The age-herald., 1901-02-19

The first period under the existing con- tract between the city of Birmingham and the Birmingham Gas Company, at which a readjustment of the price at which gas can be sold to the people of this city, is near at hand, and it but re- mains for the City Council to act prompt ly to insure a considerable reduction in the present rates.
 Under the terms of a contract entered into between the city and the gas com pany on April 29 1891, for a term of thirty years, at the end of every ten years the cost of gas for public buildings and lamps and to private consumers is to be regu- lated and adjusted according to prices in other cities under similar conditions. This period, which, according to the gas company officials, dates from May l, 1891, the date on which the contract was signed by the Mayor, will be up in few weeks, and the gas company officials state that they are ready to carry out their part of the contract, although they will not act unless the city takes the initiative.
 Mayor Drennen was seen yesterday and stated that he would call the matter to the attention of Chairman Heidt of the light committee, who will probably call his committee together at an early date to take action,
 A Proposition.
 President Roden, of the gas company, notwithstanding the fact that he. states that the company will take no action In the premises, has made a proposition to the city which for some reason has not been presented to the board, although it Is drawn up in the form of an ordinance Under this proposition the Gas Company agrees to furnish gas for the next period of ten years at the rate of $1.40 per thou sand cubic feet, to private consumers and $1 per thousand feet for public build ings and city purposes, with the regular 10 per cent reduction for prompt pay ment of bills, making the cost to con- sumers $1.26 per thousand cubic feet net
 Just why this proposition has not been presented to the board has not been ex plained, as 1t was submitted some time ago in anticipation of the readjustment of rates. Mayor Drennen has given the matter some consideration and when seen yesterday stated that he had figured an average price of between $1.30 and S1.35 per thousand feet using as basis Browns Directory of American Com panes for 1900. In discussing the read justment of rates he stated that he was in favor of living up to the letter of the contract, and that If the proposition of the gas company was net within the gen. eral average, that the city should un- der it's right fix the rate at such average and require the company to furnish gas at such prices.
 Text of Proposition. President Reden of the gas company was seen at his office in Nineteenth street and stated that his company had nothing to say except that 1t would live up to the terms of the agreement, although 1t would not insist on a read5ustment of rates. No reference was made to the proposition made the Council, which Is as follows;
 An ordinance, authorizing the Mayor to regulate and adjust prices of gas with Birmingham Gas Company, body cor porate, under terms of former contract, and confirming to said Gas Company certain easements and privileges.
 Section l. Be it ordained by the Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham, That the Mayor be and he is hereby authorized and directed, for and In behalf of the Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham. to enter into a contract with the Birming ham Gas Company. a body corporate, regulating and adjusting the prices of gas under the terms of the contract made by and between the said city and the said Gas Company, bearing date the 23d day of April, 1891, providing, in substnce, | that at the expiration of each and every ten years, during the period or term of | the said contract, the cost of gas to the city for public buildings and lamps and for private consumers, is to be regulated | and adjusted between the parties as | therein provided, for the period of ten | years from and after the first day of May, 1901, so as to make the prices of gas | for said period as follows:
 Gas for lighting the streets at the rate | of - dollars for each lamppost that the city may use.
 | Gas for lighting public buildings of the city and for the other purposes of the | said city at the rate of one dollar ($100) | per thousand cubis feet
 Gas furnished to private consumers in