The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-08
As It Is Done Elsewhere


 "As the First avenue viaduct will be the first to be constructed in Birning- ham under the act of 1907, it would be well to consider what other cities are doing in connection with the elimina- tion of grade crossings. At present such work is in progress in the following named cities: Indianapolis. Ind; Bos- ton, Brockton Dedham. East Boston, Fall Rier, Hyde Park, Lynn and New ton, Mass; Detroit, Mich. Kansas City, Mo-; Lincoln, Neb.; Newark, N. J.; New York city and Buffalo, N. r.; Cleveland and Columbus O.. Pittsburg, Pa: Prov idence, East Providence and Westerly R. l.; Spokane. Wash, and Milwaukee. Wis. In five of these cities the expense is pro-rated as follows:
 City and state, 24 per cent railroads 5S.S per cent; street railways. 16.5 per cent.
 And in IS cities where the cost is divided between the city and state and the railroads, the average cost to the city and state is 29.2 per cent. and to the railroads. 70.S per cent. The laws regulating grade crossings and their elimination vary in the different states. realize. of course. that the financial condition of the city for the time be- ing is by no means ideal, and the con- missioners are fully Justified in curtail- ing expenditures as far as practicable, but mere matter of self-fnterest should not obscure broad principles of Justice, and when the proposition of tho railroads Is carefully analysed, and when reference is had to what other cities are doing in the way of partici- pating in4 the elimination of grade crossings, I am unable to see that the corporations are asking the city of Bir- mingham to contribute more than its fair proportion.
 About Closing Second Avenue
 objection has been made to the closing of Second avenue. As a matter of fact this avenue is not now used from the west line of the right of way of the Louisville and Nashville railroad to Thirty second street. and were 1t opened 1t could serve only limited area and Second avenue ends at the property line of the Avondale mills, not being extended through the prop erty of that company furthermore, it's use from Twenty eighth to Thirty-sec- ond streets would create a death trap far more dangerous than the one which 1t is sought to eliminate by the via duct on First avenue. There are only II tracks crossing First avenue. while there are 32 tracks crossing Second avenue. With the completion of the First avenue viaduct there would he uninterrupted communication from the territory east Of the SlosS furnace prop terties, and In no case would the in- crease in traffic haul exceed 400 feet,
 s-nm Second avenue east of Thirty-second street over to t., .iauuct on First avenue. An act O. ,n. legislature of 1911 authorizes cities of more than 100000 inhabitants to close certain streets and to enter into agreements with corporations and others in the matter of elimination of grade crossings and 1t would seem that under this act the city commission has full authority to cooperate with the railroads in the construction not only of the viaduct on First avenue. but of such other viaducts. subways. etc. as may be deemed advisable from time to time to eliminate grade crossings.
 "'rhe construction of this First ave- nue viaduct Is demanded by an over whelming sentiment of the people of Rirmingham. IL has already been do.