The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-01
Necessity for Gorgas Steam Plant

power and lighting service to a total population of 750,000, over 1,500 miles of transmission lines, throughout ap- proximately 25,O00 square miles of ter ritory in the state of Alabama.
 The company furnishes energy, either directly or by sales to other pub- lie utilities, both corporate and munich pal, to total of 63 municipalities in Alabama, which include the entire dis trict of Greater Birmingham; Mont gomery, Opelika and Lafayette on the south; Tuscaloosa and surrounding dis trict in the western part of the state; Talladega, Anniston and Gadsden dis tricts in the eastern division, and the Huntsville and Decatur districts in the northern part of the state
 Aside from the commercial and lighting service in these cities, the con- pany supplies from its wholesale sys- tenn large industrial load, furnishing all or part of the motive power required by the most important industries in the state. The total number of lighting and power consumers served directly by the company is 18,500; and in addi- tion, the company's service reaches a total of 10000 consumers, making a total of 58, 300 consumers served direct ly and indirectly by the company's sys- tenn.
 From five customers in 1914, with total load of 7,500 horse power derived from two municipalities, one cement plant, one brick plant and one cotton mill, the steady demand for electric power has been maintained and with the closing of the year 1921, the com pany's system was loaded with a total contracted demand of 170,000 horse power; and with total connected load of 370,000 horse power. During 1921, the electrical output of the system was approximately 500,O00,000 kilowatt hours.
 Bearing in mind the necessity of the Gorgas steam plant, which furnishes 57 per cent of the output of power of the Alabama Power Company during sea- sons of low water in the Coosa river, it is interesting to note the extent of the service furnished by the Power Com pany and the effect on that service of removing the Gorgas plant from the system.
 At present the Power Company is rendering service to 158 major indus tries or classes of users, among which are the following:
 30 cotton mills.
 II foundries and machine shops
 IS public utilities.
 4 steel plants.
 limo and r1arh1n ruarripc
 46 coal mines.
 In view of the extent and great va riety of service now rendered by this company throughout more than two- thirds of the state, the effect of taking the Gorgas plant from the Power Con- pany's system would be nothing short of disastrous to the public.
 In the various classes of industries served by the company today there are approximately 100000 men and women employed. Therefore, if the power supply should be taken away from these plants and municipalities; if house lighting, water pumping and other present-day essentials should be interrupted, street railway systems stopped, street lighting interfered with, It IS easy to see the confusion and bus mess demoralization which must inev- itably result.
 The great majority of the industries and public institutions now receiving. power from this companys system have no steam power plants to serve their needs. In most cases, the plants were constructed without any motive power and in reliance upon the ability of the Power Company to furnish continued service. In other cases the production capacity of manufacturing plants has been increased from time to time based solely upon the Power Company's con- tract to furnish the additional power requirements.
 It is important, therefore. that those who are vitally interested in the main- tenance of the public service furnished l-~x 1-1 h.