The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-21
Guy Johnson Says Water Rates Are Much Higher Here
 Than Elsewhere
WANTS WATER TO RUN
 ENTIRE LENGTH OF VALLEY
MT. Percy Believes the Matter Should Have the Most Careful Attention Before Any Plan Is Defi
 nitely Decided Upon.

The committee appointed by the Com mercial Club to solve Birminghams wa ter problems:
 Rufus N Rhodes, chairman; Walker Percy, Guy R. Johnson, A. H. Ford, John L. Raul, W. P. G. Harding, F. r.. Anderson, George c. Crawford. Frank Nelson, Jr., W. H. Kettig, T. O. Smith, Robert Jemison, J. c. Maben, B. F.. Moore, ". W. Crawford and W. II. Hassinger.
 The feature of yesterday afternoons meeting of the Commercial Club was the speech of Guy R. Johnson of the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron com pany, who spoke with authority after study and with complete information. The meeting was attended by about 100 of the city's most influential citizens, repre- senting every branch of business and all motions were passed unanimously. Bes- semer and Ensley both had representa- tives at the meeting and agreed to aid in anything Birmingham starts.
 MT. Percy's Motion.
 The water question came to the at tention of the members when Walker Percy moved that committee of 15 with MT. Rhodes as chairman be ap- pointed to confer with similar commit tees from other organizations in the dis trict to investigate the adequacy of the water supply of the district and if found to be inadequate to take up and de- ride the best plan to remedy the condi tion and submit recommendations as to just how to go about the work.
 MT. Percy also incorporated in his mo- ton the provision that the present status be maintained against the negotiation for the sale of the North Birmingham bonds until this committee reports.
 President J. R. Stewart of Ensley was called for and said: "I0nsley will back up Birmingham in anything you under take" This was followed by loud ap- plause. Mayor Rush of Bessemer stated that Bessemer is interested and will help all she can in solving the problem.
 Guy Johnson Speaks.
 Guy R. Johnson then said: According to Mir Percy's motion this matter seems to be relegated to the future I remem- Der an old Spanish proverb: By the paths of tomorrow we arrive at the by- ways of never.'"
 He then called attention to the Kay report speaking of it as good propo- sition which, however, would cost about S10, OOO0.
 ho al fala1 &I,n controversies of Mayor Friel,' he said, and there must be some merit in his proposition The question is, when are we going to get to work?" In calling at tention to the money being spent by New York, Los Angeles and other cities for water supplies, he did not know of single city worthy of the name which is not spending millions to provide for future
 "I emphatically do not believe that this city will grow to any appreciable extent until we get plenty of cheap water" he said. T am in favor of getting behind MT. Percy's motion and putting up the money to bring the best engineering authority here. Let's get the water in herel You can't expect to build up on few large institutions without small manufacturing estab- lishments."
 MT, Johnson spoke of the importance of condensing steam, stating that prac- tically 100000 gallons of water are turned loose in the air in the form of steam by double stack furnace during la T4 water rates here are prohibitory. It is true that we have small streams, but they have an uncomfortable way of going dry.
 ''In my opinion, the sooner we turn a river through this valley the better.
 Grant that MT. Lynn Is right when he says he can furnish S6,O0O, 900 gal Ions of water. Why don't he get busy and put it here? You can't get man ufacturing plants at present water rates. I do not like to knock, but when you consider the high prices of provisions, the high water and house rents, it is hard to see how the work ing man lives"
 Compares Water Charges.
 Mr. Johnson then made some inter- esting comparisons in the rates of this city with other His figures showed briefly these facts: Water for domestic use furnished by Birmingham for 30 cents per 1000, Atlanta 10 cents, Clarksville, flat rate. Joliet, minimum cents, maximum 12 cents pumped from wells and elevated; Pittsburg IS cents, purified; Cincinnati Sh cents, highly sterilized and purified
 a Average cost of water for the me- chanics house, Birmingham $15 per annum. Atlanta $720, Clarksville s6, Joliet $7.5O, New Orleans ST. Pittsburg $6, Cincinnati s5.2O maximum.
 Average cost of water for the good sized residence, Birmingham s36, At lanta sS, Joliet SIS to SIS, New Or leans SIS to BPS, Pittsburg sS0 to sS4. Cincinnati $7.5O to s1O.30. He also showed that Birmingham pays s5 for sprinkling while none of the other cities mentioned pays over $2, and some of them get it free.
 larger water rate than any other city that I know of," he said. MT. Lynn says he cannot furnish water for less than cents per thousand, while Chi mills. You will never make city Of this until you get water and lots of if. The water should come in at the