The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-11

each per dIlbuult lHG Id=Eo du4lADiiHtU
by the old contract were very much re-
duced. The old rates had been from
time to time voluntarily reduced by the
company until they were very much be-
low the contract rate. but still much
above the rates named in the new con-
tract. AS 10 the fire hydraE.s. the con-
tract was substantially a copy of that
which had just previously been made
between the city of Montgomery and the
Capital City Water company, which was
and is now considered an exceedingly
favorable one for the ely. A rival conn
pany was in operation there at the time
giving the city THE benefit of competf-
ton, under the Stress of which the new
company offered unusual terms. Yet
the expenditure called for there was a
little more than about one-third what
the Birmingham Water company has to
undertake. Under this contract the
water company was to incur all the ex-
pense of purchase ard setting the by
drants and then l.urn them over to the
city, whose property they became. Fur
Their, the city has the right to require
the company TO extend its mains LOCO
feet for ch-additional hydrant ordered
put in, whether a single consumer was
to be obtained on such extension or ncls.
ut is charged that for the first two
years after THE contract The company
received no less than six thousand dol
lars for MIGRANTS that did not even ex-
ist. This charge is absolutely without
foundation. The contract itself practi-
cally locates these hydrants by limiting
their distance apart, which placed one
at each corner. A few of them, 1t is
true, were not needed, but in order ito
comply with the contract, and by direc-
ton of line city. main was laid to every
street corner. except one. from which
the plug was omitted, and placed else
where by direction or request of the city.
Further, the company was required TO
pay the city a bonus of fifteen hundred
and ninety-nine dollars and ten cents
q,599.1OD, for which the company holds
the city's receipt"
CHARGE IN REGARD TO PRESSURE.
The section elf the central regulating
pressure lis quoted and the answer dis
misses this charge with the words:
There are no such words in the contract
as "a pressure equal to about SO pounds
which is quoted from the minority re-
port.
The charg4 in regard to rates was next
taken up and the rates in other cities
quoted from the report.
Montgomery pays Sc per annum, Chat
tanooga pays $3.50 per annum. Birming-
ham pays 81 per annum."
A letter from the Capital City Watsr-
works, Montgomery, is quoted. 1t gives
the rate as Sc per year for one faucet On
a five-room house; water closet in stcre,
$40; bath tub. IS; sprinkler, $12 meter
with privilege of using 10000 gallons per
quarter 1925, ter $13 per year.
Rates could not be secured from Chat
tanooga. In regard to Atlanta it says:
"In Atlanta, under the city's domestic
rate, a consumer who does not use but
5000 gallons of water per month"; and
takes advantages of this discount pays
but 1920 per year. but in addition he is
required to pay interest on the cost of
the meter, about SLIGO per year, and the
cost of repair and maintaining about
SO additional In addition to this every
tenant. where there is more than one in
building, occupying a separate part of
the building pays the water rate.
The answer AYERS that the rates in At
lanta fail to produce a sufficient sum
to pay the Interest on the cost and tn
necessary repairs and renewals and the
deficiency is made up on the general tax
levy. 1t gives figures showing amounts
made up yearly by taxation.
The answer further AYERS that the
waterworks can be run this way under
municipal ownership but not by prf-
waite corporation 1t gives figures and
says with little over one-third of the
population of Atlanta, the waterwcn4xs
company has be5n compelled to furnish
twice as much water per day for the
last year"
Here the answer makes this feature
of the question a reason why a rsadjust-
ment of rates would not be feasible at
the present time.
HELPING INDUSTRIES.
In reference to the statement that At
Fanta charges 10 cents per 1000 gallons
by meter, Birmingham charges 30 cents,
the answer says:
81 suppose that it will surprise the
writer of the minority report as we'll as
members of the committee, to lsarn that
the Birmingham Water Works company
is supplying to the industries of Bir-
HllnSldiu, d udfly supply OF water more
than the entire amount of water pump
ed into tins city of Montgomery, at less
than Az cents per LOCO gallons average
1t is needless ito say that this water
has been furnished at an actual loss to
the Water company. 1t may. be asked
why TIL n, should it continue to do this
business at a loss? The selfish business
interests of the stockholders of the Wa
ter company, If they were impe1ed by
no higher motiva, enforces them to feel
as they do feel, a deep and abiding in
tarest in this community Upon the
present and future property of Birming-
ham depends the succ SIS of the Bir-
nlngham Water Works company, and
the Water Works, realizing this fact,
has felt that 1T was its duty as we'll
as its interest, to go as far as its means
would permit it to CO. in maintaining
and helping any and all enterpris that
| come here"
| 1t further says that if the Water COM
pany can be secured in the payments, it