The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-22
BESSEMER WANTS LOW WATER RATES
City Council Creates Com mission For Park Im-
 provementS
BEssEMKR BUREAU I
 THE AGE-HERALD ! RaGAernaP. Ala. NnH. 21

Bessemer city officials announced Wednesday that the Alabama public service commission would be in ses- sion in this city on November 2S, when the question of a reduction in water rates for the city would be opened. There has been considerable agitation here for the past three years for a reduction, city officials and citizens stating the present rate Is excessive and that they believed once the matter is carried before the util- ities commission, a substantial reduc- tton will be granted.
 Mayor R, P. McTyeire made a trip to Montgomery several months ago and asked the commission to go into the matter. At that time he was in formed it was the belief of the com mission that they could get at the facts in the case better if they could come to this city for their investiga- tons and this arrangement was 'made;
 Three years ago the city council expressed a desire to buy the Ala bana water plant at Bessemer and to arrive at fair valuation committee of three arbitrators was appointed. one by the city, J. F. Cannon, " one by the company, Nicholas B. Hill, and these two named Clinton s. Burns
  were spent in compiling data, and the following valuations were submitted to the city council in November, 1920: Total Value s656.8S5.
 Real estate and water rights. s1o2,- 900; buildings and structures, $f4,72b; collecting system, $2,1oo; machinery and equipment, $21,095; reservoirs and standpipes, $25.850; transmission and distribution system, S293,395; furni- ture and fixtures, s1,30O; stocks and supplies, $5,240; tools. and miscel- laneous, $1,70O; total, $46E4S2. Other values added were: Engineering and cost, $30,15S; interest during con struction, sS12S9; going value, $s7,oo0, or grand total of $656.9S5.
 This report was made at a meeting of the council, which a large body of interested citizens attended, and on the suggestion of J. E. Rogers the question of issuing bonds for the pur- chase of the plant was referred to vote of the people, the election being called for January IT, 1921. The elec- tion failed to carry, the vote being 1O2 for and 336 against.
 It Is understood that the city's claim for a reduction in rates will be based largely on the figures submitted by this board of arbitration, and the charge that the company IS recelVlns an unreasonably large return for money invested.
 CREATE PARK COMMISSION
 Appointment of a park commission to look after improvements of the new park site the city recently pur- chased was authorized at the Tues day evening session of the council Five members will be selected for the commission. one to be appointed by the city, one by the Chamber of Com merce and one each by the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. These four will select a fifth nfember.
 The city recently bought 14-acre site adjoining the playground of the Tennessee Coal and Iron company near Muscoda. Extensive improve ments are contemplated, in the erec- tion of a grandstand and laying of of athletic fields for various kinds of sport It has been suggested thai a. cabin be built as headquarters fol the Boy Scout movements in the Bes' semer district. A large portion o1 this property is improperly drained at this time, and considerable amount of money must be spent be- fore a portion of it can be used. One