The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-28
Bullock Will Make Proposal
to City Officials This
Morning
MEANS MATERIAL
RATE REDUCTION
Bullock Taken to Fairfield by Craw-
ford and Shown Ovens There-Al
Rests With the City Com
mission, He Says

! Whether the citizens OF birmingham VIII
receive a big reduction in gas rates to be
offered by the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company will perhaps
rest with the city commissioners, to whom
| George Bullock, president of the United
Gas and Electric company will make a
proposal to allow the use of by-product
gas in Birmingham. That proposal Will
be made this afternoon to the commission
by Mr. Bullock and other officials of the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company.
President Bullock and other officers of
the company went to Fairfield yesterday
with George Gordon Crawford, president
| of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad
company, to view the by-produet coke
ovens at that place from which the by
product gas will be received provided the
plan to be offered is accepted by the COM
mission The officials received from Mr..
Crawford assurances that a sufficient
quantity would be available, and it is
believed that contract will be agreed
upon If the city commissioners are Will
ing.
At this time the city requires gas com
panes to provide illuminating gas of a
certain candle power for use in illumi-
nation. The by-product gas has poor IL
Elimination properties unless used in con-
nection with special mantle whereupon,
1t is stated, the gas is easily as good as
coal gas now being used. AS for heat
units the by-product gas, it is claimed,
possesses greater power than coal gas.
From what can be gathered the officials
of the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company will request the commits
sioners to amend that ordinance so as to
permit the use of the gas less the IL
Elimination features unless the special
burner or mantle is used. If the city
agrees to that, then the Birmingham Rail-
way, Light and Power company will
| change its supply. BY doing so the COM
pany will be enabled to offer the con-
sumers of this city gas at a very much
greater reduction than can be otherwise
obtained. The opinion is held that the
company will extend its mains to ter
ritory now unserved by gas mains which
are clamorng for them and the entire
population of this district Will be en-
abled to secure that commodity and at a
price greatly under the present rates.
The officials of the birmingham KALI
way, Light and Power company would
not give out any statement last night as
To the plan to be offered the commission
today. preferrng that such information
be given by the commission.
Mr.. Bullock however said that he was
favorable to the utilization of by-product
gas and that he hoped to be able to in
terest the commission in the change that
was being contemplated. He intimated
strongly, however, that unless the COM
pany secured the commissions consent
nothing could be done.
''The proposal to use by-product gas
has been studied very carefully said
Mr.. Bullock Il visited Fairfield today
with George Gordon Crawford. president
of the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad
company, and looked over the ovens at
Fairfield. where we may secure the by
product gas. l was very favorably inn
pressed with the vast amount of gas
available, and the fine volume we would
be enabled to send to Birmingham.
Il will propose to the commission that
our company be allowed to use this gas It