The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-31
Officials of Both Companies Having Significant Con-
 ference in New York
BULLOCK DISLIKES
 COMPETITIVE LINE
1idewater Expected to Abandon North and South Extension and Get Use of Rivals Tracks
 Downtown

There is being held in New York conference between officials of the Bir mingham Railway. Light and Power company and of the Birmingham, Ems ley and Bessemer railroad (Tidewater) which rumors here say is to bring to an end the keen competition of the lat ter street railway.
 The statement is made that local in dustrial interests expect the two sets of officials to return to Birmin gham with an agreement as to the use of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power companys tracks downtown by the Tidewater lines. Heretofore that right has been denied the Tidewater by. the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. It Is further expected that this agreement in reference to the use by the Tidewater of certain street railway tracks will carry the further statement that as business Is rather dull at this time and as money Is diff ficult to secure the Tidewater will, for the time being. abandon It's plan of constructing the south and north cross town lines for which franchise appli-
  sion for some time.
 This Is in effect, 1t Is believed, the first step which will be taken to bring to an end the competition of the two lines in Birmingham which has been very spirited since the Tidewater opened its lines east and west some time ago.
 Officials in New York
 It is stated that George l. Brown of the Tidewater, Fred Morris of the Tide water. George Bullock of the United Gas, A. H. Ford of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, and Lee c. Bradley of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company will have reached an amicable adjust ment of the trouble here before the local citizens return from the east. They are expected home during the next few days. They have been in con- ference there two or three days In the conference it is stated that the Ala bama Power company Is also particl- pating and that the local interests of the English syndicate are being taken care of in the propositions that are be- ing worked out in New York.
 It is confidently believed that George Bullock, head of the company controll- ing the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. frowns on competing street railway propositions and will strive to bring the local competition tu an end In his whole operations extend ing into many states 1t is said that MT. Bullock has few competitors.
 ha n lpca6 iu- dustrial circles a marked depreciation in the bitter feeling that existed in the beginning between officials of the Tide water and the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company.
 Plan to End Competition
 Questions directed to local men yes. terday that are more or less directly concerned in the two companies brought out in almost every instance that the officials had up for consideration the proposition of ceasing the competition here and the proposition of the Tide water using the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company's tracks, provided the north and south feeders were not constructed.
 In a settlement of the fight here be- tween the two companies there would naturally enter the provision of the Tidewater grant that it could not sell out to a competing company. However, the officials of the company are pos sessed of many ways whereby they could attain the same end which would occur by an actual sale. The Tidewa- ter is not seriously hurting the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power company as now operated, but it's future Iplans would throw a serious bomb into the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company's camp So an agree ment to suspend further extensions and leave the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company alone would in eff feet be all that the astute managers of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company would reasonably ex- pect Again the Tidewater franchise lasts only a certain number of years and the matter of ceasing operations at that time would not be very seri- ous problem. Naturally the existing company would at a public auction SC cure the properties of the dead concern There is expected to be, therefore, some very interesting communication to the commissioners when the officials re- turn from the east
 LARGE JUDGMENT