The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-31
Underwater COMPANY
!CHARGES INSINCERITY
Says Offer of Local Tracks Is Only
Intended to Delay and Defeat Grant
ing of Franchises to the
New Company.
OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC.

To the Public:
In the Birmingham News of January
% appeared an open letter promulgated
by the president of the local gas. rail-
way and electric company, protesting
further against the opening of Fifth ave-
nue. TO the Tidewater company. We resent
his arrogance in attempting to dictate
the terms on which we are to be per-
mtted to enter the city of Birmingham,
and we write this letter to state plainly
our conviction as to the insineerity of his
proffers and protestations
Dsregardng his own oompany's hys-
terlcal applications for franchise on
that avenue, he now protests that Fifth
avenue should not be polluted by any
car line. This characteristic somersault
was sprung before the people when MIR.
Jemison's monopoly discovered that, In
accordance with suggestions from the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the Tide
water company had requested and OBJ
tanned the overwhelming endorsement of
the property owners along Fifth avenue.
Since any regard for the wishes of the
abutting property owners has been con-
sistently ignored by this local unit OF
the Newman syndicate, this endorsement
of the TideWater companys application
convinced 1t that if any franchise on
Fifth avenue We're granted, 1t must be
TO the Tidewater company, n competitor.
The local monopoly thereupon naturally
assumed the attitude of the dog in the
manager, and has fought the grant of
any franchise on the avenue to any COM
pany. The Satyr in Aesop's fable was
astounded at the mans ability to blow
first hot and then cold Imagine his as
aonishment If he could see Mr.. Jemison
perform that feat with the same breath
and with the most affecting ease and
suavity. His companys main reason is,
of course. to stiie competition and pre-
serve it's monopoly. To accomplish this
purpose, il has made insincere and alb
curd protestations of a willingness to
allow us trackage rights over Its own
tracks, and in his letter of January %,
Mr.. Jemison sought further to diseredit
our project as a fake enterprise. Waiv-
ing. for the moment. his effrontery in in
ferfering in a matter awaiting the DIS
erection of the Board of Mayor and Alder
men, we wish to state that his offers
ito take care of us are farcical. What
sort of fools does he think live in the
city of Birmingham? The idea of the
Birmingham Robbery, Loot and Plumber
company, welcoming competitor into
rhe city Is Oriental in Its magnificenee
of dream We can hear the "ineXtinguish-
able laughter that would greet any re-
bort to our bankers which showed that
hhe chief essential foundation of our en-
terprise (our right-ofway through Biz
mingham) rested upon the benevolent
discretion of this charitable sSanch chap
ter of the American Cities Railway, Light
and Power company. Wall street would
he convulsed with the grotesque satire.
Mr.. Jemison reiterates that when we
spend $1,000 900 and reach the eastern
and western limits of Birmingham with
iour line and knock respectfully on the
back door OF his company with petition
for entrance, he will then consider that
we ara sufficiently advanced to be allowed
iey nd 1Ga OD
Ibis own terms. We wish to state that
lthis proposition is an insult to the in
Helligenee of child and does no credit
to Mr. tensions we1l-known. highly de-
lyeloped and subtle power of specious
sophistry. His indirect methods of attack
iang sources of danger to his company
are not usually so puerile and undevel-
loped His purpose is as manifest his
lprotestations are hypocritical. and we
desire to state that we would prefer
Ito die by strangulation at the outset than
be smothered to death by his embrace
of welcome. We want no Greek horses
from Mr. Iemison. We have labored I'M
der the delusion that the right TO grant
franchises was vested in the Board of
,Mayor and Aldermen and we have not
iapplied to Mr.. Jemison or to his COM
many to approve our project We resent
his hypocritical interference and the eff
frontery of his company in assuming to
Is done for the purpose of persuading
the council to delay the granting of n
franchise which all citizens agree should
he given US without delay
Mr. Jemfson next intimates that we
ere a fake. We have no intention of justi-
fvjng orr project against any of his char
ENTHUSIASTICALLY indirect attacks. but will
state that we have spent over $4,000 In
good money which had escaped suction
fnto the Golfers of the Birmingham Rail-
way. Light and Power company. in MAX
fne SURVEYS and acquiring rights of way.
/ we have issued no watered stock. We de-
Arire a right OF way over Fifth avenue in
Arder TO complete our line from Tusca-
sa to Gadsden and we have recognized
democratic principle of local self gov
ent by securing the Endorsement OF
sSorfty of the property holders who
Immediately affected. We propose
spot cash for our franchise in as
brand of money as Mr.. Jemi-
\pany has paid for its franchises
ence is that we earned our
his company's was extorted
pie Of this city, We also pro-
~ - ~ -----------