The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-05
Robert ZeII and Associates Get Franchise to Build New
 WaterWOTks CITY DECIDES 10
 BUY BEF R :. , , PARK Ward Asks Mayor to Furnish Report On Number of Fines Remltted, and Is Referred to the
 Stub Book

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen at their meeting last night instructed the city atto, ney to take steps to remove the cbstructicns placed on Twenty-frst street by order of Judgc Coleman. These ob- structions are ropes stretched across the street to stop the passage of vehicles dur ing certain hours. Following Is the res olution;
 Resolved, That the city attorney be instructed to take proper legal proceed ings to clear Twenty-first street be tween Third ard Fourth avenues, of obstruc- tions."
 The council decided to buy Behrens Park, and 1t passed an ordinance grant ing Robert F. Zell and associates fran chise to construct a water works plant and to lay pipes throughout the streets. A number of improvement ordinances were passed and a new milk ordinance was adopted.
 Present at lhe meeting were the Mayor, Aldermen Altmen, Greener, Jones, Lime han, McAnally, Ward, Heidt, Copeland, J. R., Copeland, D. R., Kerr. Graham and Gum.
 Approve Report. The first business of the evening was the approval of Q -cIcrt of the city hall commit tee granting the Jefferson County Medical Society the use of the police mus ter hall in which to EoId their meetings. A petition of the Trades Council was granted, asking tho right to enclose Sec ond avenue from Seventeenth to Four teenth streets during their carnival in September.
 Under the head of reports of officers. Alderman Ward called for a report from the Mayor as to the Tumber of fines re- mitted. The Mayor replied that his stub book was open to inspection but he had made no written report.
 The finance committee reported certain | bills paid during the month and made a favorable report that the city purchase Behrens park under the terms of the op- | ton held by it. This report was adopted and the city attorney will proceed to ex- anime the title to the property The sale is for $10, 0oO 5000 of which Is to be paid cash and the balance in annual install- ments of $10o0 with interest at 21a per cent The park fronts 600 feet on Twelfth street and 49O feet on avenue H.. Water Franchise. Alderman Altman of the judiciary com mittee reported favorabiy an ordinance, which was adopted, granting to Robert R. Zell and associates a franchise to lay water mains in the streets of the city. This franchise is to be transferred to a corporation to be formed and known as the Birmingham and Suburban Water Company.
 The ordinance requires the company to furnish to the citizens a pure water sup ply and requires 1t to put in filtration plant # deemed necessary by the Board of Aldermen.
 The plant must have a minimum ca pacity of 20OOO,OOO gallons day and the pipes must be able to withstand a pres sure of 15O pounds, and the pumps must be arranged to pump directly into the mains in case of fire.
 The city agrees to pay for any fire hy drants 1t takes at the rate of $3O per an- mum. The company agrees to erect reser- voirs with capacities of 3o.0o0,0O0 gallons. Within Six Months. Work on the plant must begin within six months or else the franchise Is void, and the plant must be completed within twelve months thereafter. The company agrees to furnish the city with water for all other purposes than fire hydrants at cents per 1000 gallons and agrees to fur nish the city hall and public schools free. It can extend its system to the suburban towns provided 1t does not reduce the pressure on the mains. The city has the right at any time to purchase the plant. the price. if not agreed on. to be settled by arbitration. The franchise cannot be transferred without the consent of the Mayor and Aldermen.
 Following are the prices at which the company agrees to sell water: Six thousand gallons q month at s1 a month, payable quarterly. Quantities in excess of coco gallons a month to 5000 gall Ions day at the same rates. In excess of 5000 gallons daily the following prices will prevail:
 5000 gallons at 12 cents per 100 gallons.
 1G,000 gallons at 10 cents per 10C0 gallons.
 15,000 gallons at cents per 1000 gallons