The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-05
JAMES MITCHELL
SAYS AGREEMENT
FOR POWER MADE
Head of Alabama Power Co.
Reaches Here From
London
WILL MAKE TRIP TO
OCAMPO ON FRIDAY
Says They Have Been Somewhat Dis
appointed in Efforts to Bring
Power Using Indus
tries Here

tries Here
James Mitchell of London, president
of the Alabama Power company and
financial agent for sperling * Co. Of
affirmed yesterday the an
nouncement made several mornings
ago that an agreement had been
reached between the Birmingham Rail
way, Light and Power company and
the Alabama Power for the former to
use the hydro electric power of the
latter company.
Mr.. Mitchell reached here yesterday
from England. He stopped a
few days in the east and came here
to consult local officials and look over
the general situation.
Negotiated in New York
That President Ford of Ford. Bacon
& Davis, in New York, for the Ameri-
can cities company had negotiated the
agreement for power to be bought from
the Alabama Power company, and that
the deal is in every practical way
closed was the opinion vouchsafed yes
terday by Mr. Mitchell. He said that
it is perhaps in a measure true that no
signed, sealed and delivered contract
has been entered into, but that in prac-
tically every detail the two interests
are agreed.
President Mitchell was informed fully
as to the announcement of the Wall
Street Journal and The Age Herald,
and also of the denials that had been
made subsequent to the announcement
which was branded as 'fll timed" He
said in discussing the proposition that
the announcement in the Wall Street
Journal he was informed was taken
from report made by the company
and was accurate. He said there was a
technical difference between the word
agreement" and the word contract"
He said the agreement spoken of had
been consummated and was being re-
ferred to the directors of the two or
ganizations affected.
Agreement Is Binding
such an agreement as has been
reached is absolutely binding and con-
elusive, l take it." said Mr. Mitchell.
However, L am frank to say that the
contract has not been signed Mr.. Ford
of Ford, Bacon & Davis and represen-
tatives of our company arranged the
agreements in New York city. Thos,
agreements so far as l am advised have
not been disarranged or refuted. On lal
parties l assume what we have done
is binding. The amount stated in thai
report we issued, assume, was cor
rect.
You can take 1t from me that the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company has made a mighty good con-
tract and we have made a rather bad
one, according to my opinion of it.
it was assumed from the first
that the Birmingham Railway, Light
and Power company would use this
power. They are getting a large share
of our power and they are getting it
at a most favorable figure.
Power Here by January
I'VE are very much pleased with
the work that has been done here. 1t
is progressing very satisfactorily and
we will have our power into Birming-
ham by January /. AS you know we
from our Gadsden plant, but the trans
mission line has not reached this dis
trict yet. | have every reason to be-
lieve that the line will be here soon.
The very best kind of work is being
done on that line. The lines south of
Birmingham are being handled prompt
ly and with every degree of satisfac-
tion.
1--WE are somewhat disappointed over
the work of getting power consumers
here. The success has not been all that
we hoped or expected. We must con-
clude from the work done and the few
contracts signed that the money string
ency has affected Birmingham as the
concerns that we counted on to use our
power say the money market is some
what against them. However, we have
every hope that the situation will be
greatly improved right away. Our COM
pany is affected but we are none the
less optimistic about the ultimate great
ness of the Birmingham district. There
is sure to be a great field here for the
cheap power that we are bringing to this
district as rapidly as men and money can
do it. The chances are that after we
reach Birmingham the situation will be
greatly changed and perhaps astonishing
to some of the developers here
Confers With Engineers
Mr.. Mitchell after reaching Birmingham
went into conference Immediately with
Consulting Engineer Darlington of New
York, who has been here some weeks
looking over the situation. Chief Engi-
neer. Yates and Designing Engineer Thur
low were present in conference with Mr..
Mitchell and w. Webb Offutt, assistant
vice president Mr.. Mitchell said that he
would be here until perhaps Friday leav-
ing about that time for Ocampo to look
at the progress of the work at that point
He will go from Ocampo east.
Mr.. Mitchell was asked IL the company
had any new and additional plants foi
extensions here and he answered In the
negative. Mr.. Mitchell said that ths
company would finish the present work
and would not begin any new develop.
nents or arrange to locate any indus
tries outside of the Birmingham-Gads
den zone until the policy of the federal
government was clearly outlined In re.
gard to water power rights. The atti.
tude of Secretary Garrison of the wal
department will cause new development.
here on will loses for this district consld
cradle Developments. Mr.. Mitchell sait
yesterday that the power company OF
fcials believed and hoped that the pres
ent administration would have a far diff.
ferent water power policy from the late
Taft administration.
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