The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
CITY MAY ASK FOR MORE TIME ID BUY WATER CO. PLANT Understood Conferences Are Proposed Looking To Certain Notifications
 of the Offer COMMISSION STILL
 SILENT ON MATTER Best of Feeling Prevails, However, and Both Sides Are Sincerely
 Trying to Reach Basis
 for Agreement

waterworks were authorized by the peo- pie of Birmingham following acceptance by the city of the proposition made by the waterworks company Saturday. could the city sell tho bonds9
 This is the question which was in the minds of many citizens yesterday. In other words. does the offer of the water works company as made Saturday of fer a present opportunity for municipal ownership to the great majority of Bir- mingham citizens who have already placed themselves on record as in favor of it?
 In the present existing financial trou- bles of the city and the general busi- ness depression of the country, would the city be able to buy the waterworks plant even if it had a chance. in 1915? ;? If not, the five-year recurring period for purchase of the plant would be of little or no avail for in 1921 the city, it is claimed, will have the right to buy the plant anyhow as at that time the 1888 contract of the waterworks company in old Birmingham expires.
 City May Want More Time
 While the rate reduction offered by the waterworks company is attractive. it is strongly indicated that the proposition will not be accepted by the city com mission unless the municipal ownership phase of the offer is modified. Mem bers of the city commission decline to say word in regard to their position on the waterworks offer They state they are studying the proposition. and have not yet made up their minds as to it's merits or demerits. it. therefore. being improper for them to say anything about it one way or the other.
 TO those who are closely in touch with city hall affairs. however, there are things which strongly indicate that the city commission will not accept the wa terworks offer unless certain details are modified Further, there are indications which tend to prove that the waterworks company will be disposed to modify the proposition; all of which, if true, means that there will be a settlement of the long standing waterworks controversy within the next few days
 While no authority for the statement whatever comes from any member of Che city commission. there is little doubt but what the waterworks officials will be asked to so modify the municipal ownership clause of the agreement as to permit the city to buy the plan. during 1915, or at any time thereafter the city so desires, instead of at recur- ring periods of five years as it is now stipulated This it is believed the wa y taTwnr<o nc ,x,tJI IA MT Weatherly asked President Lynn at the time the proposition was submitted last Saturday in regard to this matter, MT. Lynn stated that the five-year clause was intended to guard the wa terworks company from continually be- ing before the public for sale. It is gem erally understood, however. that MT Lynn's position on this matter is by no means final. It is to be readily seen that each year the city delays the pur- chase of the waterworks plant, either by necessity or otherwise, the physical value of the plant probably will in- crease, so that the waterworks com. pany has nothing to lose by permitting the city to buy at later date, and the matter of the company being con- tinually before the public for sale will icS uidtt itstii SdtlSldctOIy. IL IS De- lieved.
 Selection of Appraisers
 Further there is q report 60 the ef- feet that in making up the appraisal board for appraisment of the water works plant that there may be some objection by the waterworks company to the city choosing it's two members of that board from the citizenship of Birmingham. If this is the case, this un- doubtedly will prove another snag for l harmonious agreement. There is little doubt but what the city will insist upon two representative citizens. probably members of the city government being members of the appraisal board of five. and if the waterworks opposes there will be another deadlock. It is consid- cred probable. however, that the water works will yield this point, since hav- ing two members on the board partisan to its interests 1t cannot object to the city having two partisan members, the fifth, as set out in the waterworks proposition, to be selected by these four.
 While the principals to the negotia- ton will neither make any statement on the proposition direct or on the status of the negotiations, 1t is known that conference between the water works officials and the commissioners has been arranged. At this conference the disputed points here set out will no doubt be the main issue and upon tho result will depend the fate of lower water rates and municipal ownership of waterworks as set out in the wa terworKs company's proposition of Sat- urday.
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