The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25
WHY NOT MAKE A START NOW?

| w ii NOl MAhL A O l All NOW | If the people of Birmingham should be asked to determine what is the greatest local public need at this time, they would doubtless be largely in the majority for an adequate system of viaducts. It is un- questionably one of the most pressing ne- cessities. Street traffic, means of quick communication among all parts of the city, is not only in large measure the life of community, but no city can hope to attain it's logical growth and commercial import ance without it. Facilities for quick commu- nication affect the interests of every resi- dent of Birmingham whether through the promotion and upbuilding of business or from an even more important standpoint the public safety. Any reasonably intelli- gent person who views the frequent and ever-increasing congestions caused by the various grade crossings right in the busiest section of the city, the constant ana costly delays in street traffic brought about by this evil; every one who notes the serious and constant dangers to the thousands who must get about the city, realizes the press ing need for the solution of this problem, already acute in its effects and influences upon the entire community.
 What are we as progressive people go- ing to do about it? Birmingham is growing rapidly in every way. Its heavy increase in population as well as in business ac- tvities, makes the question of safe and prac- tical communication more and more serious. The public interests only are to be consid- cred. What may appear to be somewhat large expenditure at this time in providing safe and proper street traffic is really wise and necessary investment by the railroads as we'll as the city. The erection of the First avenue and Twenty-first street via ducts soon proved to be, as every one knew they would about the best things accom- plished for the public good for twenty years. But those improvements which pro- tect and serve thousands of individuals and interests every day are only the beginning in this direction to promote the public well fare and advance the public interests.
 Enlightened officials of the railroads oper- ating in and out of Birmingham fully realize now, as they did years ago, that no great and rapidly growing city can make anything like its proper development without cooper ation by its railroads in matter of this 
 here, appreciate the necessity of solving this problem. They are far-sighted business men, who understand that it is to their in- terests, as well as to the interests of the people of Birmingham, that it's streets should not be constantly blocked and business ham, pered, not to speak of the hourly dangers to life and limb because of these increas- ingly hazardous death-traps. There has al- ready been manifested disposition on the part of some railroads to cooperate in this proposition. Why the long-drawn-out de- lays? Plans that would seem to be prac- tical are already worked out by the city. With the vast tonnage the railroads are re- ceiving, here, with the ever-increasing prospects for far greater business to them from this community, doubtless most Of those officials will look at the matter in fair and just light and do their part.
 The Birmingham public has not only the moral, but the legal arguments on its side. The railroads all know that. There is noth- ing to delay the program except municipal inaction. It is going to take some time to complete anything like an acequate system of viaducts. Let it be begun now, so that the program may be well under way before the situation becomes utterly intolerable, and the public loss rises to still greater proportions.
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