The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-15

hesitate to answer 1t. In answering It, let me say that what l say of this company may, in large measure, think. be said also of a great many other important corporations in the Birmingham district
 Needs of It's Patrons.
 Briefly. our policy has been to supply and to anticipate the needs of Birmingham and of our patrons in communities ad1a- cent to this city Since 1901, when the various separate companies were consoi- dated into what is now the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, we have, in the railway department' en- tirely rebuilt the whole system. We found a large percentage of the tracks laid with 10 pound rails. All these were taken up and rails weighing from TO to lOO pounds were substituted. The overhead trolley wires were increased from one degree to degrees, that Is, made them three times as large as they had been. The tracks have been thoroughly pal lasted and wherever the ties were cover ed up. creosoted ties have been used. In a word, the roadbed on all our lines has been made as good as possible.
 ''In service equipment the cars have been increased from 225 horse power mo- tors to 445 horse power. They have been heated with electricity where before they had been with stoves. The old cars have been displaced by new cars with the best mahogany furnishings.
 'rrhe power plant has more than doubled in size and capacity in four years-from 1000 to 16,OO0 horse power. Coal handling and self-feeding fuel apparatus Of the latest and most improved invention has been installed at the power house. This will eliminate the smoke nuisance entirely. The work will be completed in two months.
 Gas Plant Trlpled.
 ''The capacity of the gas plant has more than tripled In addition to this. water gas plant has been established, capable of taking care of the entire consumption of the city. It will be used In case any thing happens to the gas plant proper The gas mains under ground have more than doubled in capacity Gas stoves used for cooking purposes have been increased in number from 1000 to 1000, thereby sup plying 1000 homes with the luxury and economy of gas for cooking purposes
 "The price of gas has been reduced from s1.65 to $l
 sl.Os to 75 cents per year-the lowest charge of all cities south of the Ohio.
 "The price of electric current to priv ate consumers has decreased 20 per cent.
 "The street railway mileage including extensions and double tracking. has been greatly increased. thereby giving the com munty better service and developing new territory. Much more of this outlying ter ritory would have been built up if fran chises to be granted had not been limited to 30 years. It is easier to get money for on short time one.
 Troubles of Their Own. "I sometimes wish" continued MT. Jemi- son. that the public might know some of the difficulties and discouragements that corporations of this kind have to deal with, and especially in undeveloped. thinly populated communities like ours. I wonder, for instance, how many of our patrons know that we actually lose money on every through passenger we carry rom Birmingham to Ensley or from Birming ham to East Lake? And yet that is the absolute truth. The only way we can catch even is on the short hauls-that Is on fares paid between intermediate points.
 Statistics of twenty years prove that every passenger on the Broadway line in New York who rides from the Battery to Central park costs the company money and yet that line Is one of the best pay ing railway lines in the country. Why is it so? It's the best paying because each car fills and empties half dozen times on a trip.
 When our city becomes thickly popu- lated, and our suburbs are developed, we will be in better shape than we are.
 Highland Avenue Line.
 "The Highland Avenue line has been built twenty years and yet up to this good hour 1t has not been a paying in- vestment More than si25,o0O has been expended on that line by this company in relaying the tracks and in paving and curbing the streets. We confidently be- lieve that the avenue will improve so