The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
COOPERATION WILL
HELP CAR SHORTAGE
Joint Committee Meeting
Yesterday at Chamber
SEWER GIVES VIEWS
Secretary of Chamber of Commerce
Instructed to Send Out Litera-
ture Asking Shippers and
Consigners to Aid
SEWER GIVES VIEWS

ture Asking Shippers and
Consigners to Aid
The Chamber of Commerce committees
on railroads and transportation. mining
and manufacturing met yesterday after
noon at o'clock in the directors room
of the Chamber of Commerce with a
number of local railroad men TO discuss
the problem of car shortage in Blrming-
nam.
The eoneensus of opinion seemed to be
that there was at present a greater
shortage of cars than ever before in
The history of the city.
II. w Coffin. chairman of the rail-
roads and transportation committee, pre-
sided He stated that the reason for
the meeting was a desire to relieve the
burden of car shortage which existed
in Birmingham at present. President
John ". sibley stated that he had never
known the car shortage to he SO severe
as il Is at present.
Sewer Talks
L. Sewer. general agent of the South
ern railway. made a general statement
conditions and the equipment
of freight cars throughout the country
Mr. Sewer stated that there was an
average of eight cars per mile for the
entire mileage of the country. and that
Birmingham was as well equipped as any
other city. He said the railroads did
not receive the cooperation of the ship
pers; that the shipper did not unload
as promptly as possible, and that all
this made the problem a more serious
one. Mr.. Sewer added that some of the
shippers did not have the facilities for
quick unloading and that if they would
cooperate more with the railroads the
trouble would be greatly helped
H. X. Plosser, manager of the Alabama
demurrage bureau, stated that most of
the delay occurred after the notice had
been given the consignee of the arrival
of the car.
Scion Jacobs stated that the situation
here was not any worse than the general
situation throughout the country. He
said that the Interstate Commerce eor1-
mission should be asked to make an in
vestigation.
Oenu Out Literature
The board of directors of the chamber
asked the secretary to prepare a general
statement of the situation and to send
out literature appealing to the shippers
to cooperate with the railroads. A meet
ing will also be arranged with represen-
tatives from other commercial bodies in
the state to discuss the situation. Among
those present, outside of the committee
men, we're l.. SEWER. II. X. Plosser, j. r.
Slater, j. II. Doughty. and e. f. Stovall,
less, soc; 1000 to 1900 gallons. 271ac; 1900
to 1000 gallons, 25c; 1000 to 5000 gallons,
221ac; 1000 TO 1000 gallons, Doc: 1900 to 5000
gallons 171ac.
In excess of 5000 gallons daily: For the
first 5000 gallons daily, l5c per 1000; for the
next 5000 gallons daily, 14c per 1000; for
the next 5000 gallons daily, 13e per 1000;
for the next 5000 gallons daily, 12c per
1000; for the next 5000 gallons daily, lie
per 1000; for the next 5000 gallons daily,
loo per 1000; for the next 5000 gallons daily,
&c per 1000; for the next 5000 gallons daily,
Sc per 1000
All in excess of 10000 gallons daily, Sc
per 1000 gallons
Right to Place Meters
The company reserves the right to put
in meters at its option. for which an an
nual rental will be charged as follows;
One-half inch meter, 50 per annum;
three fourth inch meter, s. per annum;
one-inch meter, $3.50 per annum. one and
one half-inch meter, SIP per annum; two
inch meter, $40 per annum; three-inch me-
ter. $50 per annum; four-inch meter, $50
per annum
BY section "A 1t is provided that after
the works were completed as stipulated
for, 1T shall be obligatory on said city
10 use the hydrants of said waterworks,
and to pay for the same as hereinbefore
provided, during a period of thirty years.
Under other provisions of the ordinance
the waterworks company is permitted to
extend its mains into the suburbs, pro
vided the supply to the city will not be
lessened thereby" that should
any Inevitable or Unforeseen accident
happen to the mains, machinery or other
works after their completion, 1t should
not be considered a breach of the con-
tract or cause for repeating the same,
provided repairs were made within rea-
sonable time; that during the existence
of the contract the rent for MIGRANTS
would be payable monthly; that at the
expiration of the contract the city should
have the right to purchase the plant pro-
vlded for therein by an agreed method Of
arbitration
BY section q the existing contract be-
tween the city of Birmingham and the
E.lyton Land company, and between the
said city and Travers Daniels and ASSOC
ciates were abrogated and annulled; and
by section q, it is provided that the IL
cense tax of the waterworks company,
its successors and assigns, should not ex-
coed the then license tax during the ex-
istence of the contract.
On June O. 1888, contract was writ
ten and signed by the mayor and alder
men Of Birmingham and the Birmingham
Waterworks company, orator herein,
wherein Is recited in full the ordinance
aforesaid, and that in consideration of
its terms. the two parties respectively
adopted the provisions of the said ordi-
nance as contract between them and
mutually bound and obligated themselves
to abide by and perform all the proyi-
sions and stipulations of said ordinance
and to comply with all the duties and OBJ
legations imposed thereby upon said par
ties respectively.
Copy of Contract
For full and more perfect statement
of its provisions, a copy of said ordi-
nance contract is hereto attached as ex-
hibit "a" and asked to be taken as a
part of this bill.
BY the terms of said ordinance, orator
was never from the first day of July, 1898.
to the expiration of said contract to
charge domestic or meter rates exceeding
those specified and fixed in section ~.
copied; and the mayor and
aldermen OF defendant cit> We're bound