The age-herald., 1900-07-06
THE CITY COUNCIL
 KILLS CONTRACT Gas Matter Left With Commit
 tee on Lights. THE STOCKADE QUESTION Action Postponed Perhaps Indefinitely The Council to Meet Tonight to
 Consider Some Important
 Financial Business
THE STOCKADE QUESTION


 committee for further investigation and re- port"
 This was the report of the committee on lights made to the City Council last night and it was adopted by unanimous vote. By the adoption of this report the council refuses to tie the city up in a thirty-year contract with the Birmingham Gas Com pany by which that company would have the power to charge the citizens of Birm- ingham high prices for gas. This is vic tory for the Age-Herald, and the people of Birmingham who believe gas can be made here as cheaply as elsewhere, and who have all along opposed the city en- tering into the contract proposed by the Birmingham Gas Company.
 The city stockade was before the coun- cil again last night and again action on same was postponed, according to the mo- ton, until the next regular meeting, but more probably indefinitely. In order to defeat the recommendation of the commit- tee directing that work begun on the build ing in the ninth ward sometime ago be re- stunned, Aldermen Lynagh and Wheeler picked up their hats and walked out of the council chamber, thus breaking quor-
  future date.
 The Proceedings
 The council was called to order at o'clock with the following members pres ent: Mayor Drennen and Aldermen Ly- nagh, Wheeler Rainbow Mcknight Kerr, Meighan, McNally, Altman, Heidt, Thach, Jones and Harrington.
 Chairman Altman of Judiciary Committee made a report, which was adopted-adverse to refunding certain small items and in other cases recommending refunding.
 Alderman Jones, acting chairman of the Street Committee, reported favorably pe tition from residents of Cullom addition, asking that cement sidewalks be laid in that portion of the city, the property own CTS to pay for same. E. N. Cullom offered to take such bonds as might be necessary to pay for the work. MT. Jones moved that an ordinance be drawn authorizing the work, and the motion prevailed.
 Petitions asking that streets and side walks in the vicinity of Tenth avenue and Beach and Timmons streets be improved was referred to the Street Committee.
 Also a petition asking that Fifth avenue be paved with vitrifed brick was referred to the Street Committee.
 William Wise & Co., presented a petition praying that they be not taxed with brew CTS license prior to July 1, saying they had not engaged as brewers agents until the middle of June and that but little business in that line was done by them prior to July l. also, J. D. Rosenstihl, jeweler, pre- scented a petition with a similar request; al Ra 2 "a lors, asking that they be not required to pay license for cleaning and dyeing clothes, as they do not engage in that business ex- cept to dry, clean or press same.
 All were referred to the Miscellaneous Committee.
 The Gas Contract
 Chairman Heidt of the Light Committee made the following report on the Birming ham Gas Company's proposition for a new contract:
 ''The joint committee reports that it has investigated the records of the Council and finds that the city of Birmingham made a contract in 1879 with the Birmingham Gas Company for twenty-five years; that in 1S9j this contract was modified and reformed and ten year contract was made; this
 
 with thirty year contract with modifi- cations and with the right on the part of the city to adjust the prices of gas to con- sumers each ten years of said contract ac- cording to the price paid for gas in other cities in the United States of like size and population as Birmingham.
 Tn view of the provisions of this last contract the committee recommends that the city do not enter into the contract heretofore proposed by the Birmingham Gas Company and submitted to this com mittee, and that the matter be left with the committee for further investigation and report"
 This report was unanimously adopted.
 Chairman Harrington introduced a reso- lution authorizing the sexton of Oak Hill cemetery to prevent any one working on lots in the cemetery except with the writ ten authority of the owner or owners of such lot, and fixing the penalty for a vio- lation of same at not less than $1 nor more than $10O. Under a suspension of the rules the ordinance was adopted. ATemporary Track Chairman Mcknight of the street rail- road committee recommended that the Bir- mingham Belt Railroad Company be given permission to construct temporary track at Fourteenth street. The recommendation was agreed to.
 Wood Dickerson & Co. asked permission to build a side track to their factory, near Eighth avenue, in the western part of the city. The track is to be built by the Birm- ingham Southern road.
 Alderman Jones moved that the petition be referred to the street railroad commit tee, the aldermen from the Third ward, and the Mayor, with power to act.
 Objections were made by Aldermen Me Knight and Wheeler.
 MT. Wood of Wood, Dickerson & Co.,, stated to the board that work on the build ing of the factory had already begun, and that before deciding to build on the lot in question they were given assurances there would be no trouble in getting the side track. The track will be about 16O feet long. The motion to refer the petition was