The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-05
THOSE INTERESTED. IN BELT LINE CASE
 REACH AGREEMENT.
Conference Held in Cocke's Office Thursday Afternoon. Utilities Board Expected
 to Approve

Under q compromise agreement reached by representatives of all in- terested parties at a. conference held shortly before 3 o'clock Thursday af- ternGon, and- which 1t is understood will be ratified at the hearing be- fore the Alabama Public Service com- mission at f0 o'clock Friday morn ing, the Birmingham Belt railway will be allowed to remove one of its tracks on Avenue from Seventeenth street to Twenty-fifth street, with the exception of two and a quarter blocks, from the east side of Twenty first street to 100 feet west of Twenty fourth street,e removal of which had been halted by protest of the Harris Transfer and Warehouse company.
 The conference was held in the of flee of W. R. c. Cccke of the firm of Cabaniss, Johnson, Cooke ana Cabaniss. attorneys for the Brming- ham Belt railway, and was attended by representatives of the Birming- ham Belt company, the Harris Trans fer and Warehouse company the city of Birmingham and property owners favoring and opposing removal Of one of the tracks. 4 subsequent conference of city commissioners re- suited in approval of the agreement, provided the city was identified against financial loss.
 Meeting Friday Formality
 While it is understood that all fac tons will be represented at the formal hearing at the court house Friday morning it is thought likely that the public service commission will sanction and legalize the agree ment inasmuch as all factions are said to be satisfied. Double track betweea TwentY-first and Twenty fourth streets will afford adequate switching facilities to the Harris Transfer and Warehouse company and other property owners in that section and at the same time will not cause undue congestion of traf- fife.
 The controversy arose some time ago. after the city had entered into an. agreement with the Birmingham Belt company permitting removal of one of it's double tracks between Seventeenth and Twenty firth streets On Avenue E to effect economy in cost of paving then under ordinance. Injunction proceedings were insti tuted by the Harris Transfer and Warehouse company and the work of removal of the track was halted pending final hearing before the public service commission.
 Meanwhile. numerous property owners on Avenue F declared that they opposed the effort to stop re- movaI of the track and that they ia yored . single track from Seven teenth street to Twenty fourth street. They claimed cars were all lowed to stand on these tracks for loading and unloading for long inter vals, resulting in congestion.
 The following attended the con ference: W. R. c. Cooke, F. G. Jonah, general executive agent of the Frisco railway, of which the Birmingham Belt is a subsidiary; J. II. Chleyer general executive agent of the Br- mingham territory of the Frisco railway. E. NJ. Mohler superintendent of terminals of the Frisco and Illin- ois Central railways; J. l. Cowan, secretary of the Harris Transfer and Warehouse company; Frank Rushton and Crawford Johnston, property owners who protested removal of tracks, and Leroy Percy, their at- t6rney: Percy w Brower and Car ence Mason. representing property owners for track removal.