The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-02
WANTS NEW
LIGHTING COMPANY
Complaints Are Made Against
Present Charges
PROTEST AGAINST RATES
Selma Wholesale crocers and Other
Business Men object to Railroad
Commission Assuming Control
of River Traffic.
PROTEST AGAINST RATES

Selma, April 1.-(Special )-selma is cor
sderably aroused over the lighting prob
lem. Last night at the meeting of the
Commercial and Industrial association tho
matter was the principal theme for dis
cussion, and it seemed to be the coneen-
sus of opinion that the merchants and
other consumers were paying too much
for their lights, both electricity and gas.
Various citizens gave their experience
and gave the comparative figures for this
year and the same months last year, and
the amount paid for less hours burning
was from 80 1-S to 100 per cent higher, ac-
cording to the statements. Mr.. Thornton,
representing a firm of engineers of Bir-
mingham, was present at the meeting and
gave some figures as to the cost of pro-
ducing electricity, and stated that for
$4,000 a plant could be equipped to light
the town and furnish Juice" to private
consumers.
There were one or two citizens present
who said they would subscribe $1,000 for
stock and the meeting last night is eX-
pected to lead to the formation of COM
pany which will be a rival of the Selma
Lighting company. The latter company
has a contract with the city for lights for
llle HeAI TWO years, Sulu hdS Vi fANhlilS
stated last night that he would never
again favor making a contract for more
than one year at time, although the
present contract, which was for five
years. was entered into because saw
ing of $500 could be made for the city.
Today there is a movement on foot to
hold a mass meeting of citizens next
Wednesday night. at which time the mat
ter will be submitted to the citizens, and
IL enough interest is manifested new
company will likely result
Denies Commissioners Authority.
The Selma Wholesale Grocers' associa-
ton and the Commercial ana Industrial
association will protest at the meeting OF
the railroad commission in Montgomery
next Monday against the authority of the
commission to fix river rates. 1t is the
sense of the Selma merchants that such
a course by the commission will mean the
shutting out of a trade boat run, purely
in the interest of Selma, a project in
course of formation in this city They
hold that if Selma or an individual or a
company owns a steamboat and cares to
haul freight at any rate that might suit
their pleasure to fix, they have the right
to do so, and these views will be pre-
sente6 to the railroad commission upon
the hearing which is to be held next Mon
day.
Death of Prominent Citizen.
Isaac Bloch, one of Selma's best known
and most prominent citizens, died at a
local santarium last night near mid
night Mr.. Bloch was IS years of age,
having een born in New York. He came
to Camden with his parents when lad
and married Miss Sarah Proskauer. Four
children and his wife survive him. The
children are Walter, Joseph, Morris and
Helen. The deceased was a brother OF
A. D. and ]. D. Bloch of Mobile and Oh
Mrs ]. c. Adler of this city. He was
Mason and an Odd Fellow, and was prom
inent in Selma's commercial and business
affairs.
Bob Jones Meeting.
The Bob" Jones meetings at the
Church Street Methodist church closed
last night, the final meeting being the
largest held during the 10 days. There
were a number of conversions and con-
siderable good is said to have been ac-
complished by the meeting.