The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-14
JOHNSTON AND
 BANKHEAD RETURN

Senator Joseph F. Johnston and Sen ator John Hollis Bankhead returned yes terday from Huntsville where they att tended the Tennessee River Improvement associate convention. Senator Bank head left on the late train for his home in Fayette.
 Senator Johnston was asked whether, In his opinion, the business men of Birming- ham had best turn their energies toward securing an appropriation from Congress tc build the vanHoose canal in preferen ,e 10 other schemes for bringing cheap water for manufacturing purposes to the city.
 He said that, in his opinion, an effort at this time to get a sufficient appropria- ton to result in immediate work in the VanHoose canal would result in very little good In his opinion there are so many schemes being pushed to complete actual river streams and beds, that Birmingham had best not depend upon Congress to bring her the necessary water. He hopes lC se6 luG Clly UT county take up lIe matter and accomplish something definite. -~--~~--7--~->~-~-%--->--- great deal of harm is done to the city of Birmingham and the district when criticism Is made of the quality of the water. There is in fact no better ad- vertising material for the district than the purity and wholesomeness of it's water supply.
 Rates to Large Consumers.
 Water is being supplied here to large consumers at an unusually low price, one third less for example than the rate charged in Pittsburg, Pa, where the water works are owned by the city and the river furnishing the water sup ply is right at hand. The contract be- tween the city of Birmingham and the water company fixes the rate for large as well as small consumers, but the rate actually charged large consumers is less than two-thirds of that specified in the contract. In other words, the contract fixes the rate to large consumers at practically cents per 1000 gallons, while we charge practically cents. To cut this rate would be to supply water at less than cost. I doubt if there are five cities in this country that sell water at less than this price. The only large concern that I know of in this district which, due to Improvements now being made, will need more water in the near future, is the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com pany at it's Ensley plants We are about to open up negotiations with that com pany looking to 8 largely increased sup ply for them, which would mean the lay ing ofAa large duplicate pipe line from Birmingham to Ensley. We can supply all the needs of that company and at a price which I believe will not be prohibit tive, so far as water for boilers cooling and general manufacturing uses are con- cerned. They would however, like to have large supply of water for con- densing purposes, l. e., to be used for condensing the steam and then wasted. The main object of condensing is to re- duce fuel cost. We can supply this water for condensing, but I fear even if we sold this water at some loss, the rate would be prohibitive, i. e. the cost of water would equal a large part if not all of the saving in fuel due to condensing. In conclusion, the question narrows down to whether or not the taxpayer and voter is desirous of supplying water to large consumers at a price much less than cost. If so, it can be accomplished in the easiest and most practicable way by acquiring at the proper time the pres ent water works system rather than by the construction of a new.
 As it appears to me, the nearness of all raw material here for the manufacture of iron and steel, with the single ex- ception of free water in large quantity, gives the Birmingham district peculiar and distinct advantages over the Pitts burg district where, although there are rivers furnishing water for all purposes, the iron ore must be brought first by rail, then transferred to boat and then again to rail distance in all of 1000 miles. and the coke must be brought by rail a distance of 50 miles. 1n comparison the paying for water by the industries of the Birmingham district or the bringing of water by them a distance of II miles to their plants seems to me to be a proposition not insurmountable. Respect fully submitted.
 THE BIRMINGHAM WATER WORKS
 COMPANY,
 By A. NJ LYNN, President.
 n, Novap,har 1nne