The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-09
City Commission Issues
Formal Statement To
People A bout Settlement

ordered in, but actually put in when
ever and wherever desirable.
O O O
Street Paving.
Through this agreement we have
been able to effect an understanding
with the company that they shall at
once proceed to cooperate with the
city in the paving and improving of
First avenue to East Lake. This is
the main artery to the whole eastern
end of the city. In addition, the COM
pany agrees to cooperate with the
city In the paving of other streets
where needed and authorized by the
city.
Reduction of Fares.
This agreement effects a 1-cent
reduction in cash fares, giving a cash
fare of cents, and a reduction of
ticket fares to cents. This lis a sub
stantial reduction In our car fares,
and on comparison with that obtain
ing In other cities is found to be con-
siderably below the average. By the
terms of the agreement the receivers
and the company bond themselves to
petition the Alabama public service
commission for no increase in fares
for a period of three years; but on
even within that threeyear period to
petition the Alabama public service
commission for further reduction
should conditions appear to author
lie 1t.
"Over the jitney fares. averaging
from to 10 cents, the reduction Sc
cured Will effect saving to jitney
riders of from to cents per trip,
based on a scent ticket fare. On q
round trip from home to town it will
mean net saving per person of from
4 to cents per day. In the cours 10
Of a month or a years time to the
average family this will mean a very
considerable saving in the family
budget. To present street car riders
1t is reliably estimated that there will
be total saving of about 100000
ner year. and to the entire commu-
nifty a saving OF from $4,000 to $780,
900 per year in their transportation
bill.
while from the nature Of things
it could not be incorporated into the
agreement, 1t is understood that upon
the final ratification and going into
effect Of this agreement the street
car company will come out of the re-
ownership. where it has remained for
several years past. and will be reor-
ganized on a sound basis and placed
in position where it can raise new
capital with which to put into effect
tie provisions and requirements OF
this agreement, and also to function
as it should In all its obligations to
the city and the public in the way OF
improvements and extensions of vari-
Gus kinds which are so badly needed
O O O
Conclusion.
I'VE consider that the benefits to
be derived from the provisions of the
above described agreement are sub
stantial. They may not be all that
could have been desired, but to us
they appear to be all that could be
obtained. 1t may be that the whole
transportation problem is in process
of evolution. Some day it is possible
that motor vehicles may supersede
electrically propelled vehicles, but il
is certain to all thinking people that
the time has not yet come when a
large city can do without its street
railway system. We deem it highly
desirable that the city IL possible
should work in a spirit of harmony
| with its public utilities. 1t is desr-
able to have cooperation rather than
endless litigation. We believe that
the results of the agreement we have
made as the representatives and serv-
ants of the people will receive the
| approval of the masses of our think
| ing people, and that the people viii
agree that the time has come to pu,
aside contention, quarreling, and un.
| necessary litigation; that the time
has come for practical results, for de
veloping and upbulding sour city
| The re fore, we submit to you for rati.
fication the results Of our labor or
| this subject.
| I'D f. M'LENDON,
wv. B. CLOE,
wv. E. DICKSON,
MARY ECHOLS.
OWN L. IL SON :,