The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-17
BESSEMER GRANTS
 FRANCHISE FOR GAS
Plant is to Be in Operation
 Within Six Months
EVERY BODY APPROVES IT
Board of Trade Wants Court House and Also Takes Steps Toward Bringing About Greater 5es-
 semer-Other News.

Bessemer, April 16.-(Special)- )-Bessemer will have a modern $10O000 gas plant in operation within the space of six months, if the guarantee of a reliable firm IS fulfilled and the building material can be obtained without delay. Tonight the City Council of Bessemer, by unanimous vote, granted a franchise for gas plant to w. H. Harris Jr., of Biloxi, Miss, representing besides himself D. J. Gray and L. N. Dantzler, Jr., also of Biloxi, for a term of thirty years with the pro- vlso that the plant shall be established within twelve months. This was not only guaranteed by MT. Harrison but he de- clared that if the structural material could be obtained promptly. he would have the plant in operation within six months.
 No difficulty was experienced by the promoters in obtaining this franehlse' and the keynote to the whole proposl- tion was sounded by J. E. Rogers prominent citizen of Bessemer, in his dis cussion of the franchise question, and that it is the servant problem which, he declared, made the establishment of a gas plant in Bessemer an absolute necessity He said that 1t has come to such a pass that servants cannot be obtained for love or money, and many households cannot be maintained without such labor saving institutions as gas stoves The women of Bessemer he declared, were the greatest champions of the new enterprise and he seconded their efforts to get this plant established most heartily
 bn aaH thp grant, ing of the franchise by the council in the strongest terms were w. H. H. Jud- son, G. H. Stevenson and Lee Moody
 The matter of the gas franchise practi- cally consumed all the City Counelfs s time during tonight's session and it was evi- dent at the beginning that 1t would go through without trouble, the time taken up being occupied in discussing few of the clauses of the franchise.
 By the vote of the council the gas com pany will be given power to construct and operate a plant for the purpose or furnishing gas for Illuminating and cook Ing purposes to the citizens of Bessemer, the company not to charge more than fixed maximum rate of $1.5O per 1000 cubic feet for this service, and at the end Of five years from the establishment of the plant the city council will have the power to fix the rate to be charged.
 Under the terms of the franchise the company is to furnish free to the city hall all gas necessary for lights and cooking purposes. The city is also given an option of purchasing the plant If at any time the company should consider such proposition, and on such terms as may be offered by any other parties. 1t was not included in the franchise, but understood, that the new plant would be exempted from taxation for five years.
 City Attorney B. G. Perry was in charge of the franchise measure during the discussion by the council, and intro. duced the clause that the city should have the right to make the rates for gas, but this was not acceptable to MT. Har- rson. so after the discussions which brought out the views of the leading cit izens present and their unanimity in pur- pose to secure the plant, a compromise was made that the company should not charge over the maximum rate for the first five years of existence. This being settled the question was put and every member of the council present voted aye amid applause.
 Mayor J. J. Sullivan was ill and unable to be present, his place being filled by Acting Mayor J. A. Lewis The other councilmen present were James O'Gara. A. A. Ross, J. D.. Thomas Gardner Good win and Smith Edge
 MT. Harrison thanked the council for It's favor and bowed himself out. but not before assuring them that he would make good his promise to have the plant i, operation within six months
 The promoters of the new plant are owners Of the gas plants at Gulfport and Biloxi, and MT, Harrison. the manager or these plants, is of long experience in this line of work. this being the twenty eighth plant that he has been instru- mental in building l.. N. Dantzler. Jr.. IS or the lumber firm of Dantzler & Co. of Biloxi, and D. J. Gay is president of the Harrison County bank of Biloxi. With these gentlemen are also associated Charles D. Willouhby and John T. SschIey of Mobile.