The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-23
LETTERS TO EDITOR
"wHY EAST OF TWENTIETH 2,

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 Referring to the many discussions in the newspapers with reference to the auditorium site, would it be out of place for the writer to address his first letter to the editor after having lived here more than 30 years? I have and look on, but to my way of thinking there has been so much camouflagng indulged in by people writing to the editor on this one question that some plain and to the point ex- pression might clear up the situation.
 The fight now going to the auditorium site dates back to the year 1911, at or about which time the selection of postoffice site was made. few people who owned prop erty situated in the north side and east of Twentieth street wanted the government 10 put the post office up on Fourth avenue and Twenty-third street Strenuous effort was made to secure options Fourth avenue property between Twenty-third and Twenty fourth streets, and possibly was op- toned off for this purpose The federal gov ernment sent representative from Wash ington, who, after ooking over the map of Greater Birmingham, selected the present site on Fifth avenue between Eighteenth and Nine teenth streets for the that this site was nearest to the geographical center, and at the same time most convenient for trans portation of mail to and from the Louisville and Nashville and Terminal stations.
 This selection seemed to displease the east siders to the extent that from that day until the present time they have never had good word to say for property situated west of Twentieth street.
 In their advertisements of homes they have for the past 10 years adopted the slogan feast of Twentieth street, and for the love of Mike, why, no one has ever really known cept, perhaps, to create the impression that the best people lived east of Twentieth street. As recall now, families living west of Twen- tieth street are the Jemisons, Bradleys Com CTS, Lathrops, Grubbs, Smiths and many others too numerous to mention, and for pity sake, why all this least of Twentieth street."
 In letter few days since M P. Messer suggests the city buying Smiths park and us ing it as 8 negro park. The question of parks has been up for discussion here in Birmingham for the last 15 years, and strange it is that MT. Messer has never suggested this grol.fl. for negro park before. He waits until the Smith heirs very generously come forward and donate about five acres of ground, worth about s75,00o, being part of 4o-acre tract known as Smiths park, for auditorium site. Then he becomes suddenly very solicit ous of the negroes welfare and wants this property bought by the city and used as negro park. Why all this outburst of solici- tude on Mr. Messers part so sudden like?
 The answer IS the same old fight against the west side of the city by the people in terested in the property located east of Twentieth street.
 am not the owner of any property at Smiths park, neither do I own any property on Eighth avenue.
 Let the people send in their votes to The Age-Herald and settle this question by the ref erendum now being conducted by this paper. Yours very truly W. B. STONE.
 Birmingham, June 22, 1922.