that boue-
We I'd the realty company proposes TO give
500 per block That was accepted by the
ma jority of the commission. The Tide
water and Kelley interests were both
asked to take the work. but all refused
except the Birmingham Railway, Light
ond Power company. The Norwood line
is nothing If not progressive, according
to Mr.. Exum and Judge Lane.
Grant in West End
The third grant was the West End
loop" from West End to Fairview. That
grant was offered the Tidewater and other
interests here. The Civic league of West
End had been working several months "a
get the service. The dedicated streets
are to be paid for at 500 per block out
of the pockets of the taxpayers in that
suburb. The only difference between the
commission and the taxpayers Is as TO
the payment of blockage through unde-
veloped acreage which has not been del
icated as streets. The Birmingham Rail
way, Light and Power company is to
build that line only II the franchise is
received free The citizens must pay.
They do not object to paying for the
space within the city dedicated for streets.
but the city wants the taxpayers to dig
down and pay for the acreage. This Is
the crucial point. The citizens are pro-
testing. The commissioners have an I'M
official Impression that the Birmingham
Railway. Light and Power company will
rush to the rescue OF the citizens This,
II is said, will not happen. In the mean
time the development of that section is
behind and all for the want of car service.
This is the question the commission
must solve. The citizens of West End
propose to lay the fun story before them