The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-18
AVENUE ASITE WILL RE USE1
 FREIGH !
Work On Depot And Office
 Building Slated To Begin In
 January, Age-HeraId Learns
 Following Officials Visit SECOND RAIL EXPANSION ANNOUNCED THIS YEAR
Trains And All Switching To
 Be Handled At East Thomas Yards Being Constructed, All To Cost $1,000,000

A freight depot ana office building costing approximately S10o,ooO will be constructed by the Frisco rail- road on it's properties on Avenue A, between Fourteenth and Eighteenth streets, The Age-Herald learned Fri day following an inspection visit to Birmingham by J. E. Hutchinson, general manager, and members of his organization. Work on the ter minals and offices will begin January 9. 1924 This marks the second big development here by railroads, the Southern having announced some months ago that a 10-story office building would be built at First ave- nue and Twenty street, north. old Belt Line Property.
 The property to be occupied by the Frisco terminals and offices is a portion of IA acres owned by the railroad between Powell avenue and Avenue A, Fourteenth and Eight eenth streets. It was acquired sew eral years ago when the Belt line was purchased for $S00000 by the Frisco. This price also included the land now being utilized at East Thomas for freight yards and other operating equipment 2o-stall round house is being built there. The entire development is in line with the promise made the city com mission last November that the Pow ell avenue and Ninth avenue situa- tions would be cleared up this year and next.
 The new freight depot will parallel the freight house of the Alabama Great Southern railroad, whose of- fees front on Eighteenth street di- rectly opposite the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company power station. Construction of the building will be of reinforced com crete and brick. modern in every re- spect, it is stated. It will be fire proof with special spaces for auto mobiles for perishable freights and Cor other merchandise of great value.
 Offices of the Frisco are expected to front on Eighteenth street with design and construction more mod ern and artistic, it is expected.
 The freight terminals IT was Uearned Friday, are an item in the appropriation made by the Frisco for the construction of the East Thomas terminals, now under way. This work represents an outlay of over $l,O00,- coo.
 The entire development was planned 10 years ago, It was stated Friday by officials, and is blossom ing into realization as speculation re- garding Birmingham future is no longer indulged in, it being admitted that no capacity is too great for rho district in construction lines.
 O o O
 To Abandon Ninth Avenue.
 It was stated in connection eisa the construction of the new f houses by the Frisco that just a. as the East Thomas terminals completed all switching and bus would be removed from Ninth Nta and perhaps even the tracks WoU ha taken up.
 The trains and all switching
 be handled at East Thomas and the operations at the Finley cs of the Southern at present, Following the completion o rs freight house on Avenue A, the ent freight houses on Ninth a 5ru. will be abandoned and all freig ceived and delivered from AVeru. d. This will prove to be a most we -ae innovation on the part of shi and constgnees, as wholesalers others are put to a large transpQ tion cost in making shipments
 the Frisco from the present ware | house. Temporary team tracks have failed to decrease this cost and in- convenience to any appreciable eX- tent With the freight house on Avenue A, it is stated that sufficient ] team tracks will be available ade- l quately to care for all shipments and l deliveries and that no time will be | lost by teams and drivers making de- l llVeries or receiving them from the 1 Frisco.