The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-07
When the Railroads Lower Rates to Meet Water Rates They Cannot Again Raise Them
THIS IS VIEW OF
 RATE EXPERTS WHO
 TALKED YESTERDAY
Highway at Least 100 Feet Wide With Ample Wharf age Space Should Be Part of City

Birmingham must get on the War; so why not Birmingham.
 That's the way many of the Ieadin. men of Birmingham are looking at tbe movement to give the city an adeouate connection with the river which opens the way for perennial water nayiga- fion to the gulf and all the ports of the world. This new feature of the plan is gaining impetus and daily the idea that Birmingham, to gain th. re"' advantages of the river, must make the river part of the city, grows.
 That the Warrior river can be made the greatest advantage of the city and the district is the belief of many mar who have given careful study to the proposition They contend that the real importance of this matter has never been appreciated by the people of the city. With the full realization of the advan- tages from the water transportation. the one thing which has been detrimental to the growth of Birmingham-lacl1 of water transportation-wil have been removed
 R. A. BROWNS VIEWS
 R A. Brown, president of the Alabama State Fair, thinks the Warrior river is blrmlnghams greatest potential asset "I thlnk the city limits should be extended to the banks of the river and +bo+ :, permanent hiob1U ioW srade and With as few curves as possible should be constructed.' he said. To get the best results the entire high way should be under control of the citv The business which would go over the read seeking the river route would be more than enough to justify the expendi- ture. This is the one big opportunity now knocking at the doors of Rirming- ham and I believe the citizens of inc city and the officials will meet the en,er- gency.
 It seems to me that the business end or the propostion-the fact that it would bring wonderful returns in dollars and ceLts-is too apparent to need any dis cuss1on. There is another feature which appeals very strongly to me and one which I consider of great importance.
 
 tiful bodies of inland water in America. The scenery along the river is as fine as anywhere in this section. With the construction of modern highway the Warrior river would become the play ground of Birmingham. Already there is being felt a need for some such place. but in a few years the need for some great place of recreation will be even more pronounced. beautiful inland lake h0 n1ilpS long a yyi6o ha river is, surrounded on all sides by beau- tiful scenery, is something that few sum- mer resorts can boast. It seems to me that we should anticipate the future in this regard and have this highway Homes would be built up along the highway and on the banks of the river, and it would offer an attraction that many people of Birmingham have never stopped to realize. By all means, we should lave the highway from a business stand point, and at the same time it will provide us with a great place of amuse- meEt.''
 RICE ENTHUSIASTIC '"The more I think about this move ment to provide an adequate connection with the Warrior river, the more en- thusias stic I become on the subject" said Charles E. Rice. '"The city of Birming- ham ought to extend it's limits to the h,nks of the river so that the entire highway and the part of the river to be used for shipping purposes will be under control of the city government.
 "I think we should have highway Of the finest construction of not over 2 per cent grade The matter of an cleo tric line can be cared for later but the highway is the pressing thing now. The real meaning of this highway in a finan- cial way is just now beginning to be real ized in Birmingham, but I am confident that the necessary steps will be taken without any unnecessary delay to enable tkis district to get the best possible re- turns from the river"
 SLATER ON RATE EFFECTS
 J. T. Slater manager of the freight bureau of the Merchants and Manufact- urers association believes that the War