The age-herald., 1897-12-17

K. H kEhh.
 WALTER MOORE.
 THOMAS WHEELER.
 This Is the committee appointed by Mayor Evans in accordance with the reso- luton of Alderman Altman regarding mu- nicipal ownership, which was adopted at the council meeting Wednesday night.
 The committee includes an alderman from each ward of the city and is considered exceptionally strong. When the committee will meet and organize is not known.
 The resolution of MT. Altman which marks the inception of movement for mu- nicipal ownership of the plants that supply necessary conveniences has created wide spread discussion. Everywhere the resolu- ton has met with the heartiest commen- dation.
 The City's Poverty
 Alderman Altman who introduced the resolution in discussing the question yes terday said:
 q think the committed appointed by Mayor Evans should write immediately to different cities which own their electric plants and find out how much plant large enough to supply the demands of this city would cost From all can learn it would be between s4O,OO0 and s50,0O0.
 'The principal argument against the citys buying the present electric plant or erecting a new one is that 1t is in very bad shape financially and that it would be very unwise for the city to run further in debt If the city keeps on inn proving its financial condition as it has done during the past year, I think 1t will be in good shape within year to under take the erection of it's own electric plant, or buy out the old one.
 'The city now pays $16,O0O year for something .ess than 150 lights. The city could buy its plant, pay at least S10, ,000 cash. and at the rate of $16,000 year, could pay off the remainder of the debt in a few years.
 'This Is also very practical solution of the gas question. Cheap electricity fur nshed by the city would soon drive the gas people out of the business.
 'I think the city should buy the water works as soon as it is in position to do so, but don't think 1t should meddle with the street cars. The electric lights and the waterworks are about as much as we can well handle"
 Mayor Favors It
 Mayor Evans is heartily in favor of municipal ownership He said yesterday that the city could save money by own ing plant and furnishing it's own lights '"rhe contract with the electric light company" he continued, lis out in Sep tember of the coming year. The commit tee will probably report to tho board dur ing the first part of 1s9s."
 Tboponeo,, fo,,,a,. x,,ouo, oe r;. mingham. said: 'The city should by all means have its own gas, water, street car and electric light plants. Even with the city's present financial embarrassment I think it would be wise to make start in that direction.
 Tt might do to hesitate if the municipal ownership of these public necessities was theory, but it has been proven in almost every instance where a city's plant was honestly managed that 1t not only pro- duced a revenue to the city, but also re- duced the price of the gas, water or elec- tric light, as the case may be, as much as one-half..
 'The city of Birmingham pays $10 per month for each electric light on its streets. The amount thus expended, if saved, would not only pay the interest on the money
 
 leave great deal over with which the debt would gradually be paid off.
 ''The electric arc lamp is a public ne- cessity. Gas for lighting the streets is almost useless. One arc light is worth more than one policeman as preventative of crime, and even under the present rates costs one-sixth less. The only way that Buzzard Roost, Pigeon Roost and Scratch Ankle were ever broken up was by the use of lights. If the city owned an electric plant 1t would not be restricted to 150 lights or less, but would use as many as 1t needs, thus preventing crime and beau tifying the city. This movement should be pushed vigorously"
 c. H. Nabb: "As a rule it is good thing for the city to have its own water, gas and electric light supplies. They have then only to pay the cost of operating the plants and at most the interest on the bonds is- sued to build the plant, and thus the price to the consumer is reduced to a minimum ''The city of Birmingham is large coli- sumer of electricity and it doubtless has to pay large amount to the electric light company. But the main question is wheth- CT the city is in condition to borrow the money necessary to build the plant. I understand that the city is heavily in debt and I-think the board of aldermen should be very careful not to assume further ob- iigations unless they are sure the plant be readily borne"