The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-02
BOARD GRANTS
 BIG FRANCHISE District Goal, Light and Power
 Ca Pays $75OO MIR l. H. ALDRICH TALKS Says Work Will Begin on 5y-Produet Plant Within Thirty Days-s5ooooo
 to Be Expended at the
 Start.
MIR | H. ALDRICH TALKS

The mayor and board of aldermen at meeting last night, granted franchise i to T. IT, Aldrich and T. H. Aldrich, Jr., trustees for the Birmingham District Coal. Light and Power company, placing the consideration for the franchise at $75O0. which Mr Aldrich says will be paid to the city this morning.
 The petition for the granting of this franchise has been before the board for about eight weeks. It was referred to the judiciary committee and report was rendered suggesting that purchase price be required. A special committee was then named to take up the matter. l The special committee held meeting yes l terday afternoon and reported to the finance and judiciary committees that 1t recommended tho franchise be granted and that s5O0O be named as the sum for the privilege.
 The report was made by Alderman Kerr. chairman of the finance committed He stated that 1t was not q unanimous re- port the only question, however, being on the price to be paid by the company for t.e franchise
 Alderman Altman Asks Postponement
 Alderman Altman arose and said he would have something to say on this sub ject. He asked that the matter be post poned until the next meeting and of- fered a resolution to this effect.
 Alderman Forney, attorney for the com pany. and speaking as such, said the company was anxious for immediate ac- tion. as 1t had been before the board for several weeks. Alderman Kerr moved to lay the resolution on the table and il was carried. Alderman Altman then said he would probably consume considerable 1 time in discussing the franchise agd he hoped it would be deferred untn after the regular btallness. The franchise ordinance was made the regular order for 10 o'clock
 Ordinance Read.
 When it came mp again 1t was read by 1 Alderman Kerr. Several conferences were 1 held between a number of the members of the board. The ordinance granting the l franchise passed to its second reading 1 and Alderman Altman offered an amend ment that the price be named a $75o0 in stead of 5000. Argument on this amend ment was prevented by Alderman For ney, who said the company was willing to pay that amount. The ordinance grant ing the franchise was then adopted AL derman Forney not voting on account of his position as attorney for the company asking for the franchise.
 The franchise provisions in brief, are as follows
 The Conditions.
 That $75OO shall be paid as a eonsidera- ton for the franchise privilege.
 That work must be started by the first l of next January and completed within two 1 and half years thereafter.
 That all of the usual protective meas ures be observed.
 That the company be forbidden to merge or sell its franchise without the consent of the mayor and board of aldermen.
 That the city shall have the option on 100 arc lights at S7o year each
 The Organization.
 The company was recently organized and filed it's declaration of incorporation. However. full organization is in process l and has not been completed.
 T. H. Aldrich and r. II. Aldrich, Jr., of Birmingham. with prominent bankers of Cincinnati have put money in the new i enterprise.
 In speaking of what the new company l proposes to do. MT. Aldrich said last night:
 We expect to start work within the neAr thirty days on by-product coke ovens 1 and will have a plant similar to the Se- 1 met SolYay plant at Ensley, using the gases to generate the power for electrical l purposes, and the coke and other products will be sold on the market.
 lncandescens Lights.
 "rhe price we will pay for the fran l chise is the largest to be given by any concern in the city for like privileges. It's provisions are that we make the residence rates for incandeseent lights Il cents per 1000 watt hours, together with the usual discounts. The present price being asked is 16 cents. with the discounts. This will mean reduction of 30 per cent in resi-. dence rates.
 As to rates on all other products, power and gas. these will be from 10 to 20 per cent lower than what Is now charged. We will furnish the city incan- descents at cents and arc lights at $7O a year each. For are lights the city is now paying $sO year each. "I cannot say just where the plant will be located, but it will be either within the city limits or in the suburbs.
 We expect to own our own mines un- less we get favorable contracts with existing corporations At the start we will have about 150 coke ovens in oper- atlon For the present efforts will be coHliheu lo seiltidA4hB tle1hlNley l"t h6Hts and power and gas for fuel purposes only 1 No illuminating gas will be furnished ai | first.
 Mayors Attention.
 "As to the franchise want to say thai Mayor Drennen has given 1t great deal of attention. and it is largely due Gc his efforts that the city secured the, Sght to such low rates.
 'rhe company I represent will expenc about S3OO for the first work Scludins the plant. etc."
 The franchise expressly state4 that the company shall not in any waytinterfere with the wires or privileges of dther cor porations. provisions in otfter fran chises. ! Receipts and Expenditurea Washington, April 1.-Government 1 reaaintc for the month of Morch 1ono