The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-02
grRMINGHAM's EXPANSION

A rlose observer of industrial development,
md especially of realty expansion and con-
d}tions whose company has long been con-
spicuously identified with residential and
other building in this city, recently said:
THE Birmingham district has had probably
the greatest residential development In Its
history during the past year." This is borne
out by the record, which promises to con-
finue Indefinitely with equal or, perhaps, in
creased achievement. The building record
il residences for April exceeded that Of the
corresponding month of 1928 by one hundred
and nine permits representing an increase IN
investment of $685. The total number
al new buildings last month was 1853. Half
dozen large apartment houses are nearing
completion, numerous smaller ones are under
construction, and many more are being planned
for the early future. An eight-story office
building is being elected on Twenty-first
street. between Second and Third avenues.
Plans are in the making for three big struc-
trares in the business district-a new depart
ment store an office building and ten-story
Athletic Club building on Third avenue to
cost S1,30O000. Soon a contract will be let
for the Jefferson County tuberculosis Sanlto-
rum to cost 100000.
s while this great building expansion is I'M
der way, new residential subdivisions are be-
ing opened up to provide for early future
ranuirsm ents, Large tracts on Miner
Heirhts and Red Mountain are being graded
and paved. Extensive developments are go
ing on in the Ensley, East Lake, North
birmingham, Forest Park, Glen Iris, SHADES
valley and many other districts, and the
waterworks and telephone companies are
working full time to be ready for additional
narvice soon to be needed. The city and
comfy are forced to take on new activities
~ efforts to keep pace with the progress, as
evidenced by large additional sanitary sewer
age facilities, extensive paving and road
hnilding projects, more fire-fighting equip
ment. big school improvements and many
other expansions
There are reasons for all this extension
and development The rapid growth OF pop
ulation must be provided for. whence tnar
arowth? It naturally follows close upon
me heels of big industrial progress. 1t Is
worth while to note some OF the many evil
dances. Aside from the biggest enterprises
TaSently announced, such as the programs
az the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
Company and Southern Railway, represent
ing investments of from fifteen to twenty
x,illion dollars. within the last few days, the
f4arcnles Powder Company has announced
work on a new plant near Bessemer; the
Tehish Cement Company'B fourth kiln is
nearing completion; plans for the Standard
Gas Company's buildings are nearly COM
pietAd; cement manufacturers OF the district
ard booking orders for hundreds OF thousands
x barrels; a large enterprise for making
carts for ships is projected; cast iron pipe
factories are receiving heavy orders; the
tennessee Company has placed contracts for
twenty new steel barges for service on the
warrior; increasing orders are coming IN Tor
steel cars and the rebuilding OF thousands OF
NY cars; million dollars worth OF coal
iands have been sold in Walker county Tor
dsTelopment; the labor situation is altogether
Fsassuring, and many new diversified indus
tries are being established or are projected
for the early future.
4,hese are some of the reasons for the
rand growth of population, which, In turn
efirnulates the building industry and necessl-
tatss expansion in municipal service. Not
anlv were Birmingham's record and condition
never more favorable, but her future never
Inoked brighter. There is one important
nxoiect which has been sadly neglected
nroDer protection against the grade-crosslng
maFsace. 1t is believed that with the expan.
rian and Development in all other fields OF
s.,5ssstrv. neither the railroads nor the public
Tnthorities can much longer neglect their
,bnponsibility and obligation in providing
49, increasingly pressing public need.