The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-07
GAS SUPPLY is
TO Be IMPROVED
Repairs at Plant Have Caused
the Dissatisfaction
NEVER BETTER THAN NOW
President Jemison Explains to Council
Committee That the Company Has
No Desire to Force the
Use of Electricity.

President Robert Jemson of the Birm-
ingham Railway. Light and Power COM
pany stated to the members of the light
and telephone committee of the city count
Gil yesterday morning that in the future
there will probably be no complaints on
the gas supply of Birmingham. At the
request of the committee Mr.. Jemison at
tended the meeting of the committee held
in the mayors office. 1t was held for the
purpose of taking action upon the resolu-
ton introduced by Alderman Jones at the
last regular meeting of the city council.
Present at the meeting were Mayor
Drennen, Alderman c. c. Heidi, chairman;
Alderman b. H. Cooper and Alderman
John W. O'Neill. In calling the meeting to
order, Chairman Heidi read the corre-
spondence that has passed between the
city authorities and Mr.. Jemison relative
to the gas supply.
A letter from Mr. Jemison, dated Feb
ruary 5, was read This letter stated that
the repairs and improvements now being
made at the gas plant had caused COM
plants to be registered against the sup
ply. He said that the company voluntarily
reduced the price of gas from sl.5o to 81,
and that it was ridiculous to think that
the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company contemplated forcing con-
sumers of gas to use electricity for Hum
mating purposes and gas for cooking,
heating and other purposes 1t was inti-
mated at the meeting of the city council
when the matter came up last Wednesday
night that such was the intention of the
company
The Correspondence.
A letter from Mr. Jemison to Mayor
Drennen was also read. This letter stated
that the company did not desire to force
anybody to do anything against their
wishes" He requested in the future that
in his absence that all communications on
this subject be addressed to General Man
ager j. A. Emery.
A copy of a letter from Mayor Drennen
to T. Byron, manager or the gas de-
partment, was read This letter was adj
dressed January s, and the mayor stated
that he had never received a reply to 1t.
Mr.. Jemison said that he never heard Of
the letter to Mr.. Byron before.
Mr.. Jemison told the committee that
the gas supply was bad in December. TO
day it is better than it has ever been in
Birmingham. The recent cold weather has
had some effect on the gas. Sometimes
naptha will get in the pipes and this
nil
Jemison 1--WE had some little trouble with
naptha in the pipes on January 2, but
have had no further trouble of this kind.
From now on you will have good gas.
Bad Fixtures.
1.-THE fault sometimes is with bad fix
lures. Whenever the gas is not good the
public should notify the company and
we will send experts out to examine the
gas tips and pillows, and If necessary Will
replace them. The improvements at the
gas plant are now practically completed.
The plant has been rebuilt.
Chairman Heidi stated that he had no
complaint to make on the gas supply as
chairman of the light committee.
Mr. Jemson said that the city had sim
the electric power plant. I'VE can't sup
ply the demand for electricity, and we
have 5000 gas customers on our books
The question of gas meters was taken
up by Mr.. Jemison He stated that re-
liable men were employed to test meters
and that the mechanism of every one in
the city was examined closely at least
once each year. Mr.. Jemison said nine
times out of ten the inspectors would find
the meters running slow, instead of fast.
Candle Power.
He said the gas in Birmingham was
now IS candle power, and that efforts are
now being made to increase this to 20
candle power. He said the company has
ordered an instrument TO be installed at
the gas plant which will enable the COM
pany to ascertain IL there is a hundredth
part variance in the candle power
Mayor Drennen said that Montgomery.
Mobile, Fort Smith and other cities in
the south have 20 candle power gas and
that Birmingham needs the increase. Mr..
Jemison said that II the people want 1t,
the candle power will be increased. He
stated further that since January 5 there
has been absolutely no sulphur in the
gas. He said that while the gas plant was
being rebuilt it was kept in operation
and THAT this proved to be great in
convanience to the company.
Afteh hearing the statement of Mr..
Jemisoh, and a thorough discussion of
The gasssupply the meeting of the COM
mittee adjourned subject to the call of
the chairman.
The committee will meet again before
the next meeting Of the city council.
MINING PRICES UNCHANGED.