The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-16
EXTEND FRANCHISE OF. TIE T|DEWATER Bessemer Council Takes Action
 on Subject MEETING IS HARMONIOUS Negro Will Probably Die as Result of Shooting Affair at Bessemer.
 Personal and General
 
MEETING IS HARMONIOUS

Bessemer, June 15-(Special.) 1.-The coun- cil meeting tonight was quiet and har- monious, much business being transacted. request was made that the council ex- tend the franchise of the Birmingham and Gulf Railway and Navigation com pany 14 months, in view of the fact that during the stringent financial conditions the company had been unable to com plete the railroad as had been intended A representative of the company spoke at some length of what the company had done in order to show the good faith of the company in the extension.
 ''In spite of the financial conditions at present. said he. i've will be able to complete the railroad branch in. the next II months As an earnest of what we intend to do I will state what WI have already accomplished. We have bought line of boats operating on the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers; we have purchased the Tuscaloosa Belt railroad In the past year we have handled 92,OOO tons of freight. This compares very favorably with the freight handled by the larger lines of the south, and when we have completed our line, which we hope to do in the next IA months our capacity will be doubled. We have already been grant ed extensions on our franchises in the towns of East Lake, Graymont and Pratt City and we would appreciate the exten- sion in Bessemer. as our bankers can not take action until we have all ex- tensions in hand.'
 The extension was granted.
 The attention of the council was called to the action of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company in putting on extra cars and trailers when there was payday around Bessemer James OGara spoke with considerable feeling in this matter. Mir OGara said
 "On pay-days the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company puts on two and three extra trailers on all cars go- ing out of Bessemer to take every man who has a dollar to spend out of the city. I go to Birmingham when there is no payday and the cars are crowded. l pay 15 cents and stand for one hour. On pay-days there are no such condi- tions. There are ample accommodations to take every man who has a dollar to spend out of Bessemer. I think that some action should be taken in the mat ter. If the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company puts on extra cars on pay-days to take money out of Besse- mer. think that they should be required to keep them on all the time and I would like to see the council take some action in the natter.
 A letter was read the council from su- IT IIo. that he would take the matter up with the council at an early date.
 The following minor matters were at ttended to:
 The petition of two negro women for free license to sell rrnches at the rolling mills and pipe works was denied.
 James Bullard was granted a free li- cense to do contracting in the city, ow- ing to his being an ex-Confederate sol dier.
 The reports of the treasurer, city phy- sician and warden were received as in formation.
 The reports of the following committees were heard and acted upon: The build ing committees report was received as information.
 The police committees report was re- ceived information.
 The ordinance to lease the prisoners of the city was passed and the city engineer instructed to advertise for bids.
 The committee to purchase roller for the city requested more time, which was granted with power to act.
 The finance committee reported the city bills to be approximately $2100. This was received as information
 A resolution to collect the photographs of the mayors of Bessemer was passed and committee appointed to do it. The pictures will be hung in the city hall, either in the council chamber or the mayors office.
 Bids were received for the city printing and awarded to the Bessemer Workman at 4a4 cents per line.
 An ordinance providing for dog tax was passed.
 After acting on few minor points that came up the council adjourned.
 Negro May Die From Injury.
 This morning at o'clock two negroes, Wilson Barker and Charles Fraser, be-