The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-01
TwENTY.FoURTH STREET vIADUCT.

The city commission deserves public
and specific approval for, it's note to the
railroads making definite proposal with
respect to the viaduct at Twenty-fourth
street. 1t is the first evidence of final
action. AS The Age-Herald has con-
SILENTLY held, however, the construction
should be undertaken with the distinct
understanding that it shall not be used by
the railroads as an excuse for postponing
the still more important separations at
other more congested crossings. Rather
should it be written in the bond that the
yiaduct concerned is but one small part
of a program promptly to be undertaken.
Otherwise, the proposal loses it's value.
In this connection it is feared that the
Birmingham Evening News feels more
soaicitude for the railroads than for the
public welfare in regard to the question
of grade separations. In an editorial of
last week the Evening News berates the
city commissioners for not attending the
secret conclave with the railroad repre-
sentatives and Chamber of Commerce
committee at the chambers quarters.
just why the city commission should be
expected to compromise the dignity of
this municipality by attending such
secret conclave regarding an important
a public matter the Evening News does
not make clear.
Our evening contemporary also finds
fault with the commissioners for not adj
herring TO compromise agreement al
legged by others at a previous secret con-
clave, but denied by the commissioners.
Does the Evening News subscribe to the
principle that the city commissioners
should bind themselves on a public mat
ter at a secret meeting with interested
parties, instead of arriving at its decisions
openly and at some regular meeting?
That is the view that the railroads, which
have been delaying grade separation 4or
many years, would be glad to see general
~ accepted. Secrecy is the meat of in
terests seeking special favors or seeking to
substitute their own purposes for those
looking to the public welfare. 1t is not
strange that the Evening News, with its
tender solicitude for monopolistic enter
prises and its liaison, through the Mont
gomery Advertiser, with liquor-money in
terests which the Evening News has never
repudiated, should assume this view.
Therefore, it is not surprising when,
after many years of seeking to bring the
railroads into conciliatory agreement,
the city commission sends the railroads an
ultimatum with respect to the Twenty
fourth street viaduct, concerning which
there has at no time been any excuse for
delay, the Evening News should chide the
commission for the pre-emptory language
in which the note was couched. Such
view can hardly be held to be the view
of the longsuffering people of Birming-
ham who have long desired to see the city
authorities show some courage and de-
cision in this matter. The railroads have
openly ignored the public loss and danger
from grade crossings, and it is time for
showdown. If the city commission shows
any signs of calling for such showdown,
it deserves the support of this entire cont
munity.
In view of its property interest, which
will be enhanced by the constructor of
the viaduct concerned, the Evening News
may, of course, be pardoned degree of
special apprehension over any factor
which might jeopardize this particular
grade separation. There is no opposition
to the viaduct construction at Twenty
fourth street. There is specific public
demand, however, that the grade modifi-
cations suggested by Mr.. Kendrick for
the approaches to this viaduct be made,
and there is further public demand that
its construction shall be specifically
agreed as in no degree delaying or affect
ing the further more seriously needed
separations at Twentieth, Eighteenth and
Fourteenth streets. This factor the Eve
ming News overlooked, although it is an
Important factor in protecting the public
interest.