The age-herald., 1898-02-18

| and it's allies, Birmingham will have dollar gas The Age-Herald has stopped the gas robbery, and the old company, that has grown and fattened by charging exnorbi- tant prices, must submit to the inevitable. Last night the city council passed an ordinance giving Sol Haas, Alex London and associates the rights and privileges Of the streets to lay gas mains. The com mittee composed of Messrs. Moore, Alt man and Kerr, submitted its report, and it was adopted without dissenting voice. This means that the citizens of Birming- ham will pay for two years $1.2 per thoE- sand feet for gas; then for three years $110, and then s1. The city gets cents on each thousand feet during the entire time.
 This was done to give the new company a chance to get the plant and mains in working order. In fee simple, it means dollar gas for Birmingham and victory for The Age-Herald.
 To Begin Very Soon
 Work on the new gas plant will be begun in very short while.
 Both Mir. Haas and MT. London were greatly gratifed at the action of the board of aldermen last night in contracting ( ith their new company for furnishing gas to the city of Birmingham. Mr. London was seen by an Age-Herald reporter after the
 
 would begin work at the earliest possible moment, and that 1t would be but a few weeks off. They propose to contract for the pipes immediately and have already asked for bids from the various pipe manu- lecturers in this country. It is believed that the Howard-H Harrison company of Bessemer will get the contract, as 1t is known that this company can furnish pipe cheaper than any other company in the world.
 As to where the plant Is to be To- cated, Mir. London said he preferred not to go into these details just at present, because there were other large enterprises connected with this matter. The fact of the matter is that the new gas plant is but the part of a new and great enterprise soon to be constructed within the city Him. it's of the city of Birmingham-an enter prise that will involve the expenditure of fully $1,0O000O. Everything in regard to the matter has been decided upon but few details. These will be settled up within the course of the next few weeks and then active operations will commence.
 Within One Year
 Within one years time the new gas plant will be in full operation, having piped ali the streets, and will be furnishing gas to all the houses and manufacturing concerns in Birmingham. It is understood that the new gas company will sell fuel gas to large manufacturing concerns for less than 59 cents per thousand feet.
 The chances are that within the next two years all the housekeepers in Birmingham will be using gas in their kitchens and in their fire-places in preference to coal The people behind the new gas company say they will be able to furnish gas for heat ing purposes for less than coal can be used, even at the very low price of coal in Birmingham.
 The new gas company, with the enter DriSeS connected with if to he the greatest factor in the upbuilding of Birmingham of recent years.
 The Committees Report
 The report of the committee was sub mftted by Alderman Altman. It is as fol- bows:
 Your special committee to whom was referred the question of gas contract for the city beg leave ito report that we have a proposition from Messrs. Sol Haas and Alex T. London obligating themselves or their assigns, to furnish gas to the city and its citizens on the terms named in the ordinance herewith presented.
 We recommend the immediate passage of said ordinance, we think after much inquary and long hedberatdon that it is fair in its provisions, and, in general, the best that can be done.
 "On examination 1t will be sesm that under this ordinance the above named gem tlemen obligate themselves to furnish il- luminatdng gas as follows: @#
 For the first two years for each 1000 feet, $13; for the next three years for each 1000 feet, $1.15; for the next twenty five years for each 1000 feet, $1. They are to pay the city 8 cents on each 1000 feet for the whole time, the same to be paid quarterly
 "The maximum charge for fuel gas IS 75 cents per 1000 feet. From this, cents fer each LOGO feet is to be paid to the cbty. The cents per 1000 feet on Illuminating gas and cents per thousand feet on fuel gas is a license charge. From this source much revenue should be derived by the city. The city may remit this at any time. if it sees proper, in which event the actual cost of gas to the consumer will be de- creased to that exteIM. The above prices are for gas paid for within ten avs after the bills are due If not paid for when due, or within ten days thereafter. the usual stipulation of a penalty of 10 cents per 1000 feet may be added.
 You will observe that these gentlemen obdgate themselves or their assieTs to erect a new plant dn this city to cost not tion i'm full faith that this will be done, and that all the terms of their offer will be compiled with. The work of the cree ton of the plant Is to be commenced within ninety days and the new company agrees to be ready to furnish gas to all consum- CTS within twelve months. Your committee begs leave further to report that it has received and considered all propositions offered it. and now submits thds report with the recommendation that this orlinace be adopted, and the com mittee asks to be discharged. Respectfully submitted.
 At Less Figure After concluding the reading of the re- port Mir. Altman said: "When the old gas company failed to make a proposition which could be submitted to this board, we were compelled to look elsewhere. When we say that the maximum price of fuel gas is to be 75 cents, l am betraying