The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-02
DIR. DICKINSON ON
FRANCHISE MATTER
THIS WELL KNOWN PASTOR ADJ
DRESSES MAYOR IN CONNEC-
TIoN WITH CONTEST FOR FRAN
cHIsE RIGHTS ON FIFTH AVE.

DR.. A. ]. Dickinson, pastor of the First
Baptist church, his issued the following
open letter:
Mayor George b. Ward, Birmingham,
Ala:
Dear Sfr-You will remember when the
question was up as to whether the city
should give to the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company the franchises
over the streets in the center of the city
which were not already held by them at
that time, that pointed out in letter
through The Age-Herald, and in CONVEX
sation with you, that the effect of that
grant would be to bottle up the city and
practically give that concern the exclu-
slve right to operate street cars along
our streets. l wish now to call your at
tention to the fact that what then said
has come true. The only escape now from
that situation is by holding on to Firth
avenue for the purpose of letting In other
lines of transportation. If we withhold
from this service that avenue, call your
attention to the fact that the Birming-
ham Railway, Light and Power company
already has the city bottled up All the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company now has to do to preserve Its
exclusive monopoly in this city is to see
that that avenue is withheld from street
cars and as 1t holds the franchises over
all other streets, 1t can never have COM
petition. The question Is now facing the
people of Birmingham In this shape,
either hold open Fifth avenue as a door
for other car lines or be bottled up for
ever Devote that avenue to u 49,
poses and exclude from 1t car lines, and
the Birmingham Railway, Light and Pow
er company has an exclusive monopoly
In our city. Let the council refuse to per-
nit another concern TO enter at the one
door which is open and the Birmingham
Railway, Light and Power company has
the whole house. We are already nailed
UP. and this will clnch the nails.
According to its own statement, this
public service corporation has made in
net earnings during the last five years
50, 197 118; and each year its net earnings
are about equal to the sum for which its
property is returned for taxation. Last
year its net income was estimated by 1t
at 1892, 500. which. IL you will compare
with the tax books of Jefferson county,
will give you some food for reflection on
the real value of the franchises which en-
able a concern to make In the neighbor-
hood of 100 per cent on the value of its
visible assets. And now 1t Is proposed to
make these nontaxable franchises. but
the more valuable by assuring them that
they are an exclusive monopoly.
wish to protest, therefore, against
Withholding Fifth avenue from the Tide
water company and such other concerns
of like nature as may in the future wish
t. come to Birmingham. 1t Is now too
late to save that avenue for driveway,
as 1t is already crossed at every corner
by car tracks carrying both passengers
and freight A driveway over such a
street will be impossible, and besides 1t
Is now needed for the more necessary
service of opening the city to entrance
by other valuable public service corpora
ticns Give the franchise over this street
to the Birmingham Railway. Light and
Power company and you give them the
monopoly to the streets of the city; with
hold 1t from any other similar concern
and you do the same: keep II open and
you have at least one entrance to the
city for those who may wish to come into
1t In the future. 1t seems to me that
there can be no two sides to this ques-
ton. I have no interest in the Tidewater
company. nor any other which might
profit by this matter. 7 speak only as a
citizen of Birmingham in the interest of
his place of residence. Very truly yours,
A. ]. DICKINSON.