The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-13

Rate on fire hydrants reduced ! from s52. .15 to sSa per annnm. : Rate on meter system reduced ! from 30 cents to 20 cents per 1000 gallons. Minimum charges reduced from ; s6 to SIP to from $2.5O to si0, with an increased allowance of water. No change in length of contract ; with old Birmingham, which ex- : pires in 1921. | All dwellings In Greater Birming= ham may be put on meters at ex- pense of company Approximate saving for nine years tc city and people by new rates sl,OO0,Ooo
 
 An agreement between the board of city commissioners and the Birming- ham Waterworks company was reached yesterday in reference to the reduced water rates. Commissioners Exum Commissioner Weatherly dissented on the grounds that he desired the agree ment submitted to the people before the commissioners acted upon it.
 The agreement will be drafted by the city attorney and the formal vote will probably be recorded on the proposi- tion next week.
 The new schedule of water rates makes many substantial reductions to be effective on the first of last April Refunds will be made to consumers for the month and quarter beginning on the above date.
 The two commissioners voting for the proposition state that they con- slider the terms reasonable and fair and of great advantage to the city and people Commissioner Weatherly con- eedes the proposition as being the best the city could do under the circum- stances. but was unwilling to unqual ifiedly commit the city to a binding agreement without first giving the peo- pie an opportunity to discuss it..
 The negotiations between the city and the waterworks company have been under way for several months past number of conferences have been held and expert opinion secured and given consideration. The matter has been fully investigated by the city commissioners and from the first pro posal of the city in which it sought to compel the Waterworks company to reduce it's rates, to the acceptance of the agreement yesterday the question has been one of much interest to the public.
 The agreement Is as follows;
 Text of Agreement
 T. A reduction in the flat rate in old Birmingham, Vivian and unincorpor- ated territory annexed to Birmingham of ss per year per dwelling for dwell ings of rooms or less with closet, and a reduction of s2 per year per dwelling for dwellings of rooms or more. This change will make the charge for domestic use and closet the same in all Greater Birmingham Heretofore, in this respect, former in- corporated towns have enjoyed a lower rate than old Birmingham. This will be a decrease in the districts aforesaid with no increase In any d.s- trict.
 "2. The present meter rates per 1000 gallons In all Greater Birmingham are:
 Thirty cents.
 "Twenty-seve and a half cents.
 Twenty cents.
 ''Twenty-two and half cents.
 Twenty cents.
 'Seventeen and a half cents, etc, depending upon the quantity Of water used--the greater the quantity the lower the rate.
 Under the new arrangement the highest rate per 1000 gallons will be 20 cents, and as the quantities in- crease the rate decreases. Thus the smaller consumer secures a reduction of 33 1-3 per cent in the rate per 1000 aglons
 "3. All meters shall be placed, main tained and renewed by and at the ex- pense of the water company. Any flat rate consumer may require the water company to place a meter. and the company may, if It chooses, place meter on any service pipe.
 A. The minimum charge per dwell ling will range from $2.50 to s1o per year, the former for a two-room house in row of tenements. and the latter for a dwelling with closet bath, sprinkling, etc.
 "The s10 minimum per year will al- low 50000 gallons of water, or f2 500 gallons per quarter, equal to 4166 gal Ions per month or about 140 gallons per day. Thus consumers who are paging SIS, s24 and S30 or more per year by the fiat rate have the oppor- tunity of securing water for $10 per year Each dwelling now metered will secure a minimum rate per year from $J.5O to s3 lower than at present, and for the lower minimum will secure one-eighth more water than is allowed for the present minimum.
 "5. All meter rents on meters ss inch or smaller are abolished. Meter rents on meters % inch and larger are re- duced from 33 1-3 per cent to 40 per cent. No dwelling will be required to pay meter rent
 e. Tenement property will be as- sessed on the basis of one minimum charge for each eight rooms For exam pie: Four three-room houses with closet now have flat rate in former Br- mingham of s52 per year The fiat rate as reduced will be $40 per year. while the minimum charge by meter would be s15 per year. Thus the minimum charge in this instance will be only 29 per cent of the present fiat rate.
 Water Used by City
 "7. All water used by the city, except for protection against fires. shall be treated as passing through one meter and shall be charged for at the whole sale rates provided for in the con- tracts. The price heretofore has been