The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-21
BOND ISSUE CARRIES BY BIG MAJORITY North Birmingham Votes Near
 ly4 to 1 Favorably WILL BE FOUGHT IN COURTS Advocates of Measure Contend That Revenue From Consumers VIII
 Take Care of All Interest
 and Sinking Fund.
WILL BE FOUGHT IN COURTS


 issue carried at the election held there yesterday by vote of nearly to l.
 The ballot had two propositions printed on it and the results were as follows
 For the issuance of s4sOo,OO0 So- year gold water bonds-For the issue PIT. Against the issue, TO.
 For the issuance of $1OO,OO0 SO-year gold light bonds For the issue, 2lS. Against the issue, 6S.
 The issuing of these bonds will be the largest municipal undertaking han dled by any town in the Birmingham district, and will incidentally mark Birmingham's first step in the direction of municipal ownership, as the work of construction on the water works and l lighting system will not be under way ] good by the time Greater Birmingham becomes effective, October 1, 1908, and is therefore really Birmingham's propo- sition.
 It will also be the cause of another court case, as Mayor Ward has an l nounced that Birmingham will fight the issuance of the bonds through all the courts. The North Birmingham of- fcials will just as strenuously fight any injunction proceedings that Birming- ham may institute.
 When asked last night as to what course would be taken by Birmingham, Mayor Ward refused to state, saying that The had said his say on the sub ject" From statement from him published in yesterdays Age-Herald, however, there is no doubt but that the first attempt to place any of the bonds on the part of North Birming- ham will be followed with petition for restraining order on the part of Birmingham.
 The North Birmingham officials state that arrangements have been made for the handling of the bonds with the Birmingham Title and Guarantee com pany, and that no doubt exists as to ! their being able to float them. Mayor Ward says he will fight them through the courts so they won't be able to effect a sale anywhere.
 
 in disposing of the bonds a water works plant will be established on the Warrior river in connection with an electric plant The plan is to use l turbine water wheels for the genera 1 ting of pawer to run both plants, the river. of course, being damned up to secure the necessary pressure and flow. The water works plant and the electric plant it is claimed. would have capac- ity enough to supply all of Greater Birmingham.
 It is argued by those interested in the movement that the running of the plant and the paying of the interest on the bonds would be paid for out of the re- ! ceipts from the consumers of the water and electricity and there would be no drain whatever on the other resources of the city.
 c. M Green of North Birmingham takes 1 issuanace with the statement made by Mayor Ward of Birmingham. to the effect | that North Birmingham has no right to | issue these bonds. The act passed by the legislature which Mayor Ward states would prevent Greater Birmingham from | assuming any indebtedness which the l towns to be absorbed contract after the date the act was adopted, September 12. | 1907, MT. Green claims could not be other than unconstitutional and absurd. | MT. Green wants to know why Bir- mingham is wanting to issue $40000O worth l of sewer bonds, get the benefit of them l herself, and then wants the suburbs to | come in and help pay for them? MT. | Green does not deny Birmingham's right to do this, and says he hopes Birming- ham will succeed in getting the issue, but thinks each of the suburbs has the | same right.
 MT. Wards statement to the effect 1 tLat the interest on these bonds would | take more than all the money Birmff1g- ham now received from all her resources is also misleading" said MT. Green. AS a matter of fact, there will be no drain on the other receipts of the city, as the i money derived from the consumers of l tie water and electricity will pay for l the expense of operating the plants and | the interest on the bonds, besides allow l ing of the placing of a certain sum aside each year for the taking up of the bonds This is no dream. It is common, every day knowledge, as illustrated in large | number of American cities today which operate their own waterworks systems