The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-18
MAYORS ANNUAL MESSAGE
READ TO CITY COUNCIL
Continued from Fifth PaueA

Continued from Fifth Page)
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substantially with the contract for the
construction of the two liberation plants.
These two plants, one at North Biz
mingham and the other on Shades Noun
tain VIII cost, according to the estimates
OF the water works company, approx
mate 100000 Both plants, during the
course of construction, have from time to
time been under the inspection OF the
city engineer and myself.
For the past wenty years complaints
have been made as to the quality Of wat
er furnished the citizens of this city, and
every administration during these many
years have endeavored to settle these
complaints The paramount complaint
will have been effectually settled when
the liberation plants that are now In
course of construction, and which will be
completed and put In operation, as pro-
vided in the contract entered into be-
tween the city and water works company,
on or before April 1, 1904
THE only questions now to be settled
between the city and the water works
company are fair and equitable rates to
be charged the consumers and sufficient
pressure for the fire hydrants on the
North and South Highlands
THE exorbitant rates now charged by
the water company cannot be effectnally
settled until the citizens of this city
through the board of mayor and aldermen
are willing to acecde to the use of meter
rates in lieu of a fiat rate as now charged
In case that we should take this matter up
through the courts and ask that equitable
rates be made, the courts, in my opinion,
would not consider for one moment the
advisabillty of fixing rates otherwise
than on a meter basis.
Lights.
ION the End day of August, 1900, a con-
tract was entered into between the city
and the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company to furnish the city with
1000 candle power arc lights for the period
of ten years with a provision embodied
in this contract that the city should have
the right to cancel this contract at the
expiration of five years I'm case the Bir-
mingham Railway, Light and Power com
pany should decline to furnish lights to
the ely as cheap as 1000 candle power arc
lights are furnished to the cities of Mem
phis, Nashville. Chattanooga. Knoxville,
Atlanta. Montgomery and Mobile.
LAS the city has the right to revision
of the prices of all lights of 1000 candle
power each, furnished by the Birmingham
Railway, Light and Power company on
August 2. 1905. | recommend that you take
this matter up at once in order that the
city may be able to derive the benefit of
the reduction that has been made in any
of the cities named in this contract now
In existence between the city and the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company.
Conclusion.
"Since my first annual message was
submitted to you more than five years
ago, the city of birmingham and with
it Birmingham district has enjoyed a
period of prosperity and an increase in
population greater thas at any time in
Its history.
"Our population has grown so rapidly
that frequent demands have been made
for the extension of our sanitary and
storm sewers, the opening up of streets
and a great deal of work in the way of
grading. matchmaking, curbing and lay
ing cement sidewalks.
I'VE have frequently been under the
necessity of providing additional school
buildings Park areas have been pur-
chased as the needs of a growing city
have seemed to require.
1.-The Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company has grealy extended its
street railway system and has expended
vast sums in the betterment of its prop
erty. Under a contract that was entered
into under this administration transfers
are now issued on all the lines entering
this city
THE Birmingham Water Works com
pany under a contract likewise the work
of this administration has erected filtera-
ton plants costing approximately 100000.
from which they should be able to furnish
us as pure water as is enjoyed by any
other city
IA magnificent city hall has been built.
A number of fire proof structures of
striking proportions, hotels and office
buildings have been erected. all evidenc-
Ing faith in the destiny of Birmingham,
as the metropolis of the south Beautiful
and costly church ;, large hospitals of
modern design and appointments are inn
pressive features to the mind of the
stranger
'The gross amount of wholesale and
retail trade by the merchants of this
city during this year exceeds SIS, 100000;
while the gros amount of business in min
ing and manufacturing is estimated at
$65,0O0.000.
"The banks of this city cary more than
40 per cent of the deposits of the entire
state.
Birmingham has six trunk lines Of
railroads furnishing communication with
the outside world-the louisville and
Nashville in four directions, the Southern
railway in three directions, the Alabama
Great Southern railway in two directions.
the Frisco system, the Central of Geor-
gia and the Seaboard Air Line railroads,
each in one direction.
1.-THE passenger receipts from the city
of Birmingham are very large, exceeding
those perhaps of any other city in the
south, within the past twelve months
about ST. 100000 worth of tickets have been
sold a 4 fine union passenger station in Bir-