The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-11
SUBURBS SEEKING
 A FIVE CENT FARE Board of Trade Takes Action
 in the Matter TO APPOINT COMMITTEE Will Ask Robert Jemison to Grant Five-cent Fare to Ensley and
 Pratt City-Railroad
 Shops Wanted.


 mingham to Pratt City and Ensley con- stunned the greater part of the meeting of the board of trade yesterday after noon. Committees from the Ensley board of trade, the Ensley council, the Pratt City commercial club and the Pratt City council appeared before the board and asked Its cooperation in securing a re- duction of the fare from 10 to cents. general committee consisting of six mem- bers from Ensley, six from Pratt City and six from the board of trade will be appointed to call upon President Jemison of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company in the interest of the re- duction.
 The board of trade pledged it's hearty support to the movement and assured the committees from Ensley and Pratt City it would do all in its power to obtain the five-cent fare.
 A committee from the machinists or ganization of the Southern shops asked the board to assist 1t in having the Southern Railway company locate the proposed new shops in Birmingham. on motion President John L. Parker was in- structed to appoint a committee to wait on the officials of the Southern railway to secure an increase in the force at work in the Birmingham shops and to en- deavor to have the proposed new shops located in this city.
 Perkins Talks.
 James M Perkins, chairman of the Ems. ley committee, was the first speaker Tn the interest of the five-cent fare.
 "Ensley," said MT. Perkins. "is soiidly in favor of 5-cent fare. The board or trade and the mayor and aldermen have been working on the project for several months, but the officials of the company have refused our request for a reduction. With the exception of Pratt City and Bessemer, we are the only town In tho district paying over cents.
 'In the past two years the territory between Rising Station and Helena, the 5-cent limit on the South Ensley line, has built up more rapidly than any other part of the district. I believe that five-cent fare would shortly become paying investment to the company. The Ensley cars are always crowded and we believe that we are entitled to nye-cent fare. We ask the assistance of Birming- ham in securing the reduction.
 Pratt City Reduction.
 Mayor E. J. Hudnall of Pratt City, ad- dressed the board in behalf of the coun- cil of that city
 For many years the old car line oper- ating between Birmingham and Pratt City was the main stay of the Birmins- ham Railway, Light and Power company The company has built lines all over the district until they reach almost every portion At one time the Pratt City line was the only one that was making the company any clear money The territory has been built up between Birmingham and Pratt City, and we think that the time has come when we should have a five cent fare. On account of some oppo- sition in our town to a reduction of the fare, we have not pressed the officials of the company for lower rate. The citizens of our city are now unanimously in favor of reduction and practically everyone in Pratt City and vicinity has signed the petition asking lower fare. The fare from East Lake to Thomas, distance of eleven miles, is i've cents but from Thomas to Pratt City, dis tance of only two miles, the fare Is five cents. This forces the people of Pratt City to pay ten cents to come from Bir- mingham to Pratt City"
 pr. Lovelady speaks.
 Dr. R. F. Lovelady appeared In behalf of the Pratt City Commercial club.
 q think" said Dr. Lovelady that the time has come for Birmingham and it's suburbs to get closer together. While five cent fare might hurt the trade of the business men of Pratt City, l believe that 1t would, in the long run, prove ben eficial to a majority of our citizens. many of whom work in Birmingham and re- side at Pratt City. I believe that tho increase in the travel would more than compensate the company for the five cents reduction"
 J. w. Reeves of Pratt City. spoke in favor of the proposition. He said:
 ''We fell like we are part and parcel of Birmingham and I believe that we should all work together to upbuild the district. This reduction would bring about this result"
 J. F. Shelby, chairman of the commit tee of the board of trade. reported that the committee had waited on President Jemison who assured them that as soon as the territory between Ensley and Bir- mingham had built up sufficiently to furnish the short hauls to warrant 1t, the fare would be promptly reduced to five cents. He was in favor of pressing the matter as he believed that the rap idly increasing travel along the line would soon bring the receipts up to the point where the reduction could be made.
 Birmingham Alderman Talks.
 Alderman Simon Klotz was in favor of the five cent fare and had the following to say:
 'I was on a committee that visited MT. Jemison some time ago in the interest of five cent fare to Ensley and Pratt City. It is my impression that he stated that the rate would be lowered as soon as the double track was completed to Ensley. I believe that petition signed by the citizens of these cities should be presented to MT. Jemison and I am con- fident that the five-cent fare can be obtained
 Alderman John w. ONeill said.
 ''When the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company was granted the franchise to run its line along Third ave- nue they promised to give five cent fare to Ensley and 1 think that 1t is now time for them to carry out that pledge"
 Alderman c. C.. Heidt said:
 'I believe that when we want anything we should go after 1t. When the Bir- mingham Railway. Light and Power conl- pany wanted the consolidation of the companies to go through I was a member of the committee when we secured re- duction in gas from s1.40 to s1. think we should work in conjunction with Ens- ley and Pratt City until the five cent fare Is secured.'
 George McCleery said.