The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-20
HARRISON ISSUES
Underwater SALE
REHABILITATION
Terms Utilities Settle
ment Greatest Achieve
ment OF Administration

Analysing the various agreements,
contracts and other dealings of the city
of Birmingham with the public utili
ties furnishing street car service, Com
missioner w. l.. Harrison of the mu-
nicipal department of public service
has compiled the following communica-
ton for publication;
Now that the reorganization plans
of the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company and te Tidewater
company have been completed it is en-
tirely proper that recapitulation of
the gains and results might be noted.
THE city commission recognizing the
handicap that it and the city was I'M
der in finding when it came into Of
flee by reason of these utilities being
in the hands of the receivers that these
companies were not functiOning in the
public service as they should be and
were practically at standstill in so far
as improvements, extensions of its hines,
gas extensions, electric 7 extensions,
street paving. and the various other
functions of these companies which the
general public was entirely dependent
on, The city commission recognized
that this was not a healthy condition
for a growing, prosperous city such
as Birmingham is, hence it set about
through the public utility department
to remedy this situation in the public
interest and of fairness to the public
utilities. l hold that the benefits and
results of this general settlement be-
tween the city and above named utili-
ties is the greatest single achievement
of any administration in the history of
the city of Birmingham.
Achievements Listed
''The accomplishments are as fol-
lows:
81. A 1-cent reduction in car fares
which means a saving to street gar rid
ing public of approximately $5OO,OOO
per year.
az. The adjustment of the one-en-
trance cars and the substitution of
double entrance cars with partitions
separating races. That condition was
causing considerable dissatisfaction
where it existed.
20. Street lighting contract: There
was no street lighting contract with
result that applications and orders for
street lights had piled up to the number
of 700 or 800. This contract carries
with it material reduction in the
maintenance cost of street lighting and
makes it possible now to have street
lights installed as ordered.
II. Heating contract; The company
was carrying bill for $4,000 against
the city for heating of the city hall
and jail. This settlement cancels this
bill and confirms in perpeturity free
heat for city hall and Jail.
'5. Paving: Paving by utility was
at complete standstill on streets
where they were required to pave be-
tween the tracks. The settlement and
reorganization means that this COM
pany will resume its proper portion in
paving between its tracks where re-
Quired by the city. Two outstanding
paving accomplishments has been made
possible. One is the improving and paw
ing of First avenue to East Lake and
the other is the possible paving of
Spring street, Avondale, both of which
are vitality important and needed.
Tidewater Saved
20. The paying over to the city and
the city treasury the sum of $4,000
in consideration of franchise changes
and extensions. This is the first time
in the history of Birmingham that it
has realized any money from these fran
chises and especially the large sum re-
allied in this case.
~. The acquisition of the Tidewa-
ter and the retention of through serv-
ice at certain hours is of Importance.
There was no hope that any outside
interest or company could be induced
to take over and operate these prop
critics. Therefore the absorbing Of the
Tidewater by the Birmingham Electric
company means the saving of the Tide
water and the service that it renders
TO its patrons and the general public.
The reorganization Of these properties
and the functions they perform to the
general public reflect themselves into
every household and family of Biz
mingham, into every commercial and
business interest of Birmingham and
into the very life, development, prog
ress and prosperity of this city.
Therefore, aside from the material
benefits of the settlement perhaps the
greatest asset for the city and the flu
ture of the city is in the lifting of the
recelNefshlp ana the reorganization OIL
these properties. The next greatest
asset has been the cordial, friendly,
amicable relations and spirit of coop
Grafton that has actuated beth the rep
resentatives of the city aud the repre-
sentatives of the new company in work
ing out a solution of this situation and
the fact that IL spirit of amity and
good will has persisted and still per-
sists in the working out of these prob
lens.
1T should augur well for the welfare
nf orr DeOnle and the fOtIlre of our