The age-herald., 1900-02-10
BOOK & STATIONERY GD.

Mobile ahas just finished paying for her water works. I think the city can control and operate these plants and give these ne- cessitieS to the peope at low price private corporations
 E. J. SMYER, Attorney-It looks to me
 that if it is right for fhe city to transport and water the people 1t should go into the business of feeding and clothing them. w G. ESTES, President of the Ester Stove Company-It is a big question: but So far as l cah think it best for the city to own dts water aod light plants. E. F. RIDDEN, President Birmingham Gas Company-See Andrew Jackson's edict against United States national banks, and you have my platform.
 JACK w JOHNSON-Most emphaticaIly I am in favor of the city of Birmingham owning and opera ting it's own light and water plants. Cities that do own the utfIi- ties referred to can never be induced to give them up Certainly every water con- sumer should advocate the principle Of municipal ownership As to the city coun- cil's ability to finance a water works scheme, there should be little or no trou- ble about 1t. City ownership would prove exceedingly popular. Compare Birmingham and Atlanta if you would the differ enee between corporation ownership ana municipal ownership. In Atlanta water is very cheap. Here 1t is very high. Bir- mingham suffers materially by comparison.
 H. c. ABBOTT-If city ownership will give us better and cheaper water and light then I am in favor of it. The principle put forth in the mayors message strikes as being all right. If we are to have mu- nicipal ownership care should be taken that the water and light plants run for the benefit of the citizens.
 CHRISTIAN F. ENSLEN-I would favor city ownership of water and light plants If Birmingham could afford 1t. But Bir- mingham is not in a position today to buy construct either water works or lighting works.
 c. s. SIMNl NlONS-I have not given the matter serious thought, but the principle of city ownership is doubtless sound I do not See, however. how Birmingham could afford to acquire water works or light plants. The merchants are overtaxed now, and if the city were to go into the bus- ness of supplying water and light they would be more heavily taxed.
 J. H. MCARY-It would seem to be best this matter of city ownership of water and light plants. If the business could be judicously handled it would doubtless prove great thing for the citizens The trouble would be to keep these utilities out of politics If the city should under take to own its water and light plants there would have to be due regard for the existing corporations. I would certainly op- pose anything like confiscaton.
 s. W. LEE-I am fin favor of city owner ship on general principles. I believe it would le good thing for Birmingham to and operate its light and water wc-lss. provided these departments could be ke~. cleer of politics
 s. SPIRO-I think 1t would be a good in- vestment for Birmingham to own its water and light plants. If private corporations can make money the city should be able to give better service at less cost, and still keep ahead.
 S. P. FOWLKES-City ownership is very desirable I am certainly in favor of Bir- mingham owning its light and water plants. provided the financial arrangements could be effected. Ire mayors recommendations seem to be decidedly popular.
 J. D. COLLINS-No matter what might be said in favor of the principle of muni- oipal ownership there would certainly be danger of too much politics in the event that Birmingham undertook the business or operating its light and water plants. I am of the opinion that city light and water de- partments could no more be kept out or nolit.oe here in Birmingham than grave wards are kept clear of politics.
 A. R. DEARBORN-It IS the prevailing orinion that cur citizens are onarged 100
 m,,ch far wa ter and light. In this fully corcur and believe that cheaper rates
 llould be made This no doubt can De se- cured if the subject is properly handled by c.ae gentlemen whose 5usiness it IS 10 &
 tend to these matters I do not believe that Birmingham is at this time in posi- U.ca to undertake the purchase and conduct of these enterprises. If there could be guarantee that the management CT uaese eorporations would be conducted upon the same business Hines in the case of pri- yate corporations there would be less room tn doubt the advisabiifty of a city owning it's water and Night plants. Under pne present ownership the management IS CT biph order and 1t is fair to assume that tiaey are conducted in the interest Of the stockholders with such notifications as may seem to be consistent with the de- mands of the public. It lis my opinion that
 it., t,t,a Gf anf m by the city for its stockholders and that or a-le officers of the present corporations Tor alaeir stockholders would practically onset
 ytaat might be gained by the change or ownership and this should be secured oy inc city when making contracts for water and 1lgalt with the present companies.
 Tr,us the public could be made the gainer without the necessity of attempting to own ar,1 conduct the business of furnishing wa ter and light to fits inhabitants.
 JAMES T. MEADE. Clerk of Inferior Criminal Court-I think it Is capital idea for the city to own Its own water and Iasating plants. If Is just what they should do out the city Is not able to do It now. We have $l61O,OOO bonded debt to pay, and the accrued interest this is about $25o,- CO., and just at this time it Is not able to purchase either the waiter, gas or electric light plants.
 ment-I am very much in favor Of the city owning the water and electric light plants. especially taae water works. as it would then be an easy matter to have number Of plugs put up at merely nominal cost, and this would be worth several firemen. At the present time there are only about z4O fire plugs in the whole city. and We have to pay $55 per year rent on each, while all other cities of similar size have BOO or 6OD Yes I am highly in favor of municipal ownership of these plants If tho water works were owned by the city something over sl2.OOO per year would be