The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-31
CITIZENS ASKED FOR
 VIEWS ON PROPOSED SALE OF TIDEWATER
 TO B. R., l.. & P. co.
(Contfnued From Page Ffve)

be. The people would not stand for
 Fifth avenue and the other territory
 through which the line runs being used
 as freight line.
 Under the terms of the proposed sale
 to the Birmingham Railway, Light and
 Power company, the city can retain it's
 right to buy the property at any time
 within an agreed number of years at the
 very low price now offered, without in-
 terest and without standing any of the
 losses which might have occurred in
 operating the system in the meantime 'Tt seems to me that this meets every need and every requirement of those who oppose the sale on the ground that the city should own the utilities. This will give the city time to adjust it's finances and complete the organization which will certainly be necessary before the util- ities could be operated For the city to attempt to operate the Tidewater line alone at this time would simply be a useless drain on the taxpayers of the city. If a corporation is unable to pay any interest on the bonds, how can the city expect to issue bonds, buy the line, operate it and pay the interest on those bonds?
 HOLDS UP OTHER PLANS 'T have been working for sometime on some important financial matters in
  parts of the minera, section of the state, and some of the bOndholders of the | Tidewater are interested in these de- velopments. However. they are not in- clined to proceed further, unless they can get part of their money out of the present system.
 "I believe the city has nothing to lose | by consenting to this sale as the line ! can be taken over at any time. I be- leve however if the city officials and l the other people who oppose this propo- sition would study the statement of in- l come and expenses of the Tidewater, | they would be only too glad to let the | Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, or anyone else who would op- crate the line take it over Then there | is the matter of transfers. If this sale goes through. it is probable that trans 1 fers would be givep nn the Tidewater 1 line something which is now impos- sible.
 SEWER GIVES VIEWS l L. Sevier general agent of the South ern railway said: ITO have any large corporation in the district operated by a l receiver or by the court gives Birming- ham a black eye in the industrial and l financial world.
 ] sThe sooner we can get the Tidewater out of the hands of the court. the better | | the district. People who are seeking in-
 vestments here and those who are trying | to bring foreign capital, find that in- vestors always know about concerns | which are unable to operate. It hurts l all lines of business.
 l Ut seems to me that the proposition for ] the purchase by the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company is a | fair one. since the o.y can retain the | right to take it over at any time within a given period of years This will en- able the city to arrange it's affairs, if it 1 decides on municipal ownership, so as to handle the business, and not start off 1 with proposition which I am informed l is losing money
 WALTER MOORE TALKS
 Walter Moore. in discussing the prop | osition yesterday. said: 'The city should by all means let the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. or some one else acquire the Tidewater. This
 line should not continue to be run under