The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-17
ENGINEERS ARE ID DISCUSS V|ADUCT PROGRAM APRIL 3O
R aiIroa d Representatives Confer With City Board.
 Pledge Support

Engineers of the Southern, Sea board and Louisville and Nashville railroads will meet with A. J. Flaw kins, engineer of the city of Bir- mingham, April 30, to discuss the municipal viaduct program on the southside. In the meantime, MT. Hawkins has been instructed to make surveys and prepare cost estimates on viaducts at either Twenty-third or Twenty-fourth street and under passes at Twentieth and streets west. Underpasses at Twentieth and Eigh- teenth streets will be estimated Rough cost estimates will be ready in about 90 days, according to Mir. flaw = kins.
 by the city commission to the rail- roads concerned, it was agreed at a conference Monday, with their engi- neers and representatives of the ex- ecutive departments. Assurances of cooperation were given by R. F. Pegram, vice president of the South ern; H. R. Artman, district engineer of the Seaboard Air Line; W. E. Smith of Birmingham, superintend- ent of the Louisville and Nashville, and H. E. Cox, engineer of the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power company. All urged that some defi- nite location be chosen from a stand point of service at minimum cost.
 Eighteenth. Twenty -thirda and Twenty fourth streets were selected. An underpass at Eighteenth street will necessitate elevating the tracks. permitting construction of another underpass at Twentieth street. Cost estimates will determine which will be built first.
 After the conference Monday morn ing, the engineers went over the ground with Mir. Hawkins. President D. E. McLendon of the city commis- sion began the conference with a re- sume or the viaduct needs of the city, recalling conferences held with rail road officials and expressing the be- lief that realization of the viaduct program was at hand. Commissioner W. D. Dickson urged early action, adding that the city had no desire to 1n1ure the railroads and wanted a distinct understanding.
 May Install Double Track.
 Installation of ouble track be- tween Atlanta and Birmingham is be- lng contemplated by the Southern railGay, according to Vice President Pettam, who said Birmingham's via duSt problems were similar to those of other cities served by the Southern system. Provision for traffic is now the main need. he said.
 H. E. Cox of the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company. stated the location of the viaducts would not probably affect street car lines, but that he was sitting through the conference in order to gain infor. matlon as to the general scheme. He assured the commission the company would be willing to Cooperate
 Mir Artman of the SeaboarA said his road was in practically the same condition as the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company. but that the road was ready to cooper ate. lie said the same problems had been faced in Atlanta, and in one in stance a viaduct had been built with out due consideration as to the loca- tion and was afterward found to have been illogically placed. He im- pressed the necessity of giving am pie consideration of all streets. comparative. costs against the should be made" w. F. Smith of the Louisville and Nashville. said, and plans and costs then submitted to railroad officials fof consideration" i"
 Those who attended the conference were the city commission, A. J. flaw kins, city engineer; J. D. Webb. as sistant city engineer. and W. J. Wynn. city attorney, and for the Louisville and Nashville. Charles E. Rice, at torney; Col. l.. L. Morton, engineer, and w. E. Smith, superintendent; Southern, R. P. Pegram, vice presi- dent; R. D. 'Tobian, engineer of main tenance, and J. T. Stokley, attorney: Seaboard. H. A. Artman, division engineer of Atlanta, and H. E. Cox, engineer of the birmingham Railway. Light and Power company.