The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-04
Economics in This Direction to Swell Its
Enormous Dividends.
MANY FOR MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
This Sentiment is Growing Some Contend That
Little Relief viii Be Found Until Such
a Step is Taken = $i.40
Gas in Rio de Janeiro.

The people of Birmingham are expect
ing the city council ITO abrogate the city's
contract with the gas company.
The people of Birmingham are expect
ing the gas investigation committee to
make such q recommendation to the
board of aldermen.
1.-The admissions of Mr.. Rcden are
conclusive that the company has violat-
ed it's contract" said prominent citi-
zen yesterday.
"Res.des this, IT is being sand on every
hand that Birmingham needs cheaper
gas and better gas.
MANY of the patrons of the company
complain of the quality of the gas. In
the business houses the complaint is
made and it comes from many resi-
dences. In my residence If more than
ONE jet is lighted 1T often becomes SO
that one can hardly see to read or write.
81 was in a restaurant the other night
where gas is used and the lights came
near going out at times. I get a paper
and tried to Rad and it was with the
greatest difficulty that I could do So.
The pressure lis bad, or something is
radically wrong in the manufacture of
the gas.
'srhe contract with THE city also re-
quireis that the company Should furnish
good gas. The city fathers and tie IN
vestiga,fing committee might look into
this phase of the question"
VERY INFERIR QUALITY.
The complaint of this gentleman is re-
iterate.i by numerous others. The gas
furnished by the Birmingham monopoly
Hoes ic Of n
ferior quality.
The pressure gets SO bad at times that
the lights threaten to go out altogether
THE light is never as good as it is i'1
many othEr cities.
1t has been said by men who are in
a position to know that the gas COM
pany swells it's profits by ecolomizlng
i'm the manufacture to the detrfment of
the qualty produced.
Ut is understood that a large pro-
PORTION of certain kind of oil is used
to reduce the quantity of coal required
to make good gas. If coal enough was
used the gas would be better.
AS long as the gas company can
charge an outrageous price for gas and
furnish an inferior quaflty 1t win do
so.
The fact that the gas company fur
nislles bad gas is good ground ON
which to abrogate the contract.
There are plenty of citizens who have
NO fresi.ency in saying that the gas does
not make good lights.
'.Rfo de Jane1ro gets gas for $3.50 refs,
or s1.4O per thousand in American mon
ey," said citizen of that city who was
in Birmingham yesterday
"If South American city gets gas
for $140, Birmingham should have it
for ST..
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
The talk on the gas question has
brought on much discussion in regard to
municipal ownership of corporations
furnishing light and water.
Thelis are many supporters of this re-
form in Birmingham. 1t is argued that
the City could issue bonds, buy out the
corporations, furnish gas and water at
low rates and then make a good profit.
Many citizens go SO far as to say that
very little relief will be found until this
step is taken.
This people are determined to have
do.Jar gas. Nothing can shake them.
They will have fair dealing.
No meeting of the Investigating COM
mittee has been called. Chairman Moore
rs still waiting for information to come
by mail.