The age-herald., 1897-11-14
Carried Only to Deceive the General
 Public and Gas Consumers.
BIG MONEY IN GAS AT NINETY CENTS
A Proposition to Furnish It at That Rate and Put In a New Plant-The Days of Dear Gas Are Surely
 Numbered.
Factst

| FactS!
 Dollar gas is near at hand.
 It comes nearer every day-every hour. A new company VIII be organized to furnish it If the old one will not.
 The gas company's charter is in great danger of being rescInded by the city aldermen.
 The per cent. dividend by the gas company was declared to mslead the people. It should have been at least per cent. A surplus would have then existed.
 The people will not continue to sub init to the outrage of paying the inter- est on the enormous watered stock of the present gas company.
 The demand for dollar gas in Blrmlng- ham grows greater each day. The peo- pie are beginning to get all the facts in the case. The Age-Herald is giving them more information each day.
 T am i'm favor of dollar gas," said a gentleman who has a few shares of stock dn the gas company. 'I believe the company could make money by selling gas at one dollar. It Is certainly corning 1t now. The actual amount Of money put in the gas company was $140000. Still the gas company has $300,0OO of bonds, and $500,000 of stock. Of course interest has been made on the bonds.
 Last Years Earnings.
 Last year the company earned $2S, GOO over and above Interest on bonds, to be applied in dividends on the stock. This would have permitted declaration cf 5 per cent. with s3,0OO surplus.
 "At the p:Gce the gas company is now charging for gas 1t was not thought wise or proper, I understand, to declare a large dividend. So only per cent. was declared on the stcck and the balance of the $2S,00O0 or $30,000 went to a sur plus account.
 "Of course everybody wants to make money. l could make money here and a hn of it, by putting up a gas plant and selling gas to the oltizsns for less than a dollar
 Ninety Cent Gas Possible.
 'Tf the citizens of Birmingham would make contract with me to use all the gas used here from the new company. I would agree to putt in plant and give Whem gas for 90 cents a thousand cubic feet. I would further agree to reduce this price l cent every year until I fur nfshed gas for 75 cents thousand, at which price 1t would remain"
 Tihe above comes frofm a man In a position to know an the facts. Thai. the present gas company should make the people pay interest on $500, 900, four fifths of which is watered stock, is an outrage upon the people of Birmingham. 1t is an outrage which they wim nds continue to submit to.
 The New Gas Company.
 The project for the new gas company, as told yesterday by The Age-Herald, is being quietly pushed by monied men. Nothing definite win be done until after the next meeting of the board of alder men.
 On account of the specific charge that The company Is violating its charter, it fs understood that the city fathers will make an Investigation. A comni ttee 'will probably be appointed to inquire into the inner workings of the octopus. 'Hf the charges made are sustained, and many people contend they can and will De, the board
 Will Rccind the Charter of the present company. When this is done an application will be made to the city to make new contract with an entirely new company. This company will furnish gas at one dollar per one thousand cubic feet. @Sf Tte price win be reduced annually until an even lower rate is esta blished and this viii be maintained TlDe men behind the new company are mot idre dreamers. They are substantial busi- ness men filfsd with indomitab,e energy and enterprise.
 Attorney E. H. Cabaniss.
 Attorney Cabaniss is one of the most progressive and wide awake members of the Birmingham bar. He takes an active interest in all things pertaining to the public veal. On the gas nues- ton he says:
 T know very little about the actual manufacture of gas, but in comparison with other cities where tgis consumption of that article is smaller than in this city, and tine cost of coat so much great e,, I am certainly of the opinion that our present gas rate is exorbitant"
 As will be sesn by referring to the numerous other interviews heretofore published, it will be seen that many o.h- CT people side with Mr. CabaniSs