The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-16
.pI s;tG .,G PLANS ; s.slt SNAG AGAIN; CHAMBER QUITS City Preparing To Force Action By Means Of
 Ordinances RAILROADS BALK
 AT PATH ST. PLANS Session Said To Have Been Stormiest Yet
 Held On Subject

Ordinances requiring the railroads to start work on a via duct at Twenty-fourth street and on underpasses at Fourteenth. Eighteenth and Twentieth streets will be passed by the city commission next Tuesday as the first le- gal step in the downtown grade crossing snarl, it was announced late Monday after Ia final conference with rail- road executives, Gen. w. L. Si- bert and the Chamber of Com merce committee had resulted in an official break between the city and carriers.
 As forecast. the conference did not alter the status of the deadlock but served only to intensity it. The commission, at a meeting of it's own behind closed doors, instructed the engineering and legal depart ments to get the ordinance in shape for passage without de- lay. If the railroads fail to begin construction within 60 days, the city will carry the fight into the courts. A bat tie that may last several years and ultimately reach the Su- preme Court of the United States is in prospect.
 Outstanding developments of Mon days final conference were:
 l. Members of the chamber commit tee charged the commissioners with |repudiation of the gentlemenss agree msnt'' reached at previous meeting, which called for a viaduct at Eighteenth street.
 2. Railroads refusal to procede with viaduct at Twenty-f fourth if Eighteenth street is left open for legal controversy.
 3. City issued ultimatum that or dinances will be Immediately drawn to force carriers to raise tracks below Twenty-first street.
 4. Withdrawal of Chamber of Com merce and General Sibert from the dis pute.
 Stormy Session
 According to reports of the meeting, another executive session" at which representatives of the papers were barred. it was the stormiest yet held over the crossing tangle. Railroad of- ficials expressed themselves as dis appointed and chagrined," Chamber of Commerce representatives declared they were sdisgusted," as city heads asserted their stand a final one. Perhaps the only members at the meeting who felt comfortable at the turn of affairs was a small group of Eighteenth street property owners, who were there with an ayowed intention of endeavoring to block any plan which decreed a viaduct at this thorough-fare.
 The meeting started off on the wrong foot when but one commissioner, w. E. Dickson, showed up. Chamber of Com merce representatives stated that they took this as slap" at their good faith in the matter and at one point in the meeting when it was plain no progress was being made, they requested Dick son to return to the city hall and urge other members to attend.
 Defeat Admitted
 After nasty conference with the commissioners Dickson brought back the report that they had again refused to take part. The meeting lasted but a short time after this. the Chamber committee admitting they were up against a stonewall defense.
 A leading talk at the meeting was delivered by General Sibert, who again stressed that he was an unbiased" party in the controversy and that pro- posal for viaduct at Eighteenth street was the only feasible one.
 Chamber of Commerce officials were not reticent Monday afternoon in stat ing that they were through" with the grade crossing question and declared a statement outlining their stand would be forthcoming soon.
 "There is nothing further for us to do," O. l.. Bum, manager of the or ganization said. We feel particularly disgusted with the question inasmuch as the commissioners at one time agreed to accept General Sibert's plan. The public will be the sufferer"