The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
PEOPLES FORUM
From an EngIishmnn

i To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 should like tothank Mr Seddon for his letter in Mondays issue. l am an Englishman, but hope to settle in Birmingham. I have been. on this side for nearly five years, practically all the time with Americans who have all given me a heary welcome. l have work ed with them in Mexico and South America, and while in Valina- Cruz saw two Americans seved by the British consul throwing Union Jack around them. If ever there should be war between the two countries, I imagine, owing to the pugnacious tendencies of both sides, it would be bitter struggle and no doubt the end of the power of the English speaking people, as after any signs of weakening there are numerous countries just itch ing to step on us with both feet.
 Of course, there are "pinheads" in all countries, but the only peo- pie that I have ever heard men tion anything detrimental to oar friendship have been ignorant and narrow minded, or else have been In some obscure seaport town in either country and taken their inn presslon from immediate sur rounding. I myself served four years in the last war and had suf- ficient for one life.
 GEORGE F. GILPIN.
 Birmingham, Ala
 DisliISes New Traffic Rules
 To the Editor of The Age erald:
 In letter to President D. l.. McLendon of the city commission. published in your paper Saturday, MT. J. M. Norment states that he would really like to know who is demanding the new system of parking. Judging from the gen tlemen who spoke in favor of the ordinance and of it's immediate adoption, l should say that the taxicab companies were very much in favor of the ordinance, no doubt from purely patriotic and unselfish motives.
 We have put the jitneys out of business, we pay the highest au- tomobhe license of any state in the Union, and now they want to fix 1t so we cannot use our cars. unless we walk half a mile to and from same. Perhaps it would be better just to use them for pleas pre rides on Sundays. Judging from some of the statements 4 have seen, the man who uses his car 10 come to town, instead of ridlhg the street car or taxi. is a sort or near criminal and should pc run out of town. They say Pittsburg, New Orleans, Nashville. Atlanta and other cities have par allel parking, but who, in the name of heaven, wants to live in those cities? I lived in Pittsburg three years anr have three broth CTS there now, and every time I visit there l feel sorry for them They used to park parallel. but skinned so many of their tires knocked off so many hub caps and renders and wasted so much time trying to get in and out that. the last lew times I was there. I mo- tlced that one park ed his car on the litth story of a building for 9l uay and another in a vacant rot at ilfty cents a day. Some times It takes fifteen or twenty minutes 10 get their cars ont Mahy times have seen tires sklhned up against the curb in try ihs to get in and out, and often remarked to my brothers that was certainly thankful that Rir- minsham was made for aptor,o- piles. Most of our down,n,r,, streets are wider between the cars parked as they have been for fifteen years, than the streets m the cities above mentioned, from curb to curb.
 to park around forty cars to the to park around forty cears to tho block, and even then had to park two to four blocks from the center of town. Now we can bark about fifteen cars to the block, which , means parking many cars six or eight blocks from the business center. Parking the old way have often come to town with my family, especially on Saturdays, and had to~~park three or four blocks from the theatre we wished to attend. Where will we park now? You might say, Come on the street cars" but how about the thousands that come every night from places as far as Trussville, Warrior, Springville and other places from ten to twenty miles away, where they have no electric cars? Just let them stay home. The merchants. theatres, picture shows, ct ceteya, don't need them anyway.
 Another very serious objection to the ordinance is the one-hour parking limit in the entire down. town district. Many business men use their cars all day, but at ir- regular intervals. I might park my car with the intention of start ing out in fifteen minutes and something might happen to keep me in theoffice for two hours. and then l will have to waste several more hours going to court Most picture shows and all matinees last over an hour and if you will show me a woman in Birmingham who can buy hat or a dress in an hour, I will show you a real wonder I fully appreciate the fact that man can hardly drive