The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-10
Believes Fair and Impartial Investigation Will Show
 It To Be Liberal
NO CHANGES MADE
 IN TRANSFER TERMS
Present Status Is Maintained and Five Cent Fare Is Offered for Through Ride From
 Ensley

The proposed contract between the city of Birmingham and the Birming- ham Railway, Light and Power com pany. in which the company proposes to reduce the rates for municipal and commercial lighting, giant a cent fare between Ensley and Birmingham, and make several other concessions Is being widely discussed throughout the Birmingham district. There are many expressions of disapproval of some or the details of the contract as 1t now stands yet there are many who contend the contract is fair and equitable.
 It is somewhat difficult to get def great number of people approached con- fess ignorance of the vital provisions of the measure, and there are many who acknowledge they have not read the contract as proposed by A. II. Ford, president of the company. In view of these facts The Age-H Herald yesterday asked MT. Ford for an interview out lining the company's side of the con- tention. In the first place, he said, he was surprised that such vital ques- tion as the one under discussion should be apparently so lightly considered and nasty conclusions formed without un- derstanding the true facts in the case.
 Tn connection with the Ensley car fare" he said, the use of transfers will still be permitted to and from the present cent limit on this car line, yy1, ot Helena can get transfer to Corey or Wylam or any other point within the present 5 cent limits. Likewise on the return trip person boarding the car within the present 5 cent limit can get transfers to any point desired"
 Mr. Ford stated this concession meant loss of at least s50,0O0 per annum, and that it would take years of development to make up by increased travel this heavy loss.
 Reduction in City Arcs
 MT Ford proposes that the present contract with the city in reference to municipal lighting, which provides for arc lights at s7o per arc per annum, and a small number of 60 candlepower tungsten lamps for park and alley light ing at BPS per annum, be annulled and new contract be entered into for this service, the rate to be $62 50 per arc per annum and SPA per annum for the tung- sten lamps.
 This will mean loss of revenue of over $5O0O per annum to the company" said Mir. Ford. "The company intends to spend s2O, ,OOO for improved lamps that will give equal or additional illumination.
 "The proposition gives the city the right tc do it's own lighting from its own plant at any time 1t sees fit, the only stipula- tion being in that event that the city buy ou.' lamps and equipment at a just and fair price,
 Commercial Lighting
 In reference to the commercial light ing rate, MT. Ford proposes further changes. The present schedule in force is 12c per kilowatt hour, less 10 per cent discount Minimum bill s1.13 per month.
 The proposition is to install rates as follows: Ten cents per kilowatt hour for the first 30 hours use per month >of the connected load, less per cent if paid in 10 days the excess over the first 30 hours use to be at the rate of cents per kilo- watt hour, less quantity discounts now in force, the minimum bill to be $1.O5 net per month
 This new schedule will, it is claimed by MT. Ford, save each consumer from 15 to 30 per cent on his present bills.
 He calls attention to rates in other cities as shown to be higher than those in Bir- mingham by the following table: