The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
'BREWTON OWNS
 PUBLIC UTILITIES
Supplies Light, Water and Power at a Cheap Rate,
 Yet Makes Profit

When the United States government IS forced to resort to a stamp tax to raise few loose millions to pay it's run hing expenses, the state of Alabama, un- able to pay it's school teachers and it's warrants not acceptable at the banks, and the city of Birmingham setting up a vail about the necessity for retrench- ment, it seems almost unrea sonable that there should be a town in Alabama which has more money than 1t knows what to do with. But such is the case with Brewton, the county seat of Es- cambia, and incidentally one of the most attractive little cities in the south
 Yes, that's a fact said Maj. D. B.. Hayes of Brewton, who was in Brming ham yesterday. "So far as the city gov ernment of Brewton is concerned, there is no such thing as hard times. We have plenty Of money in the treasury, we have fine cash balance on hand all the time, we never owe any person, firm or cor poration a cent, and we are going out into the market and buying up the few outstanding bonds which were issued many years ago when the business of the city was conducted on more or less loose basis.
 ''The town of Brewton has not issued a dollars worth of bonds in 10 years yet we have been making improvements all the time Our tax rate is 1 cent, which is the standard rate in this state, and cur city licenses are very reasonable. Eighteen years ago Brewton, then a very small village, built it's own light and water plants and has operated them ever since. At the present time we are sup plying the people with lights, water and power cheaper than other towns, give them the very best of service keep the plants in a high state of efficiency, and incidentally make a profit of quite tidy sum each month.
 "As an example of our financial condi tion, when the lumber business in our section, was so dull, many of the mer- chants and business people were hard put to meet their expenses. We did not press these people for their licenses until busi- ress opened up, as the city had no need for the money at that time And during this time, when the state had no money to pay it's school teachers, the city ad- vanced the money for the Brewton teach CTS and all received their money on the day it was due. Whenever the city of Brewton buys anything, no matter what the cost the transaction is strictly for cash. This means quite saving, as prices to towns are usually made in the expectation of accepting bonds or waiting long time for the money. BreWton only recently purchased automobile fire equipment, being enc of the first towns in the state with less than 25OO people to have this.
 "The affairs of Brewton are admins tered by a board of councilmen, who serve without pay, a mayor who receives pay for part of his time and a city clerk who gives all his time and is manager of the city light and water plant The secret of the financial success of Brew ton in recent years is the fact that 1t is run on business basis The municipal light and water plants are run so that the city receives all it's street lights and it's water without cost, the people pay less than in other towns and a good profit is made for the treasury every month But the ownership of utilities IS a good thing for the people of city cnly when they are managed with the same business ability which would be shown by private corporation"