The age-herald., 1897-11-07
HERE IS HOT STUFF
I. H. Moulton Talks About Birmingham
 Water and Excessive Charges.


 Gn an editorial, of recent date on the subject of Dollar Cas- you say "The Aga-Herald is the peoples newspaper, and it's good right arm will always be wtelded for justice to the people,"
 We, the dear people, are delighted to know that Birmingham has public journal to stand up for us against cor porations that ahave not heretofore paid any attention to our wishes or necessi- ties. Some of US are wondering how pong and how far this right for the peo- pie will be continued. and whether you will ba s5de-tracked before any good is accomplished.
 A short time since you gave the Wa terworlNs company lttle attention. Enough to bring forth statement from some doctors and from the company that we have ''pure water" This sesm- cd to satisfy your purpose and the sub- iect was dropped.
 Now, 1t occurs to us that if you are the champions of the people you switch off from water to gas too soon. Gas is a luxury that rich peopl= enjoy; water is a necessity, alike to the rich and poor. In our city the gals company has as competitors the Electric Light company, the oIl dealers and the sellers of candles. This competition alons, if nothing else, induces that company to treat it's pa- irons with some degree of oourtslsy and fairness. According to your argument the gas company is getting about 50 per cent above a reasonable pric= for gas The watet company has no competition, but is a monopoly. The question is, does the water company treat it's pa- irons with courtesy and fairness? Does 1t sell watsr at an excessive price? Will you as the champion of the people, in- Nsstigate? If so, we think you will find that we are paying 200 per cent. more fer water than is charged in some cities. Atlanta, for instance. You will also find that this company has a contract with the olty which gives it unusual privi- leges, and that 1t is not content to take advantage of these rare privileges, but that it is violating this contract in hundreds of eases; also that it estab- lish5s harsh and arbitrary rules that work alardlship and injustice to the consumers You will find by fnvestiga- ton that in some cases the water rent for 0 house is as much as 20 per cert of the income from rent of the house
 If you undertake this tremendous job of seeing that the peorGe of BirmIing- ham are furnished with pure watsr at reasonable prices you will soon discover that the present company has. strong friends in the oity council and in the Commercial club Ca body which handles many public questions.) As evidence of this powerful influence witness the fact that few years since a measlaae was railroadsd through the city council by which the city became purchaser of the works at the exorbitant price of s1, ,4OO,- OO0 Fortunately the deal had to be con firmed by an act of the Legislature, which nevsr passed. Your investigation will show that the company claimed that the works originally cost this amount of money, but it is a. fact that great part of it was expended unwisely and wasted on experiments. You can ascertain that this company is now making the people pay enough for water to pay interest and good dividends on all this money, in- cluding that which was wasted. As to the value of the property, practical men have said that the works can be dupli- cated for less than one-half of the amount claimed to have bean expended.
 In conclusion wish to say that if y0u tohC oP lihLo HE'LL IildHy ldClS dnuT much information not herein suggested bearing upon the subject can be easily obtained. T. H. MOTION.
 The Age-Hetrafd has not dropp:d the water subject. It Is having an analysis of the watar used tin Birmingham made by an eminent chemist, and will soon print that analysis If the water is inn pure The Age Hsrald will insist upon a mechanical filter being put in by the water'worlxs company. If the water is good and pure The Age-Herald will herald it to the world The people of Birmingham must have good gas and pure water, and they must be given both at reasonable figures.-(Ed. Age Hatald