The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-20
COUNCIL BORROWS $15,O0O FOR SEWER Understood That the Work Will
 Begin at Once NEW FRANCHISE GRANTED All Dealers In Coal Must Have Every Load Sold to Customers
 Weighed on the City
 Scales.
NEW FRANCHISE GRANTED

Bessemer. December 19.-(Special)- 1.-The city council of Bessemer in regular ses- sion tonight authorized the mayor to borrow s15,O0o from the Bessemer Trust and Banking company for the purpose of building a storm sewer on Second avenue.
 The money is to be borrowed for a term of twelve months at per cent in- terest, the interest to be paid semi-an- nually in advance.
 Some time ago Steiner Bros. of Br- mingham offered to lend the city of Bes semer the sum required for the building of the storm sewer, but the offer was declined and a similar proposition from pany was considered.
 The finance committee, to which the proposition of tine bank was referred at the last meeting of the council, reported favorably tonight and the report was adopted
 The ordinance providing for the build ing of the sewer was then taken up and after some discussion was passed. after which the mayor was authorized to bor TOW Ine money dHu pIOCttu Wlln iic work as soon as the weather will per init
 The ordinance providing for the sewer authorizes the taxation of all property drained by the sewer for the cost of construction. When the ordinance was first read in the council a petition was presented by certain citizens protesting against such taxation, claiming that only such property directly affected by the sewer should be taxed. The city attor- ney held that the city charter and the state law authorized the assessment against all property drained by such sewer.
 Objection Raised.
 When the ordinance was put on its third reading tonight Alderman Bissett raised the point that there would be considerable objection to the assessment, and also stated that he understood that some of the property owners affected would refuse to pay the tax unless forced to do so by the courts. He advised against the loan proposed unless it was certain that the tax could be collected and the payment of the loan secured at maturity
 After some discussion, In which Mayor Sullivan insisted if Bessemer ever ad-
  ments the council would have to disre- gard all such complaints and go forward without waiting to thrash out objec- tions with dissatisfied property owners. The ordinance received the unanimous vote of the councimen present.
 It Is understood that work will begin on the sewer as soon the weather will permit and material can be secured.
 Railway Franchise.
 J. M Dewberry and associates were granted a franchise for the building and operation of electric railway lines on the streets and avenues in this city, the term of said franchise being thirty years. The franchise provides that work shall begin within twelve months from the granting of the franchise and shall be completed and put In operation within two years.
 A claim from Steiner Bros, of Birming- ham, for $50 attorneys fee In matter of an ordinance prepared some time ago providing for the loan of $15,000 to the city was refused The ordinance referred to was defeated by the council.
 Must Weigh Coal.
 An ordinance was adopted requiring all dealers in coal to weigh each load sold by weight or by the load to weigh same on scales to be provided by the city and that a fee of 10 cents be paid the city weigher