The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-11
Thinks Certain Features Should Be Brought to
 Public's Attention
BIG REDUCTION IS
 SHOWN AT START
City's Expert Says 50-Cent Rate Is Lowest for Entire Supply of Arti- ficial Gas in Any City in
 the Country

J. P. H. DeWindt. general manager of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company issued a statement yes terday in connection with the gas con- troversy He says that the issue s closed, but that a few points have become twisted and the company feels that the to them in order to get the issue straight. His statement. which. it is noted. con tains a lengthy quotation from C. c. Brown. the cty's expert. follows;
 The Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company's proposition to reduce gas rates to the citizens of Birmingham has been declined by the commission and the issue is closed.
 However. there has been considerable discussion about the matter and we would like to have the people of Birmingham correctly informed.
 The city employed an expert to come here and investigate the proposition by the Birmingham Railway Light and Power company and we are willing to abide by the statements of the contract made by the expert employed by the city commission.
 Quotes MT. Brown
 "The following statements were made by Mr. Charles Carroll Brown, consulting engineer, in connection with the gas ques- tion:
 '1. The first reduction in price offered is 20 cents. from S5 cents to 75 cents. or 2l per cent so that the reduction in price Is more than three times as much as the reduction in average quality below the present requirement and more than twice as much as the reduction in minimum quality. This is a material advantage to the consumer, for, though he Is getting poorer quality of gas, he Is getting 1t at much lower rate, and when his burners are perfectly adjusted. he will have al- most the same efficiency at present with an immediate reduction of 20 cents per thousand cubic feet in the cost.
 At the present price t95 cents) of the present gas t575 heat units) the proposed new gas at the minimum of 525 heat units would be worth S6h cents, that the actual reduction in price to 70 cents to start with Is l1% cents, and when the lowest price to the general consumer. 50 cents, is reached. the reduction Is 36st cents. These figures will represent very nearly the saving 10 the ordinary
 
 gas month would save at once S5A cents month or s4.2S year. and when the bO-cent price Is reached would save s1.lO1A a month or sl329 year. This is about the average use of gas per me- ter In Birmingham. Other quantities would save in the same proportion.
 Another line in which the proposition has been improved is that the final rate for gas offered when the daily consump- ton becomes 100000 cubic feet day. Is 60 cents instead of K cents This Is accompanied by a modification whereby the reductions in price are made con- tingent on increase in consumption of gas rather than made definitely each year.
 Lowest in Country
 This Recent rate is certainly very low, the lowest that has been offered for the entire supply of artificial gas in any city in this country, when the quality of the gas is taken into consideration.
 'I have not hesitated to say. therefore that the 50-cent price Is most favora ble. even with the heat value offered and that it is not more than sufficient to give the company reasonable return on It's money.
 "If 1t is assumed that the above changes in rates are made once each year the corresponding total savings to the Der of consumers in the city will be as shown in the following table. If the in- crease in consumption is so rapid that the changes are made oftener than oncs year the savings will he increased,