The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-16
STATES OBJECT OF
 COOSA FRANCHISE
PRESIDENT COBB EXPECTS TO AP- PEAR BEFORE COUNCIL COMMIT TEE TO URGE ADVANTAGES OF CHEAP ELECTRIC POWER

It is understood that the application of the Coosa River Electric Power company for franchise in Birmingham will come before the committee of the City Council this afternoon for con- sideration and report. R. H. Cobb, pres ident of the company, will appear be- fore the committees and with him a number of prominent citizens of Bir mingham, who are now interested in the cheap power offered the city through this development
 Every member of the council has been furnished with copy of the fran. chise, including a list of the stock holders. Following Is q copy of the
 letter with which President Cobb trans mitted the documents to the members of the council:
 Dear Sir: The Coosa River Electric I Power company has made application to the City Council of Birmingham for franchise over and through its high ways, and as president of the company I herewith hand you a copy of the ap- plication which we have made. l also attach list of the stockholders of the company, which shows the substantial character of those who are interested in the company and who control it's future. These names are sufficient guarantee | that the interests of the people of | Birmingham will be subserved by the granting of the franchise asked for q also attach a list of the subscrib CTS who stand ready to avail themselves of the power which we are proposing to bring to Birmingham on a basis of cost that appeals to the patriotism of every progressive man who knows what cheap power means to an industrial city.
 "The cities of Gadsden, Anniston, Pell City and Leeds have already granted franchises to the company, and negotia-
 tions for financing the construction of
 the plant have SD far progressed that an organization of over s2,0OO, 900 at
 command is knocking at your gates awaiting permission to furnish you power at a rate that only waterpower
 can afford.
 The Coosa River Electric Power
 company is the only independent water
 power company of large commercial value In the southern states, and elev
 enth in size in the United States, a fact
 of paramount interest to this city and
 district. This company has q grant
 by special act of Congress to the per petual use of the waters of the Coosa,
 not only for power purposes. but for municipal water supply, and this may at any time develop into a matter or supreme moment to the people of this city
 We have offered to cooperate with the government under the policy of con-
 servation and cooperation, by which
 this power will be secured to the peo- pie, and the proposition made by this company to Congress has the indorse- ment of the chief of the bureau of en- gineers, and of the Secretary of War when that office was filled by President Taft. It has also the Endorsement of the inland waterways commission, and of both Senator Bankhead and Senator | Johnston. We can hardly expect, how 1 ever that the government will con 1 tribute the large sum of money to which 1t stands so strongly committed.
 unless the cities to be benefited open their doors to the power when offered | tn em.
 | we feel that in asking this franchise we arc asking less favor than we will soon be able to bestow. On be- half of our stoclxh olders, I ask the priv
 ilege of appearing before the proper committees at the earliest convenient date, so that I may substantiate ev-
 cry claim and statement put forward in
 behalf of this great waterpower deveI- | opment"