The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-11
SUBMIT NEW WATER RATES ID BENEFIT
 SMALL CONSUMER
Amended Proposal Made to City Commission by
 President Lynn
MEANS DECREASE
 OF 10 TO 9 PER CENT
New Minimum Rate to Be Three Fourths of Present Flat Rate.
 Some Examples of Savings
 to Small Consumer

to Small Consumer An amended proposal in reference to the water rates and meter rates to be charged citizens of Birmingham was made yesterday to the city commission by A. NJ. Lynn, president of the Birmingham Waterworks company. In order to make water rents easier on the man with small house the new charges propose that the minimum rate shall not exceed three fourths of the present fiat rate. The officials of the company explain that such a concession means that a decrease will be made from 10 per cent up to 25 per cent in the bill of the small con sumers.
 The only additional change of material consequence is that all rates in Blrming- ham shall be the same as the suburban rates prior to the annexation. It is stated that by the new concession the man whose bill is s4.5O per quarter will receive most liberal concession on water con- sumption.
 In the new offer President Lynn points out that on a three-room house the pres ent yearly charge is ss, while under the new rates the charge will be $6, or re- duction Of 25 per cent. On the same size house with one closet the change will re- suit In a yearly charge of S1o, or a reduc- ton over the rate of 2S per cent 1 A five-room house secures a reduction of 20 per cent or Ss per year, as compared to s1o paid now.
 . Install Hydrants l In reference to the city hydrant charges the company says that the city now pays $S9 $40 per year for water with 76O hydrants. Taking the above figures as a minimum the company VIII supply 1 1O57 hydrants installing 297 aydrants wherever designated free of charge to the 1 city.
 The proposal. Mr. Lynn says Is made with the plan in view of getting the water rates amicably settled without any litigation. although in the proposal the sturdy water company president indi- cates that he can fight if necessary.
 Parts of the new proposal are here given:
 The Birmingham waterworks com
  igation for the purpose of enforcing the rights 1t has under the contract made between it and the city on the 2d day of June, 1888; and, waiving all question as to the reasonableness of the rates fixed by that contract to cover the term stated therein. begs leave to submit to you the proposition hereinafter set forth as q compromise of the questions that may arise in that litigation. The Amendments
 "The company is willing to amend these contracts as follows: T. Make the charge for domestic use I for dwelling of three rooms or less $6, l Instead of the present charge of $S per annum, in territory to which the orig inal contract applies, and in former Vivian; and in all Greater Blrming ham, make the charge for water closet for private family in dwelling of three rooms or less sl per annum instead of 1 $5 per annum as at present This means reduction in the flat rate of $3 per annum per dwelling for | all dwellings, with closet. of three rooms or less. and reduction of $2 per annum per dwelling for all dwellings of four rooms or more within the limits of Birmingham, Wylam and North Bir
  uary 11910, and within all unincor- porated territory annexed to Birming ham at that time; and means a reduc I ton in the flat rate of $1 per annum l per dwelling for all dwellings,, with closets, of three rooms or less in for l mer incorporated annexed districts oth- | CT than Woodlawn, Vivian and North Birmingham.
 Meter Rate Effected
 "The effect of this reduction in the meter rate is also to give to meter consumers in former East Lake, Wood lawn, Avondale, North Haven, Gray mont, Elyton, West End, Pratt City Ensley and Vivian an allowance of wa ter for any minimum charge 90 per cent greater than at present. In other words the present maximum rate of 30 cents per 1000 gallons furnishes for a $3 quarterly minimum charge 10000 gallons of water, while the proposed maximum rate of 20 cents per 1000 gal Ions would furnish for s3 quarterly minimum charge 15,000 gallons. There would be the same proportionate in- crease in quantity of water furnished for minimum charges less than s3 per quarter.
 'In order to demonstrate clearly this proposition few examples are cited here with:
 
 plain faucet will have fiat rate of $6 rer year or $1 50 per quarter, In case a meter is placed the minimum charge per quarter would be three-fourths of $l 50 or S1 F, which at 20 cents per 1000 gallons would allow the use of 5600 gallons. (At present. such a consumer in Wylam is paving a minimum charge of g per quar- ter and in other Incorporated districts annexed to Birmingham s1 50 per quarter). 
 Effect April 1 '.If prior to June 30. 1912. the city and the water company come to some amica- ble understanding as to these matters. the '--ater company will put the new rates ir effect as of April 1, 1912-that is to say rili refund to water consumers the dif- ference between ta) the charges for water service for the months of April. May and June, according to present rates. and (b) the charges according to the rates so aereed upon as aforesaid. "The company will sincerely regret if after these concessions for peace and to secure better relations with the city and inhabitants. it be compelled to bring suit to prevent the impairment of the obiga- tons of it's contracts. Resp4 fly sub mtted,
 ..Tur BIRMINGHAM wATERwoRKs COMPANY,
 By A. NJ. LYNN, President THE LAx-FOs WAY l If you had medicine that wouid strengthen the liver. the stomach, the kidneys and the bowels. and at the same time make you strong with a sys- .temic tonic don't you believe you would soon be wellf
 ] That's The Lax-Fos way" ,t< fA httS