The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

why that company, which is said to be buying it's current at the wholesale maxi mum price of 1a-cent per K. w. H. from f. o. b, to their plant near the city at a point which is almost the geographical center of Greater Birmingham, and are retailing it to the citizens for maximum of cents per K. w. H., which would be a gross maximum profit of 1900 per cent Suppose, however, we give that company the benefit of every doubt and accept as true the official figures of an average charge of only 4.5 per K. w. H. in basis gross average profit or over 800 per cent on the sale of their current. Is there retail business in Alabama making even so much as an>average of one-eighth of that profit on it's sales? Are their consign- ments delivered at their very door free of cost as is the electric current to the edge of the city? Then why should the peo- ple of Birmingham endure this loss to them any longer? After the election the city commissioners will be in a position to negotiate with the Alabama Power company-a different corporation or the wholesale dealer-if they so desire, for current at wholesale rates, or at h-cent maximum as against cents maximum now charged; or If they prefer the clty commissioners can use the $oOO,ooO rom the bond issue in wiring for distribution keeping the North Birmingham plant for emergency purposes-so the threat ened scrap" pile won't be large enough to worry about; or the city commission CTS can buy at a proper price, as Jackson vile did, the privately owned plant, as the commissioners are now considering doing with the waterwork system here. Not a member of the Municipal Ownership lea gue to my knowledge desires to destroy the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, in whole, or in part, or carries a grudge of grievance against that company even though that company threatens our people with financial annt- hilation and are shedding copious tears, which may be the water they are squeez- ing out of their stock (who knows0 in preparedness, which Is the order of the day, for the trade with the city after the election-in sorrow for the dear little home on the outskirts of our great city which they are spending money ike water to protect.
 We note Mir. E. l.. Brown manager of the Brown-Marx building, which bears his name, and the Woodward across the street, writes very fluently and With great pathos for the small consumer.
 He might have added that the late MT
 Woodward the builder of these two large office buildings, spent many thousands oi dollars in preparedness for an electric plant by the actual installation of large boilers, etc., and for what purpose? Lower rates, of course, as I understand the boil CTS have never been used for anything else Now that these office buildings have satisfactory rates for lighting and heating MT. Brown expresses concern for the small homes in the suburbs because they want their due also from the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power com pany, and how will this small consumer get his dues unless he joins the Municipal Ownership league and votes for ''the great persuader''-a municipal electric light plant, by voting yes on Monday? Isn't 1t funny when you think about il that with the vast amount of money the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company has spent to enlighten the voters they have not given any real in formation as to why the city should not operate it's own plant Socialists, blatant" and whining public whC
 have the honesty and temerity to ex- press their views through the press. seems to be the slogan of the writers for private monopoly. Not word in answer
 to the official report from Jacksonville
 Fla, with a population of less than hall of Birmingham, and with a fuel cost A0Ms with its $275.0oo (tirst cosD - ..