The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
C|TESSTREET CARS ASCH|EF BUILDERS
 OF URBAN VALUES
Harvey w. Laird Calls Atten- ton to a Contrast Be- tween Birmingham
 and Atlanta

"I'd like Co tell little story about Atlanta that might have special in- terest for Birmingham just now" said IT. W Lalcd. an old Birming ham rooter, .aNw living In the Geor- Hia metropoiD., last night. It's about N piece of real estate in q close-in suburb that was bought for s20,00 in 1909, and half of which Is now valued for taxes at S1,39O,000, Cast ing about for a reason for such in crease t was decided that it was threefold-good street car service desirable neighborhood and liberal terms of sale, and that the first was by far greater than both the others.
 "The incident brought out the fact that no matter now many motor cars were owned and used by individual owners. those portions of the city that had shown the most advance ment were the ones best served by street cars. The. fact Is that prog Eess everywhere was found to be CO., Incident with easy, regular and de- pcndable city and suburban trans portation. Sections with convenient schedules of cars that run both early and late were found to grow more rapidly and substantially than those dependent upon any other form of human haulage In other words, it is well established that adequate street car service obviates conges- ton In downtown districts, dis tributes property values over largely extended areas, and lets fresh air and daylight through populations that would otherwise be damned In so tight as to make living conditions tntolera ble.
 Patronage of Lines
 Naturally 1 wondered if the S- cent tcarfare in Birmingham Is be- cause the people do not support the street railway as they might. And I also found myself speculationg on the extent of outlying development. I took a ride on two or three of the lines and they did not seem to be overly patronized. Somehow l was disappointed. recognize that 1T It were generally known that the street railways of Birmingham are not sup. ported the effect would be to make many feel that business Is taking tt too easy. If the people are not moving there is something wrong is an old business adage, and means a condition that should be remedied at ence.
 q remember when the old horse car ended abruptly in the woods about Behren's park, the aristocrauc south Highlands and Lakeview peo- D1e were served py d StllOhih6 oeS1hi lire, and Avondale, Woodlawn and East Lake bore patiently with the lowly dummy. Property in these parts was vast contrast to the won : derful worth that now attaches to if There were q few beautiful places on the Highlands, but about the lake the frogs held full sway. The an- swer to the marvellous increases in values outside the very center of the city. the splendid homes that have nnde Birmingham known for their beauty, the vast growth of rich and desirable suburbs. Is street railway transportation. and I hope Birming- ham is not failing to realize that this is true Ask the man whose property lies anywhere outside the downtown district how much ne would take to allow the car tracks torn up; question the owners of busi- ness In the merchandising zone as 10 what 1t would mean If the peo- ple could not come in easily to their marts and counters-and hear from them what street car service means to the permanent and proper growth of modern cities.
 Suit Public Needs
 "Tracks are laid, wires strung. cars are bought on the basis of tho serv-