The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-27
GIVE REASONS FOR
 SEEKING DECREASE
THE FIVE-CENT FARE COMMITTEE SUBMITS LETTER TO SHELBY. WHICH IS IN TURN SENT TO PRESIDENT FORD

The subcommittee appointed by the Ensley 6-cent fare joint committee for rhe purpose of securing additional data and reasons showing why the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company should cut its present rate of 10 cents to cents has submitted it's report to Char man J. E. Shelby, who has in turn sub mited it to President A. H. Ford of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company.
 The report is as follows:
 MT. A. H. Ford, President Birmineba,l Hallway, Light and Power Company, City:
 Dear Sir-For the further consideration of you and your board of directors. we inclose herewith additional information and reasons as submitted by a committee. representing the citizens of Ensley, Pratt City and Vivian, showing the necessity for immediately putting into effect the D. cent rate on your Birmingham Ensley lines. We trust that your board of dI- rectors will act upon this matter at once.
 J. E. SHELBY,
 Chairman General Committee. MT. J. E. Shelby, Chairman of the Joint Meeting of the Commercial and Munl- cpal Bodies of Birmingham, Pratt City. Ensley and Wylam, held at the city hali, Birmingham, October ,21 1907--
 We, your committee, most respectfully wish you to submit to Mir. Ford of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power shows a discrimination in rates of car fare against the people of Pratt City, Ensley and Wylam:
 A passenger from Pratt City, Ensley or Wylam can only ride to East Thomas on the North Ensley line, and by the South Ensey line can only ride to Rising, for a 5-cent fare, not reaching Birmingham by either route. (Note the comparison) passenger from East Lake, Gate City Boyles, East Birmingham, North Bir- mingham, West End, Cleveland and Pow derly, on a scent fare, can ride through Birmingham to Thomas station on the North Ensley line, almost to the police jurisdiction of Pratt City. And to Helena, on the South Ensley line. within the police jurisdiction of Ensley. A passen- ger leaving the lake at East Lake, rides through East Lake, Woodlawn, Avopdale, and to any part of Birmingham, or to any of the towns east or north of Bir- mingham, having car service also to West End, Cleveland and Powderly, on a 5-cent fare.
 But on the citizens of Pratt City Eas- ley and Wylam there Is an additional tax of one fare. Is it to keep our people of this busy industrial section from seek ing business, employment or pleasure in and beyond Birmingham? And to hold your people from seeking the same prlvi- leges among our industries and people. Why this discrimination? Why this em- bargo? Surely we are not financially able to pay twice as much for the same service or are our neighbors of the 5-cent fare towns so poor that we should pay additional to sustain their low rate for service?
 AS to the claim by the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, that we have all long hauls on the South and North Ensley lines, note the traffic on the North Ensley line to Wood Dickerson sta tion, Mortimer, West Highlands. Thrash, East Thomas, where the Illinois Central and Frisco yards are located; Thomas, a large industrial point Pratt City, with 10000 population fin and contiguous there- to. The local travel between East Thomas, Thomas, Pratt City and Ensley and 10 Wylam Is continuous. On the south line from Ensley, with 1i,000 population anu 1000 contiguous, with numerous stations at populous settlements along the routes a Birmingham, including the traffic 10 Wylam, which has 900 population ard 2O00 contiguous from mines Nos. 4, and 8, making a total population at these maih and terminal points of 5000 people be- yond the 5-cent limits. Very respectfully submitted.
 F. R. PATTON,
 JOHN E. NOLAN,
 E. J. HUDNALL,
 Committee.