The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-27
Freeman Discusses Attitude of Alabama Power Go. To-
 ward Local Situation
MAY SELL ITS POWER
 OUTSIDE THE CITY
But if It Is to Be Sold Inside City Application Will Be Made Di- rectly to Commission for
 Proper Franchise

1 That the Alabama Power company Will fulfll it's every obligation to the public, and power will be sold to whatever inter- ests request it. was stated yesterday by l w Winans Freeman. vice president ana general manager of that company. l MT. Freeman in an informal interview was asked if his company would seek any local franchise for the distribution Of power to retail buyers. He replied that his company had under consideration that question, and if any franchise was de- sired an appeal would be made directly to the commission, and whatever money was to be paid for a franchise would go to the city rather than any other interest
 MT Freeman says in the event his com pany does not wish a local franchise it could and he believes would, sell water power electricity to the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company at con- venlent point outside the city, while the | city of Birmingham, if 1t wished, could get the same power outside the city for l illumination purposes.
 To Fulfill Every Obligation | III ulSCuSsiilS tlilt pidhs OA HIS SphPohS , MT. Freeman said:
 "The intention of the Alabama Power company is to fulfill every obligation to 1 the Alabama public in connection with its water power developments. The company has pledged to develop it's water powers on the Coosa river as rapidly as the neces- sary federal permits can be secured and as commercial conditions will warrant, and we believe the utilization of these water powers will assist very materially in the commercial development of the entire state.
 "As to the general commercial policy Of the company. that has not been clearly | determined as yet because it will be at least eight or 10 months before the water power will be available, and the ener- gics of the company are now centered upon the construction work. Since the company already has a large investment which is earning nothing as yet, anu which Is increasing in amount very rap idly with each months work, it will be necessary to sell power in large blocks as the most practical means of building up substantial business quickly. This will tend to the direct benefit of the public through increasing the capacity of large industrial enterprises now operating and inducing many new enterprises to come to Alabama.
 "The franchise of the company granted by the state authorizes the extension of transmission lines throughout the state. with the exception of the cities where local franchises must be secured for the
 construction of distributing lines. AS most of the large industrial plants throughout the state are outside of the large cities, the company is already fully authorized to extend it's lines generally throughout this industrial territory.
 Will Apply Directly to City
 '1n regard to Birmingham the company has no loctsl franchise. and has not fully determined upon a policy with reference to the sale of energy in the city. It has definitely determined, however, and so advised the city commissioners, that it will apply directly to the city for what ever franchise grants it may desire and will work directly with the city in prefer ence to acquiring any outstanding fran chises not now being utilized. The com
 
 officials and citizens of the city to in- sure to it any reasonable privileges which it may from time to time request
 Sale of Electricity to City
 Asked if it was expected to sell power to the Birmingham Railway, Light and power company, and how this could be done without a franchise from the city, Mr. Freeman stated: While there is no definite understanding, 1t is my belief that the Alabama Power company will sell cur rent to the Birmingham Railway Light and power company as a strictly commer- cial proposition, 1t being our opinion that it would prove to be clearly to the inter est of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company to purchase water power in preference to operating a steam plant. If the Alabama Power company had no local franchise it would doubtless furnish it's power at point outside the city limits, from which point it would be carried over the lines of the railroad company"
 Asked if the sale of power to the Bir- mingham Railway. Light and Power com- pany would interfere in any way with the sale of power to the city in the event that it should desire to light the streets independently of the local company, MT. Freeman stated that his company regard ed it's obligations as a public service util- ity to include the sale of power to any one applying along the lines of the com pany and being willing to meet the reas- enable requirements of the company This, of course, means that if the city of Br- mir gham should desire to become GUS toner of the Alabama Power company it would have no difficulty in purchasing power from that company irrespective whatsoever of any other customers which that company should have. and the com pany will make no contracts that would in any way interfere with the furnishing of such other service.
 MT Freeman desired especially to make clear that any apparent lack of definite ness at this time in explanation of the policy of the Alabama Power company to- ward any public questions would be due entirely to the fact that the company is now in it's construction period only. ana is naturally not seriously discussing ana determining other issues until they arise ana require action. The company he stat ed. desires to treat the public frankly in all of it's operations, and will not hest tate to announce it's plans and policies whenever they are natured and become matters of public interest.
 PERSONAL