The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-16
Federal Power Commission
Denies Request Sought Civ
ing Utility Virtual Monopoly
Of Power In Alabama
CONGRESSMAN LEAD IN
OPPOSITION TO MOVE
Alabama Power Co., Reports
1922 Net Profits $583,606
And S5,436,956 Spent In
New Construction Work
WASHINGTON BUREAU I !
THE E-HERALD
Washington, u. ., June Is


The federal power commission in
executive session this afternoon de-
clined to act on the application of
the Alabama Power company for a
permit to develop Lock II in the
Warrior river.
Prior to the session Representa-
tives Lamar letters of the Fourth.
E. d. Almon of the Eighth and H. B.
Steagall of the Third Alabama dis
tricts. appeared before Secretary
Work of the department of the inte-
riOr member of the commission and
made formal protest against the ap-
piication OF the power company. In
addition briefs were filed from Rep
resentatives w. b. oliver of the Sixth,
and NJ. c. Allgood Of the Seventh
Alabama districts. 1t was repre-
sented to the secretary that If 1t be
judged necessary, delegation from
the Chamber of Commerce of Tusca-
loosa would come to Washington for
the purpose of urging that the appli-
cation of the power company De
rejected.
Sees Indefinite Delay.
Representative letters. who took
the lead in the fight, declared SUISSE
auently that in his opinion the fall
tantamount to an indefinite postpone
ment of the matter. He pointed out
that Secretary Work was going
through the western states with the
President and would also make the
Alaska trip with the executive and
would not be again in Washington
for many weeks. He informed the
secretary, he said, that Alabamians
were aroused against the application
of the power company because they
believed that the effort to acquire
Lock Il was play of the Alabama
!. Power company to encompass py m
direction the defca. Of Henry Fofo
offer for Muscle Shoals, and COM
pletely to cinch and make permanent
It's waterpower monopoly In Alabama
The certificate of convenience from
the Alabama public utilities commls-
sion, formal proof that that commis-
sion was willing that the permit be
granted and which is necessary be-
fore federal action may be taken.
was not in the hand of the federal
body because the Alabama commits
sion had not acted. Further. General
Beach, chief of government engi-
neers, had not completed report on
the effect power development at
Lock II would have on Warrior rver
Navigation.
The commission it was learned.
having been greatly moved by Official
information tndl people OF <Aidpdiiieh
were opposing the power company
in it's plans respecting the acquisition
of the Warrior. did not hesitate in
definitely to oppose in view of the
failure of the Ala bama commission
to act and the chief of engineers
to report.
Compnny's Great Profit.
Alabamians here were deeply inter-
ested today In the financial state
ment of the Alabama Power company
filed with state officials in New York
Yesterday. That statement revealed
the fact that the sale by the company
of electrical energy to public utilities
in states neighboring Alabama had
resulted in great profit, with 1ndi-
cation that the company would fight
any effort which light be made in
the Alabama legislature to curtail
its deportation" of power generated
in Alabama streams.
Net income of the company for
1922 was $573.G0G. after deduction
for interest. taxes and depreciation,
according to the report or an equiv
alent of So 06 a share on common
stock outstanding. Gross earnings
were s5,SG5.906. about 100000 more
than in the previous year.
This increase" the report said
was due almost entirely to an in
creased volume of business in both
Wholesale and retail operations, new
service to communities and industries
and also from the sale of enegry to
public service companies in adjoining
states. There was no material in
crease in other earnings including
street railway"