The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-17
M|LNER FAVORS
 WATER CONTRACT Is Purely a Question of Dol
 lars and Cents BENEFITS POOR MAN If Any Persons Water Bill Is ln- creased It Would Be the Man
 of Wealth-In Favor
 of Meters
BENEFITS POOR MAN

To the Editor Of the Age-Herald;
 have hitherto hesitated to say any thing upon the subject of the water con- tract with which the public mind is now agitated. feeling that my former connec- tion with the water company might cause some to misjudge or misconstrue my mo- tives It seems impossible for some of my friends even now, after the lapse of thirteen years. during which I have not owned a penny of it's stock or in any way had any interest in the water company, to dissociate my name with the company. Not only have I no interest In the company. but the earnings and accumulations ac of life time are invested almost wholly in real estate in the city of Birmingham.
 I believe 1t is the duty of every citizen
 whose opinion may be of value to his
 neighbor, to express that opinion and to use such influence as he may have to
 bring about such result as will be for the public good. If my opinion and judg
 ment shall be overruled by the judgment of the majority l will console myself with the reflection of MT. Lincoln, that ''If the people want that sort of thing. | that is the sort of thing the people | want" But let 1t be their mature, calm,
 dispassionate judgment
 Made Mistakes
 The people of Birmingham have not always dealt wisely with this great ques- ton. Some years ago the directors of the water company, all of whom at that time, with one exception, were citizens of Alabama, weary of the constant fric- tion. negotiated sale of the works to the city on terms which were satisfac- tory to both parties to the transaction, and contract was executed to deliver the property as soon as the necessary legislation could be obtained. requiring several months delay. In the mean time, another election of mayor and aldermen intervened and the new board repudiated the agreement of their pre- decessors. Still later effort was made to modify the contract along the lines now agreed upon. It was then possible to get substantially the same or similar notifications as are now accepted by a majority of the commissioners.
 Believing that such modification would be of great pecuniary advantage to the
 public, which belief has now rpened into knowledge. endeavored both through the public press and through the medium of the Commercial club to effect a compromise accordingly which I be- lleved to be the quickest and best way to obtain the relief sought. Otherwise predicted that. in my opinion, for ten years at least the public would be
 walking up to the captains desk and settling at the same old rates" That was eight years ago.
 Commissioners Conscientious We cannot believe otherwise than that the commissioners have been eonscien- tiously struggling with a problem which has been confronting the people of Bir- mingham for many years and have done their best to tighten the burdens of the people. I believe they have done this and that the community will be great ly benefited by their efforts, if the agree ment be accepted.
 There is one feature of the proposed contract which may be worth great deal to us, that is the syncronizing of the termination of all the various con- tracts now in force. The new contract makes them all expire on the date of expiration of the original contract-that is, January not June) 1, 1921 In case we be unable to agree with the water company upon the purchase of it's works on January 1, 1921, should we desire to do so, and must therefore in order to ac- uuire these works resort to condemna- ton proceedings, would we not be great ly embarrassed by having still some of these unexpired contracts to deal with The duration of such contract or fran chise is always a large element of value for which we would have to pay fin such I serious complication. The sordid motives. too. imputed by some to the water gouge'' might induce the latter to bring about just such a condition. All of these possibilities will be avoided in the pro posed modification.
 As to the use of meters. which the new contract permits, this is as it should be and is in conformity with the practice now universally adopted The new con tract gives either the consumer or the company the right to put in a meter, and thereafter the rating shall be by meter. whether put In at the request of the con- sumner or at the option of the company. It has been said that the company only has the option to put in the meter. The contract does not read that way.
 Hydrant Reduction
 The reduction in the price of fire i1y- drants is also a valuable concession Bir- mingham now needs 1200 or 150O fire hy- drants, and in five years will need 25O0. The price under the old contract is so5 each per annum: under the new contract s35, saving of s20 each or s20,000 to s3O,- O00 annually on the number we will need before the expiration of the contract. The meter system will also increase the press ure on the mains and to that extent will render the fire service more efficient This should not be lost sight of. Needless waste is an injury to all and of no bene- fit to him who permits 1t.
 Favors Poor Man