The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
BULLOCK REJECTS
 C|TY'S PROPOSAL
 PRODUCT GAS
Says B. R., L. & P. Co. Made Lowest Possible Price at First and There Is
 No Room to Trade

George Bullock, president of the United
 Gas and Electric company, and a recog- nized expert in gas matters. left Blr- mingham yesterday afternoon after un-
 conditionally rejecting the counter pro-
 posal of the city in the by-product gas negotiations. And that he was extremely
 disappointed over the delay encountered was obvious to the few officials and news paper men who chatted with him while he was preparing to depart.
 He maintains and wants the people to
 know it that the proposal of the city for
 greater number of heat units than was first offered is wholly impossible at the present rates The units could be in- creased, but not without big investment, which, if made, would make it absolutely necessary for a greater charge.
 "The gas offered from Ensley is not
 now being wasted" he said. Tt looks to me like any sensible man would know l that the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- ] road company is not throwing away any | thing of value. Our company will not get ! a waste product at a small price and sell | it at vastly greater one, as some per i sons imagine. We pay for that gas at a | reasonable contract price. We offer the 1 people of this city gas with 525 guaranteed ! British thermal units. At present the gas has 575 British thermal units. But during the past year the by-uroduct gas has i averaged $40 British therman units, and | there Is no reason to doubt but what that will continue. But we say 525 in order l to guarantee the heat units. That gas. l
 most positively and internationally assure you, is as good as the present gas for | household purposes. And when we offer this rate we offer British thermal units reduced per cent, while the rate is re- duced 40 per cent and even to SO per cent | reduction
 | q seem to be unable to convince the commissioners that I am not trading. | seem to be unable to convince them that
 made the best price possible originally. l That is honestly the case. I am not trad ing, but I seem to be about to learn that
 have made a mistake in not leaving some room to trade I wish that had
 taken that precaution. The proposition
 as if now stands is one that the people are vitally concerned as to the results They either get gas at the low price or thev continue to pay the old. It is up tc inc commission. We will not cut this price any. nor will we increase the heat units, for that is impossible. I cannot
 understand why the commissioners VIII
 not accent this opportunity. However
 they are following the advice Of their owr consulting engineer.
 s'The small consumer gets benefit ever 1 to the very smallest There is no negro l in the woodpile. The best ofrer has beer made and unless the city can see its wa, | clear to accept our proposal we will ado to our local gas plant and continue thu
 old rates We do not want to make tha'
 capital investment when this gas Is a.
 good as our own for the purposes used The supply is dependable. The Tennesse' Coal, Iron and Railroad company doe!
 not depend upon any railroad except 1t own for coal. the supply VIII continue
 and the whole matter is one that woult be immensely advantageous to the city
 The city commissioners yesterda,
 ths engineer from Indianapolis wht
 consulted with them in regard to by, product gas rates, saving that he woult sal
 nert when another conference will lprobably be held.