The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-20
STREET RAILWAY
PLANS ARE DEAD
Opposition Line In Chattanooga
Gives Up Scheme
CITY COUNCIL OPPOSED
Corporations Will Be Required To Pay
Their Income Tax-Labor Agents
Are Seeking Supply of Men.
Mountain City News.
CITY COUNCIL OPPOSED

Chattanooga, August 1s-(special)-
There is to be no competing street rail-
way system in this city, at least not in
the near future. A few weeks ago
company, promoted by the Bowdre-
Brown company, made application to the
city council for franchises over certain
streets of The city, also franchises had
been secured for new incline to the top
of Lookout mountain. 1t is evident that
the city council of Chattanooga does not
want another street railway system The
following communication from Mr.. Brown
representing himself and associates, to
the chairman of the council having the
matter in charge, requests that the ordl-
mace be withdrawn at once, without fur
Their action. The communications were
sent to John T. Dedmon, chairman of the
street and sewers committee of the board
of aldermen, and J. J. Mahon, chair
man of the streets and sidewalks commit
tee of the board of councilmen, to whom
the ordinance had been referred when
they were first introduced:
Mr.. John 7. Dedmon, Chairman Streets
and Sewers Committee, Board of Alder
men, City:
Dear Sir: kindly withdraw from the
board the ordinance granting US fran
chises for a street railway system in the
city. Owing to the delay of the general
council in voting on this ordinance it
will be impossible for US to carry out
our agreement with our financial back
ers; therefore, we ask that the ordinance
be Withdrawn without further action.
Very respectfully.
"BOWDRE-BROWN Co."
According to a letter received in this
city from the secretary OF state, Attorney
General Gates intends to exact the pen
atty from all corporations who fail to file
their special tax schedules by September
l. The legislature OF 1907 passed an act
levying special tax on all corporations.
1t provided also that each corporation
should I'LL out tax schedule setting forth
the officers, value of the business, plant
and all other information necessary for
properly fixing the special tax. On fail
ure to make out this schedule each year
by September l the statute provided that
a penalty of $500 should be exacted. Ac-
cording to the letter received from the
secretary of state all who have not filled
out the schedule for the last two years
are advised to do SO at once.
Labor agents in this section are work.
ing day and night to secure 1000 workmen
to take positions in mines, furnaces and
coke ovens belonging to the Southern
Steel through Georgia and Alabama. For
the last two weeks a force of men have
been busy in Chattanooga and the sur
rounding country. They are working in
earnest to corral every member of the
great army of unemployed, whether white
or black. though negroes are preferred.
This means that all properties of the
Southern Steel are to once more be start
ed in full blast as soon as enough la
borers to insure steady operation are
secured. From the small number of men
who have so far volunteered for labor
the agents are destined to have some
labor of their own II they secure the
7000.