The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-09
Kirkpatrick Points Out Danger in Suggestions
 Regarding Fist Street
CONFLICTS WITH
 THE ENTIRE PLAN
If This Viaduct Is Made Too Low It Will Interfere With Underpass Planned for Twentieth
 Street

Walter c. Kirkpatrick. former city en- gineer who was in Birmingham for Sun day, last night sounded a note of warn ing against any proposal to lessen the height of the proposed Twenty-first street viaduct, was mentioned in the confer ence of railroad men here Friday.
 MT Kirkpatrick contends that such ac- ton would endanger the whole grade crossing project, which has been laid out for Birmingham after the most careful study.
 While in Birmingham for Sunday. have been shown this evening an article in this morning Age Herald, about the proposed concrete viaduct on Twenty first street, said MT. Kirkpatrick last night.
 There is no engineering project in the Birmingham district more interesting to me than grade separation in the city, because of my study of this matter, which developed the plan for the central down. town streets, about February, 1913.
 HEIGHT IS ESSENTIAL
 Your article states that the height of the proposed viaduct is practically the only objection raised. As it is after
 
 office, I am unable to learn what this objection is; but as the height of the Twenty-first street viaduct is one of the most essential elements of the plan, referred to, it may be proper to show why no compromise of that height should even be considered.
 Near the First avenue viaduct the tracks are about "A feet higher than at Twentieth street, descending at present gradually from near Twenty eighth street to Thirteenth street Utilizing this descent, the plan was to begin elevating the tracks near Twenty-third street and, ascending west, make the tracks pass over Twentieth, Nineteenth, Eighteenth and Fourteenth streets, leaving these streets nearly as at present. Twentieth street would be depressed only about two feet, Eighteenth street about four feet and Fourteenth street about five and half feet. All the streets from Twenty-first to Twenty-eighth, inclusive, would pass over the tracks on viaducts.
 MAKING THE CHANGE
 ''This proposed depression of Twentieth street, beginning at Moore & Handley s and ending before reaching Morris ave- nue, would be so small as to not be noticeable. Eighteenth street would also be unchanged north of Morris avenue and south of Avenue A, while on Four teenth street the entire change would be about 800 feet in length and would be inobjectionabe All these streets would be open to daylight and could be made full width. On the other hand the via ducts on Twenty-fir to Twenty-eighth streets would leave the railroads the full width of their yards unmolested by street traffic for about 4O00 feet
 ''Tha Louisville and Nashville na Ssen- ger depot would be on the street level; the train shed, being elevated to the level of the tracks, would be reachd by stair ways, like those of the Terminal station, except that passengers would reach the tracks by ascending only, instead of by descending and then ascending.
 Nineteenth street could be opened un- der these tracks without any great change or cost.
 Since the tracks pass under Twenty second street and over Twentieth street. it is evident that the elevation of the Twenty-first street viaduct must be fixed within very narrow limits. If the Twen- ty-first street viaduct should not be raised sufficiently, the tracks could not, in the short intervening space, rise over Twentieth street. If the height of Twen- ty-first street viaduct be insufficient the whole plan might become impossible If the height of the Twenty-first street via duct be lowered, it would be necessary to depress Twentieth street correspond ingly. Depression of Twentieth street. such as six or eight feet, would cut off the daylight from the street, would make its approaches commence near First ave- nue and would greatly increase the prop erty damages.
 LITTLE MORE EXPENSE
 If the tracks be elevated, the expense of raising them full height would not be greatly more than that of raising them half height, because the track recon- struction is a large part of the cost
 For the difference between fully ele- vatlng the tracks and that of partial ele- vaton, it would be very unfortunate to sacrifice the use and good appearance of Twentieth street, the main artery of the city: and yet, if unwittingly or pur- posely, the Twenty first street viaduct be built too low, this result must follow. As a matter of fact, it would be better to sacrifice Twenty-first street than to de- stroy the main aXial street, Twentieth especially when Nineteenth. Eighteenth