The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-17
FIGHT TO FINISH
AGAINST PARKING
OF FIRST AVENUE
Citizens, Commission And
Utility Officials TO
Confer

Declaring they had made up their
minds 10 fight parking Of First avenue
south Of Fffty-seventh street with all
their resources, delegation Of East
Lake citizens-a hundred stronghold
open discussion with the city COM
mission from 2 o'clock Friday aft
eriioon until nearly six,
The baafd of revenue of Jefferson
county, which had been Invited to d
joint eppferenee with the East Lake
fleIeeaf sid The CITY eQlhlnissla rs sent
slIistI II did nft Aenaider flie subiect
proper question because the board Of
revenue had gone on record as nBati-
MonsIE opposed % parking the thor
oughfare.
Z Judge Horace c.. WilkerSon and At
torney Armstrong Cory headed the del
egation Of East Lake, WoOdlawn AMI
Wahouma citizens and making earnest
please to the commission to disregard
the commissions contract with the re-
ceiyers Of the former r.. r., L. & p.
company and pass an ordinance order
ing the avenue paved
Members Of the commission. speaking
in turn. expressed entire sympathy for
the attitude Of the citizens effected,
saying they, too, would prefer all paw
ing to parking, but as they had made
the best bargain with the utility they
could had entered into IA contract
which provided for parking, they in
tended to stand BY their work in all
respects, though they were perfectly
willing to attempt negotiations with the
Birmingham Electric company in an
effort to get the eastern end of the
main East and West highway paved
throughout.
Open Discussion
When President d. q. McLendon Of
the city commission called the meet
ing TO order Thomas u. Huey of the
board Of revenue stated the position of
his board in regard to their not taking
part in the conference. Mr. MeLendon
then called on anyone present to open
the discussion.
Judge WiIkerson stated that First
avenue is one OF the most important
thoroughfares in the south, certainly
In Alabama; and he could not see the
wisdom Of the city paying $4,000
TO widen ii in Ayondale and at the
same time making contract to close
it in with parking at East Lake. He
maintained that the city had no legal
authority to enter a contract that de-
.prived the municipality of decision as
to how street should be improved, the
contract being illegal, he said, because
II was not in the power of the city
to make It, Judge Wilkersoh said East
Lake had read with surprise the state
ment that the matter of Improvements
might be switched to Fifth avenue /;
that the East Lake people made no
objection to improving Fifth avenue,
but resented the attempt to eyade the
protected paving of First avenue from
curb to curb Eve ask you" he said,
TO paes an ordinance calling for paw
ing from curb to curb all the way"
Following Judge Wilkerson numbers
Of citizens of the effected territory
spoke, many with vehemence, calling
attention to the present condition OF
the avenue, the raised car tracks along
parts Of the line, the rearrangement
already made in the contract whereby
several blocks Of proposed parking had
been eliminated, and advocating the city
to endeayor to eliminate all Of the
proposed parking.
Conference Called
Commissioner w. u. Harrison
sketched the history Of the negotiations
between the city and the utility, point
liAS Vul NnW duNanNdHcc EAAAcQ anu say
ing that First avenue. was the principal
beneficiary for street improvements of
the entire negotiations.
Commissioner w. r.. Dickson
stressed the obligation he felt regard
ing the contract agreement. saying the
city had made it in good faith and
that having given his word he expected
to abide BY it.
Commissioner w. B. Cioe. Commits
sioner Mary Eehols and President Nc
Tendon all spoke briefly OF the eity's
attitude, saying they would like to find
more satisfactory solution, but If
none could be found they would abide by
the contract.
Armstrong Cory spoke at length on
the situation and advocated the city
passing an ordinance, which he said
they morally could pass, requiring the
avenue to be paved instead Of parked.
Sir. Huey nominated a committee
composed Of Judge NYilkers0n, Mr..
Cory and Won Il. Thompson to meet
with the commission and officials Of
the Birmingham Electric company, by
invitation, Monday for a conference
seeking solution.