The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-05
SELMA CITIZENS
 INDIGNANT OVER
 LIGHTLESS NIGHTS
Plans Discussed for Taking Over and Operating Light Plant Unless Relief Is
 Forthcoming

Selma. January 4-The indignation felt by Selma citizens over the poor service rendered by the Selma Lighting com pany, found vent today in telegram. unanimously approved by the Selma Chamber of Commerce, which was sent to the Philadelphia office of the lighting company.
 Plans were also discussed for taking over the plant and operating it by a new company. The intolerable condi- tons, which have kept the town in a state of darkness for hours on end. dur tng a period of six or eight weeks past. coal by the lighting plant officials here,
 The following is the telegram sent by the Chamber of Commerce, as introduced by F. C. Melvin. president of the Selma National bank: Representing the citi- zens of Selma, we protest against the service which is being rendered by the lighting company. During the past month light and power have been cut off from one to six hours daily. This paralyzes the business interests of the city and brings great hardships on citizens. The street railway is discontinued for man, hours each day. This is ineXcusable. The local management lays the trouble on the quality of the coal, but we feel that ample time has elapsed to obtain coal, if proper effort had been made
 If relief is not speedily gained, mass meeting of citizens will probably result, to discuss ways and means of taking over and operating the plant
 H. P Powell, local manager of the lighting company, is in Birmingham making arrangements, it is said. for coal According to a telegram received NJ a11 hoe, 1arfan ad rr1fr ments for three cars of coal weekly from the Cahaba Coal company and a like amount from the National Coal and Coke company
 Lieut. Edward Hobbs of the 354th aero squadron, has just landed in New York; after many months active air service abroad. Lieutenant Hobbs is at the Mo Alpine, and the fact that he is out of quarantine makes the belief current here that he will soon reach Selma.
 Mrs Iala shelton Reid, 30 wife ol Charles R. Reid, a prominent lumber merchant of this city, died at an early hour this morning of pneumonia, follow ing short illness. Mrs. Reid was taken ill with influenza last Saturday, on her return from Birmingham, and imme- diately her condition was considered critical. The body was accompanied by relatives to Birmingham on the after noon train. Interment will take place In that city Sunday.
 Mrs. Reid was the daughter of Mir. and Mrs. l.. B. Shelton of Birmingham. who were present at the time of her death. Besides her husband and two children, Elizabeth, aged Is and Charles Gus, aged Ii, she is survived by four sisters, Mrs Truman Aldrich. Mrs. Hudman Hobson and Mrs. John Cox, all of Birmingham and Mrs. Vaughan of Texas. MT. and Mrs F. B. Freeman of Atlanta, rela- ttves of Mir. Reid, arrived fast night and : mpanied the funeral party to Bir-
 -c gham this afternoon.
 Mrs Reid was an active worker in
 Church Street Methodist church. of
 tich she was a member During the
 ae years of her residence here she has uiaNvn about her many devoted friends, whom the shock of her death, in the
 me of her life, is a serve one