The age-herald., 1900-06-26
CITIZENS ASK ALDERMEN
 TO POSTPONE ACTION

A mass meeting of citizens was held in the Commercial Club rooms yesterday for the purpose of discussing the new thirty year contract with the Birmingham Gas Company A large number of representa- tive business and professional men was present, and the sentiment expressed seemed well-ngh unanimous that the Mayor and Aldermen should not accept the proposition of the Birmingham Gas Com pany until the terms of the contract could be thoroughly investigated and if possible arrangements made for securing gas at one dollar per thousand cubic feet. The ut most fairness to both manufacturer and consumer marked the utterances of all the speakers, and when the motion to appoint a committee to investigate the question of cheaper gas was proposed it prevailed by a unanimous vote. The meeting was called to order by F. w. Barrett, who briefly stated that it's object was for the purpose of the citizens discussing the proposed gas contract and advising with the Board of Aldermen as to their desires
 Dr. J. s. Gillespie elected chairman of the meeting, and T. H. Motion secretary. MT. bdfTell Sldlcu tlitl NoIiiAiielSC from the Board of Trade was present and that he understood they brought resolu- ton adopted by that body. He moved that John W. O'Neill, president of the Board of Trade, be heard. The motion prevailed and Mir O'Neill read the resolution, which as follows:
 Resolved, That the Board of Trade is opposed to the acceptance of the proposi- of irI,,i rnnt (.ac oW tn the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to pur chase the companys plant for $650, 900, but we would recommend that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen enter into the follow ing contract: That the Birmingham Gas Company furnish gas to consumers at the following prices: For the first five years S1 10 per thousand; for the next five years at $1.20 per thousand; for the next ten years at $13O per thousand; for the next ten years at S1.40 per thousand. This is a reversal of the proposition made by the Gas Company"
 MT. O'Neill stated that the Board Ss Trade had held a meeting at 3 o'clock and adopted the resolution he had just Tcad.
 Capt. Whites Resolution
 Captain Frank S. White introduced the following resolution: G#
 Whereas, contract between the
 Birmingham Gas Company and S15
 MdyOf ana Aldermen or BlrmlnSnam IS in contemplation, fixing the price of gas
 for the .,ext ten years at $l 40 per one
 thousand feet, and for the next ten
 years at $1.30 per one thousand feet, and
 for the next five years at $1.20 per one
 thousand feet, and for the next five years at $1.10 per one thousand feet; and,
 Whereas, it is believed by this meet
 ing that said contract is not for the best interests of Birmingham and the citizens
 thereof; now, therefore be it
 Resolved, That it is the sense of this
 meeting assembled at the Commercial
 Club rooms on this the 25th day of June,
 1900, that said contract is not for the best interests of Birmingham or the cti-
 zens thereof, and that the same should
 not be entered into. We, therefore, re-
 spectfully and earnestly protest against the Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham
 entering into said contract"
 W. J. Wheeler moved the adoption of the resolution.
 s. Steiner discussed the resolution He said that he was one of the largest con- sumers of gas in the city, and at first blush he opposed the new contract proposed by the Gas Company, but on second consid- eration he decided 1t was a good one. It would reduce his gas bill $500 in the seven years the present contract has to run. "If we are to pay $150 per 1000 feet at