The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-27
WAIT UNTIL |92| ID BUY WATERWORKS Dave Rich Says Shook Not Company Mouthpiece WANTS SETTLEMENT Fayors Municipal Waterworks, But States City Should Make Com
 promise Now and Buy
 Plant in 1921


 First avenue, who has been a resident of the city since 1888, the year when the waterworks contract was signed. yester- day advocated waiting until 1921 to buy the warterworks plant. He added that since reading the statement of Mir. Weatherly, that he did not concur one particle in the charge attributing to MT. Shook the position of speaking for the water company
 T have been here a long time and there has been more or less agitation about the waterworks.' said Mir. Rich. The time has come. 1t seems to me. when this city should relieve it's citizens of continual worry over this problem and buy the plant In my opinion it can be done by the sensible, ordinary way but not not by the bull dozing manner pur- sued by the city commissioners The bushes way to go at the solution of the porblem in my mind. is to arrange a set clement some way or other to serve us for the present. relieve us of the in creased rates caused by the court agita- tion and then when six years shall have passed. buy the plant with money derived from the sale of our bonds
 Purchase Plant
 q believe the people would vote bonds for the purchase of the plant. However we will not be in a position to affect the sale of our bonds very readily if our city officials try to repudiate the con tracts that the city has already made as that kind of repudiation certainly finds Judgement in the minds of bond buyers and we cannot blame them.
 'I do not believe the people of this community are deceived over the issues that confront them I believe that a bond issue to build a competing plant would be overwhelmingly defeated. l do not believe our people would stand for such an issue in view of the fact that within six years under the contract of 1888, we have already arranged whereby the water plant could be bought. Then again it would cost $50,000 to make plans for such plant as is now erected. We would have to find water shed and do great many things and 10 years would pass be- fore we would be able to complete the work. In the meantime, all of our re- gently completed streets would have to be torn up. and that would cost this city at least $l,OOOO0O
 'I am heartily in favor of municipal waterworks and there is where 1 mark a difference of opinion with President Shook of the Chamber of Commerce. In connection with him 1 wish to declare that 1 do not for moment concur in the statements of the city official that MT. Shook, as a kinsman of the water com
  opinion with the city officials on that ground. I believe that Paschal G. Shook is deeply interested in what Is best for Birmingham, and was actuated in his very frank and refreshingly plain state ment only for the interest of the people of this town. He made plain some facts in connection with this proposition that have heard discussed and concurred in
 Liberal Offer
 'I would be intimately pleased to see Mayor Ward and Judge Lane get to- gether on this proposition. believe that the officials of the water company re- gently made very liberal proposal to this city and l believe the commissioners should weigh very carefully that matteri before it is finally allowed to drift past recall. The water company officials have been somewhat indifferent in the past and have made mistakes even as you and l. However, during the past few months they have tried very manfully to do the square thing and have made concessions which were shown to be good for we are now paying more for our water than under the contract which Mir Exuf and Judge Lane thought was fair and equit- able one. l think like MT. Shook, Mr. Moore, MT. Chandler and other men that have expressed opinions that this water question could be settled quickly if the commissioners would for a moment lose sight of possible criticism from the peo- pie. The people are interested in cheaper water and if they are given that and adjust few details, am sure everything would turn out to the best interest of the people and the commissioners so acting.
 Believe in Municipal Plant
 Dr. w. D. Carmichael: q believe in municipal waterworks.' said pr. Carmi- chael However. I do not think this city is in a position to build competing plant There has been outlined a way this can be done under the contract of 1888, which has been upheld several times and l think that this is the way the city should go. l am not in favor of tearing down the corporation of this city and this district or of arraying the people who might be less informed than others against the corporations.
 I am in favor of settling the water question along the best and most busi- ness like lines and it seems to me that this is very plain under our agreements. The city could never build a competing plant here. l hope MT. Ward and Judge Lane will do something and relieve 30, 900 people of the higher rates they are now paying"