The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-09
.WEATHERLY TELLS
 WHY HE OPPOSES . GAS PROPOSITION Says Company "Has Been Exploiting the Public
 for Many Years"
NOT CONVINCED TT
 IS LOWEST PRICE
Says People Are Not So Much Inter- ested in Mere Rates as in Proper Adjustment of
 Relations

 ing Sunday and until yesterday morning that the sl,449,0Oo gas-saving would be affected for the people of Birmingham was rendered more remote yesterday when Commissioner James Weatherly is- sued statement defending his position. Commissioner Ward had nothing to say except to reiterate his deep regrets.
 J. S. Peaver of the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company is in New Orleans grappling with other problems.
 George G. Crawford. president of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com pany, the producing corporation, had noth- ing to say. MT. Weatherly was the only one of the persons having the fate of the gas proposal in hand to break the silence.
 The statement of MT. Weatherly fol- lows:
 'T wish to say a word or two about gas.
 Quite recently the city and the Bir- mingham Railway. Light and Power com pany adjusted the gas rates by reduc- ton of the net price to the general con- sumer from S1 to e5 cents. This was done according to the existing contract pe- tween the city and the gas company, made in 1891. which provided for re- adjustment of rates at fixed periods on the basis of a comparison with the prices of gas paid in other cities in the United States of like size and population of Bir- mingham. The city contended for a greater reduction than was allowed, but yielded on the representation made by the gas company that it would spend at least Ssoa oaa i,, tho ramodaline of ifs existing gas plant, which was necessary in order to keep pace with consumption and in crease it's business. It was also repre- sented that when these expenditures had been made, and the company found itself in fair way to do a larger business, the prices would be still further reduced and it was thought that this further re- duction would take place in a very snort time after the remodeling of the plant.
 Began New Negotiations
 Hardly had this reduction taken place when the new management of the Bir- mingham Railway. Light and Power com- pany opened up negotiations with the city on by-product gas from the coke ovens of the Tennessee company on the basis of the new schedule of prices similar to the schedule which has just been rejected by the city and, as said, this new schedule of prices. 1t was claimed by the com pany was Justified by the fact that the company would have to expend $160,0o0 for new construction to distribute the by product gas.
 .'The new gas differs from the existing gas in that it is a poorer gas in quail ity, so that the consumer will have to use more of 1t in order to get the same results. if that be possible.
 .The company figures out greater saving to the consumer by this arrange ment and a great benefit to the city. Let us see about this.
 "The company has now n.o00 consum- CTS, using 100000 cubic feet of gas per day. I am informed that practically 90 per cent of these consumers use gas for cooking purposes In other words. they use this gas at the present price instead of coal, which they could get much cheaper. I am informed that there is no gas except perhaps natural gas which | is cheaper to the consumer than coal, | Naturally, therefore. industrial plants and the small average consumer of fuel will use coal rather than gas. Inciden- l tally the present 10000 users of gas for cooking purposes use 1t not for it's cheap ness compared with coal, but for it's con- venience and cleanliness. In other words | 1t is luxury which the poor people can not afford. Naturally also. if the com pany increases the number of its con-
 sumers as 1t proposes to do in order tc | increase the daily consumption to 4,0oo.- 600 cubic feet per day or more, this increase will not come from the poorer class of people nor from the industria plants of this district. but from those who can afford the luxury of gas at 6 price higher than coal Tor domestic pur- poses. The people who change from coa
 to gas are not saving anything at all They are paying more for their fuel thar they would pay for coal. The present | gas users might save a small amount peI year on the difference between the price now and the proposed price, but wher the poorer quality os gas is considered | together with the necessity for a read | justment of the burners, and the vary. ing quality between the guaranteed mini.
 mum-a minimum 16 2-3 per cent lower than that now guaranteed-and the sup
 posed average, it is doubtful if the say. ing will be appreciable to the average
 consumer now using gas on the present
 basis. Wasteful methods of cooks shoult also be considered in this connection.
 Certain Conditions Laid Down