The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-07
Cooperative Spirit Shown by Railroad Officials at Confer
 ence with Commission Sat-
 urday-- Auditorium Will Be Free of Noise and Smoke
SEEK NEW WADUCTS ON
 NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES
Frisco to Move Freight House
 to Powell Ayenue--Plans Will Permit Opening of North Twentieth Street for Handling Through Traffic

Blrmlngham's Sl,UUO,ouU viaouct program will be presented in def mite form to the city commission and interested railroads for final action within three months by A. J. Hawkins, city engineer, and it will call for one viaduct on the south side and one on the northside, exact locations of which have not yet been determined.
 This was learned Saturday when it was made evident by city of ficials that the accepted offer of the Frisco railway, made early in the day, to remove at a cost of ap- proximately half a million dollars, it's switching tracks, roundhouse and freight house that now virtually block Twentieth street, north, at Ninth avenue, would not be regard ed as a compromise, and the via duet program would be vigorously pushed. Engineer Hawkins was told by President D. E. McLendon to enter into negotiations imme- diately with engineers of the rail roads and make detailed cost es- inmates and draw complete specifl- cations for the proposed viaducts.
 Opening of Twentieth Street
 Opening and developing of Twen- tieth street, north, from Ninth ave- nue is expected to follow removal of Frisco tracks and equipment, and one of the most unpleasant features of the new auditorium site will be relieved with the elimination cf noise and smoke caused by the switch wards. Hazard of street traffic will be considerably reduced and railway officials estimated that traffic, on Nineteenth street would be relieved at leas. 90 per cent. Agreement was that the Frisco company should re- move it's switch yards and roundhouse to Thomas during the present year and transfer its freight house tc Powell avenue within another 12 months.
 The conference was held in the office of President McLendon and had been called by him several weeks ago.
 The conference was attended by the following representatives of the three lines on the northside: George H. Schleyer of St. Louis, general executive agent of the Frisco rail- way: F. G. Jonah of St. Louis, en- rineer of the Frisco Railway com pany: w. L. Stanley of Atlanta, vice president of the Seaboard railway; H, R. Artman, of Atlanta. district en- ginser of the Frisco railway; w. K. c. Cooke. attorney for the Birming- ham Belt railway.
 Commissioners Gratified
 City commissioners expressed grat- ification at the results of the con- ference. s1
 "The attitude of the railway men was exceedingly gratifying" said President McLendon. They appeared friendly to the city's viaduct pro- gram, and showed a desire to CO., operate in the undertaking. The scheme will now be pushed straight through.
 "The offer of the Frisco company cannot be accepted as a compromise, If 1t was so intended. We will pro- ceed with a program of grade elimi- nation that will connect the north aide with the southside.
 w. E. Dickson, commissioner of public improvements. appeared espe- oially gratified at the offer of the Frisco company, which relieved the objection to the auditorium site.
 A census was submitted by Engi- need Hawkins showing traffic pass ing over Northside grade crossings at various streets within 12 hours. They showed greatest traffic at Nineteenth and Twenty sixth streets. Census traffic follows:
 Sixteenth street: Passenger cars ss7. rucks 306, horse-drawn 173; total 1,466. ss
 Nineteenth street: Passenger cars 2,865, trucks 576, orse-drawn 30s; total 3.740.
 Twcnty-first street: Passenger S5. trucks 77, horse drawn S1; total 1,243.
 Twenty-fourth street: Passenger cars 1874. trucks 402. horse drawn 15i; total 2.427.
 ,Twenty-sixth street: Passenger cars 2,6l2, trucks 53. horse-drawn 2l1; total 3,507.
 After the conference it became known that another meeting of com missioners and railway men would be called about three months hence, at which time detailed plans for 2 viaduct over Railroad avenue on the southside and one on the northside win be presented, together with cost estimates. Preliminary estimates are that the yiaduct on the southside will cost approximately $450,00o, and that the one on the northside, which has to be longer. will cost Apporxi-