The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-29
SIBERTS PLANS ' FOR CROSSINGS
 COMPLETED Conference On Subject Is Expected Tuesday Or
 Wednesday VIADUCTS FAVORED OVER UNDERPASSES May Conflict With Plans Already Drawn And
 Approved By City

Gen. W. L. Sibert's grade crossing elimination plans. are ready and will be submitted to the special Cham Der of Commerce committee and members of the city commission Tuesday or Wednesday. His rec ommendations include cost esti- mates and veto the city's own plan for underpasses, calling for via ducts instead.
 Disclosure that the general is ready to report, was made Monday afternoon by Commission President D. E. McLendon, who earlier in the day, had received letter from R. I. Ingalls,, president of the Chamber of Commerce. reading as follws:
 General Sibert reports that he has practically completed his scheme for the viaducts, also his estimates of the cost. He expects to be in Birmingham Tuesday or Wednesday for a meeting with the chambers committee and at this time we believe we will be prepared to submit these plans to the city and to the railroads, so that they can be mak- ing their studies preliminary to a meeting of the railroads and the city, which we want to hold early in August, SO that we can get the thing back to us."
 Expected Tuesday
 President McLendon later was in formed that Gen. Sibert will reach the city sometime Tuesday. It had not been determined whether he would appear before the joint meeting Tuesday after noon or Wednesday morning. 0fficiaIs Of the Louisville and NasII- sKiiie nna Sons irnnd Ba the city for the conference, it was an- nonnced. City Engineer A. J. Hawkins, author of the city's plans which call for underpasses, and City Attorney W. J. Wynn also will be present.
 A map of the downtown railroad area and other data asked of Gen. Sibert by the city engineering depart ment was mailed from Mobile Monday and was expected to arrive Tuseday.
 While city officials welcomed the news that the way is fast being made for grade crossing action, the feeling prevailed that there may be difficulty in harmonizing Sibert's findings with the plans already prepared by the city. Commission members have been more or less definitely committed to under passes, in the belief that they are what the people want. Mir. Ingalls, letter, however, asserted that the generals ''viaduct" plans were nearly finished and made no reference to underpasses.
 Approval Expected
 All members of the commission will attend the meeting to be held on ar rival of Gen. Sibert to give full consid- eratiOn to his report. Although the gem eral was employed by Chamber of Com merce officials, commission members concede that his eminence as an engi- neering expert entities any plan he may offer to the closest study and considera- tion.
 It is reported that officials of the involved railroads will give thair ap- proval to Sibert's report. The chamber committee also is expected to indorse it in toto.
 An injunction suit to prevent any elevation in track levels in connection with construction of underpasses, has been threatened by J. A. Van Hoose, former mayor and owner of considerable property abutting the railroads in the downtown section. City Attorney Wynn, however, has expressed belief that the city could quickly win legal fight of this nature.
 Although a sharp division of opinion as the method of solving the crossing problem appears certain, the announce ment that Gen. Sibert is ready to report gives assurance that an early show down" may be expected. After Sibert's findings have been studied, the city will take steps by ordinance to protect the crossings.