The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-28
WEATHERLY TALKS . .ON T|DEWATER PLAN Under Impression Proposal
 Was Confidential CITY IS FREE TO ACT Forney Johnston Says Tidewater's Detailed Proposal Will Be Sub
 mitted to the Commission
 This Week

That he did not mention any Tide water electric light proposal before the execution of the mooted Birming- nam Railway, Light and Power com pany contract only because he was of the impression that his confidence had
 been pledged, was the statement or Commissioner James Weatherly yester- day, who gave out the Tidewater pro- posal subsequently,.
 The statement of MT Weatherly was called for on. account of the statement heretofore published from Commission CT A. o. Lane that a considerably pet ter proposition had been made the city by the Tidewater company relative to Illuminating current.
 The Tidewater offer as given out by Mir Weatherly is as follows;
 "(a) Maximum rate; 10c per K. W.
 H. tor first 30 hours connected load. 7e per K. w IT, for all after first 30 hours.
 "(b) The customary discount for prompt payment.
 "(c) The company to give bond to be ready to supply current from Ehsley to East Lake within a reasonable ra- dius of it's railroad on or before July 1, 1912 (the radius to be agreed on with tht city) and to extend the service with reasonable expedition"
 The statement of MT. Weatherly went on to say that it was interesting "to speculate how modest would be the Tidewater in requesting franchise and whether that company would accept 10 years or desire longer term on a con- tract"
 MT Weati erly added that he noted that the offer of the Tidewater was substantially the same as the Birming- ham Railway, Light and Power con- pany, there being very little difference in common between them. Mr. Wes therly says: "This commits sion can grant any company, firm or corporation a franchise to sell current here and I will vote for a franchise from such concern. The citizens are not bound by any contract that we signed should any other company de- sire to sell them electricity.
 "As to the referendum, I shall not advocate the approval of the contract by the people. The great majority of the people know what is best for them and they will refuse or accept the Br- raingham Railway, Light and Power ccmpany's offer in that light, and as they see it."
 In connection with the Tidewater end of the electric problem. Forney John ston, counsel for that company, is- sued a statement last night in which he says that the offer of rates made the
 city were merely a preliminary prop
 osition and that the final definite prop osition would be ready this week. 1 Mr. Johnston says:
 "The application of the Tidewater company for the right to supply elec- tric current is entirely Independent of the outcome of the negotiations be- tween the city commission and the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power company and has no reference to that matter whatever The Tidewater com pany expects to use large amount Of current in the operation of its lines, and finds, as other electric systems have found, that it will be able to develop surplus for commercial use, as a bi product and profitably dispose of 1t al reasonable rates.
 For this reason we have stated to the city commission our desire to se- cure the right to enter the lighting field We have been at work on the specific details for some time, and in order that the general facts might be presented to the commission al this time we presented merely the maximum fat rate. The application is in no sense dependable on any municipal contract and in order that no confusion might arise in that regard I did not desire that the application be given general publicity until the final details have been submitted. Having been advised that the Tidewater application would be of some public interest on account of the pending question. l. of course, had no objections to its publication. We expect to have d definite proposal com piled within week for submission to the city commissioners
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