The age-herald., 1898-01-12
Application Hay Be Eade For Franchise
 at Next Council Meeting.
COMMITTEE QUIETLY AT WORK
tls Argued That If Danve Can, With S2.T2 Coal, Furnish Dollar Gas, Birming ham Certain, Can With
 S1.20 Coal.

It is the emphatic opinion of every busi- dollar gas should be the only compromise made by the city council with the gas company.
 It has grown to be an accepted fact that gas can be made and sold in Birmingham for 75 cents per thousand cubic feet at a profit. Dollar gas will be satisfactory. however, and nothing else will.
 Just what overtures the old company has made to the city cannot be ascertained, but it is certain something on this line has been said. This much has been vouch- safed by several members of the council
 It has also been stated that new com pany would apply for a franchise at the next meeting. The promoters are keeping their own council and are reticent about disclosing their plans.
 That Notice of Application.
 It will be remembered that at a meeting of the board of alderman more than a month ago a notice that an application would be made for a franchise for lighting streets and residences by a new company was made It has been intimated during the past few days that this move was not a myth and would come to light. Taking all this into consideration the next meeting of the council will be watched with more than passing interest.
 What the councils special committee is doing is not known, and it may not be di- vulged until the report is made. It is pos sible that the committee may ask for fur ther time. It is not believed the committee will recommend anything above dollar gas.
 Birmingham does not stand alone in want ing dollar gas A similar war is being waged in other progressive cities. In this connection the spirit of municipal ownership is growing in strength. The splendid rec ord of Danville, Va, is being pointed to as an example by more cities than Bir- mingham. The record only shows what good management, and honest. fair dealing with the people will accomplish
 With coal at $272 per ton gas sold at s1 per thousand, and Danville clears profit of more than s1O,0GO in twelve months Could even a private corporation ask for more than this? Without watered stock this certainly would be a nice investment Of course, by having to pay a dividend on hundreds of thousands of dollars of watered stock it does not appear so large, but it is one and the same thing in the end.
 Birmingham Coal at S1.2O.
 While Danville pays for coal $272 per ton, Birmingham only pays 90 cents and by the claims of the gas company it only pays s1.2O. We'll versed coal dealers say the gas company is being swindled if 1t pays that price. Compared with Danville, the profits must be enormous. In fact, Danville says if it had $1.20 coal it could supply gas at 65 or 75 cents per thousand feet at good profit.
 Danvile is more particularly referred to because it is a smaller city than Blrming- ham. Certainly then if it can furnish gas at $1, pay as much again for coal, Birming- ham could do the same.
 It is no longer expected that the Bir- mingham Gas company wants to do what is right. It has stood up to the city like two boys playing a game of "burn out" with a baseball. The boys stand with naked hands and fire the ball at each other until one or the other cries enough. The city council has been passing the ball with MT. Roden. He has squirmed and put his hands up to blow them several times. but ne mas not cTleQ eltAOuSu tllS OOuS nre that he will.
 Make It Put Up Dollar Gas.
 No one anticipates that the gas company will do anything for the people unless from sheer force..' The thing for the board Of aldermen to do is to put up the force and make the gas company put up dollar gas.
 The Birmingham Gas company wants to continue in business. It has its plant. its mains and everything established. No one knows better that gas can be made at a profit at one dollar in Birmingham than the officials of this company. One great proof of this is that in defending them- selves the officials have been wont to prate over what they have done for Birmingham. No strong denial of the propositions that have been advanced, but a reliance on past record
 It is very much like an old race horse be- Ing unable to win the stakes and then mak-