The age-herald., 1899-01-22

representing the Iron City Coal company, also put in bid. bid was also put in by the Ivy Leaf Coal company. About the time the bids were to be opened the agent of the Birmingham Coal and Coke company. called, upon MT. Stratford, one of the com mlssloners (sinee deceased), and stated to him that he desired to withdraw his bid, as he{had learned that brother of Com missioner Morrow had put in a bid, and he did not think there was any show for his company Mir. Stratford insisted that he all low his bid to remain. Upon looking for the sealed bids, it was discovered by MT. Stratford that this bid was missing. Mir. Stratford asked him to write out another bid at once. In the meantime his former bid had been found, and it had been opened by some one-he knew not who. The bids
 were as follows:
 Iron City Coal company, represented E by A. R. Morrow..... .......... ......$1i0 E Ivy Leaf Coal company.... .............. l35 Birmingham Coal and Coke company. 1.3) E The contract was given the Iron City Coal company at $1.40 per ton l called on
 the commissioners for the bids and the con- straet. The bids were given me, but no con- tract was found. The minutes of the com-
 missioners' court show no record of the transaction. Commissioner Morrow testifes
 in regard to this transaction that the court
 knew that coal could not be furnished for
 less than S1.40 per ton and if anyone agreed to furnish coal at less price short weight
 would be given. Other testimony shows
 that tine main reason why this contract was
 given the Iron City Coal company was be-
 causesit was fortunate enough to be repre- sentcd by brother of Commissioner Mor- POW. I also have the evidence that why the Birmingham Coal and Coke company at first got the contract was on account of the fact that a relative of Commissioner Morrow was selling their coal at the time
 on commission.
 r Upon an examination of the vouchers for coal furnished under the contract with the company represented by MT. Morrow, find only three or four of them itemized and none of them sworn to. The voucher for the month of December, 1897, simply has "Coa1. $21491," for March Goal $1000" for April ''Coal $1SO00," and May Coal $174.15." On the itemzed accounts I find several small charity orders attached. These or ders were filled at prices ranging from $2.25 to $3.00 per ton. I find also several items in each one of these accounts, such as "Coal for jail" ranging from S2 to 2.50. l find all the other items uniform in price at $1.4O per ton where tonnage is mentioned except
 in one instance, where find three tons of
 coal billed at s52o. This would make S17S 2-3 per ton In the November bill appears one iten1 itwenty-seven and one-half tons Of coal for almshouse at s1.75 per ton. In or der to form a comparison as to the cost or coal. l aScertalneu that one Ol lie ldl SeSl
 hotels in Birmingham whose rooms are
 heated by steam, pays annually not exceed
 ing $s5o.00 for coal.
 LIGHTS.
 For the year ending September l. 1897, there was paid out of the treasury on &C., count of lights for court house and jail as ! follows:
 Birmingham Gas company.... .....$ 51258 Consolidated Electric Light company 539.9i Total......5 ...... ........ ...,.'slO5zoz For the year ending September l. 1898:
 Birmingham Gas company.... ...A146S
 Consolidated Electric Light company. 323 g Total.... ........ .......... ......$3I9l WATER.
 |. For the year ending September 1, 1S97
 Birmingham Waterworks company. $241114
 For the year ending September 1, 1898 1,9662S Total,.. ...... ...... ..''@i,3i''f1
 ICE.
 For year ending-September l. 1897. .$207.S2 For year ending September l, 1S9S.... 15S.69 Total.... .......... ............ Jl lin order to draw a comparison as to cost of water, I ascertained that one of the
 largest hotels in the city paid last year