The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-10
Will the Capitalist Give the Cost of
Manufacturing Gas :?
THE POLICY OF A GRINDING MONOPOLY
Company Makes As Per Cent. Profit on One
Ton of Coal-Pays Dividend on $780,
900 Watered Stock Col. Alt
man Assumes a Position.
Special to The AgeIHerald:

SPECTRAL 10 IIDe ASe-I1tTdIu.
New Orleans, La, Dec. 9-Isidore New
man, a capitalist of this city, who OWNS
a large portion of the stock of the Bir-
mingham Gas company was asked If he
contemplated reducing the price of this
illumination from the figures at which it
is now supplied to the people of that
CITY,
Mr.. Newman said that he would pref:r
that this question be asked of the presd-
dent of the gas company. He subse-
quently gave out the following state
msnt: ITO furnish gas at one dollar per
thousand feet to the people of Bfrming-
ham, Ala, woul net me a loss on my
investment, consequently could not con-
sent to make any reduction at present"
Mr. Newman said further that the
price at which gas is now supplied pays
him very low percentage and to reduce
it to one dollar would mean a loss.
The chief of the Birmingham Gas COM
pany in the face of the protests of hum
dreds of citizens hurls it in their teeth
that he will not consent to a reduction in
the price of gas
A grinding monopoly that sucks the
blood of the people like q vampire even
until the last drop puts up huge bluff,
and boldly declares that 1t will not give
under. 1t is possible that it will not sue
cumb until the Samson-lke arm of JUS
tice brushes it like a miserable vipsr.
The people are aroused. Justice will
be done. The people know that Mr..
Nawman's assertions in regard to the
small profits will not hold water.
1t is a very weak corporation that can
pay a dividend on nearly 100000 watered
stock. 1t is a very weak corporation
that has meeting of directors and be-
cause its dividends are so large that the
people might be aroused squashes the
true amount and will not make 1t
public.
1t is a corporation very near and dear
to the peopl=, the president of which
said there were hundreds of things the
people needed, but would not get and
that when people would work for 1.-TWO
bits day" they would get reasonable
gas.
1t is a very weak corporation indeed
that cannot declare a big profit on gas
made from coal that does not cost over
80 cents per ton. Figures verified by the
highest mathematical authorities in Bir-
mingham prove that the gas company
makes more than 45 per csnt. profit on
one ton of coal.
The gas company is very poor. Pos
sdbly 1t needs help worse than the peo-
pie. 1t was SO poor that it gave in it's
property fer assessm= MT at $2S, 900. This
was such an outrage that the authorities
could not overlook 1t. In consequence
Back Tax Collecor Badham has found
ample proof that the plant should be
assessed at 100000.
Tt is a corpora ton very near and dear
to the people that has persistently vio-
lated its contract, and when accused of it
fiaunl.ed it in the faces of the accusers
that 1t had done so with a "wh@f-are-
u-going Ito do-a bout-it?" air.
WILL HAVE DOLLAR GAS.
Birmingham will have dollar gas with
the assistance of the board of aldermen
the representatives of the people.
If the contract is abrogated another
company will do business in Birnirg-
ham. The city council can compel the
gas cOIupdlFs 10 Lake up It's HldlllS lHVS
should be done.
Through the columns of The aee-
Herald the neopIe have registered hun
dreds of protests, both affecting the price
and quality of the gas Every member
of the board of aid armen, with ihe sx-
ception of one, has declared for dollar
gas.
The fact that the gas company could
afford to furnish dollar gas and that such
a reduction would increase its business
cannot be successfully concradiet.d
The fight for dollar gas will win. The
line of battle is drawn. 1t is between a
monopoly without consideration and the
people who simply demand justice
Mr.. Roden and Mr.. Newman VIII see
dollar gas in Birmingham. NJ they are
wise and just men they will yield to
right.
Mr.Newman said the profits were
:.