The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-21
Bessen1er News

Bessemer, September 20.-tSpeeial)-lJ was stated this morning hy Harry First brook, formerly manager Of ehe l3essemer Gas company, that the civic service cot poration of Philadelphia has under con sideration the bringing of gas from the by-product ovens to Bessemer. and tie purchase of the local gas plant, which some time ago was offered to the city as per the terms of the franchise. This of fer was not accepted. General Manager Arthur l.. Osgood, of the Philadelphia concern was here about a year ago and at that time it is said that he mace an offer for the local plant. For the past few weeks Nr Firstbroolz has been busy gathering data regarding the possibilities of by-product gas in this section, and it's uses for domestic and manufacturing pur- poses.
 Mir. Firstbrook stated that about fifteen million cubic feet of gas was mannfae- tured at the by-produet plants at Ensley and Woodward, and that the companies now consume about sixty per cent of that amount. He also stated that if the sur plus gas was enriched for commercial purposes it would supply the entire state of Alabama based upon the present amount of artificial gas manufactured. 1t can be secured at such a low cost that the Philadelphia concern will be able to furnish to Bessemer gas for commercial purposes, extend all the local lines. lay pipes, carry gas to Jonesboro, pipe shop territory and to Brighton; supply lights for street and township purposes and have in addition enough gas for boiler fuel. gas engines and other industrial pur- poses. The company estimates that a considerable reduction can be made in the price of gas to the consumes and 1t can
 be reduced to such an attractive figure that its use will become very popular for manufacturing purposes.
 MT Firstbrooll says, 1t Is the plan O. the Philadelphia concern to use ihe plant at Bessemer as a basis. to work around if is the intention of the company tu | bring by-product gas here, and 10 build l q plant necessary for enrichins 1t and 1 to extend the lines at an estimated cost | of S2COOC0, after which the present cost | of gas will be so reduced that Its use will become popular commercially. Once | the price is reduced to a figure that will appeal to all, the Philadelphia people be- | lieve that the houses, only abodt six oi
 which are equipped with heating appa-
 ratus. will use gas for heating as wei i as cooking. Experts who have looked 1 over the section arc of the opinion thai sand can be brought here in the coa
 cars now returning empty from Florlds
 and melted with the coal and gas in this 1 section. would result in the territory sur
 rounding Bessemer being made an i'm
 portant glass manufacturing center. |
 It was announced this nprning by
 president of the city council, Geors'
 Ross that all applicants for offices within
 the power of the aldermen must hav'
 their applications on file before nooi
 Tuesday. September 2i, or they woul'
 not be considered. A caucus will not b held until after this time. large mum Der of men are applying for positions and it is rumored that number 9 ] changes will be made in police circles, ou
 as e,et no one will talk with authorit. in the matter. The new aldermen vii not go into office until the seventh of DC tCber.
 x,a,... rod,- he sister of Annie CaQv