The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-12
1T the choice were left to me, whether to nave free press or a free government, would choose free press.-ThOmas Jefferson.
URGENCY OF GRADE SEPARATION

Prompt construction of viaduct at Iwenty-fourth street is expected to be the first outcome of innumerable confer ences, voluminous correspondence and long-continued delays over a solution of the problem. It is hoped that the com mission will take due cognizance of the suggestions of MT. Julian Kendrick as to the proposed grades for this viaduct. The viaduct at Twenty-fourth street can be constructed without interfering with the rest of the city's plan for relief Such a viaduct will be of some benefit in re- ducing grade-crossing dangers and losses to business It will afford only partial relief, however, and will not correct the most urgent injuries which occur at Twentieth and Eighteenth streets. This relief should be given as soon as the de- fects in the underpass plan have been corrected. Aside from the value to the railroads of a cooperative policy that recognizes the rights and interests of this great community, and the economic wisdom of an investment which protects their interests both in the reduction of suits and in increased facilities for hand ling business, every day that this neces- sary project is postponed increases the cost which eventually must be incurred because of such delay and the new prob lens that municipal growth brings.
 Numerous city administrations have considered this problem of grade separa- tion. It has been under discussion for many years. Of recent years the stua- tion has been acute with the growth of Birmingham, and efforts were made to work out program in cooperation with the railroads that would solve the prob lem. Three engineers were engaged in this work, and several years were devoted to it. The three engineers agreed upon the general plan, and it is the under standing of the engineers and others who participated in the conferences that the railroads approved of the general plan as worked out by the city. Now the railroads are bringing many objec- tions, proposing a couple of viaducts with the problem of further and ade- duate relief left for indefinite future consideration, and threatening obstinate resistance in the courts to the program of the city, with the apparent purpose of 4pointing with pride" to the couple of viaducts, and delaying further relief for many years to come. This effort at blocking the enterprise must be sternly resisted and defeated.
 s One of the serious troubles which this community daily confronts is that nearly everything was built on too small plan to care for the growth and increased needs of the city. All the public utili- ties have been forced to enlarge their facilities at frequent intervals and at greatly increased expense because their builders did not look little way ahead Therefore the municipality cannot accept any compromise with the ultimate pub lie benefit. Let there be no fear of lit igation. If it must come, let the city face it without further inaction or delay. The railroads cannot afford publicly to fight any program of such extensive scope that contemplates the wide bene- fit of this community of which they are a part. Anyhow, they have bluffed the commission long enough
 Birmingham needs and must have ade- quate protection from the grade-crossing situation, or continue to suffer increas- ing dangers and incalculable losses to business, which will seriously handicap the community growth and interests. The public welfare cannot be subordi- mated to the private concern.