The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-07
VULCAN COMPANY BACKS NEW RATES
 ION BRICK, TILE
Says Commission Due A Vote Of Thanks For
 Unbiased Decision
(State Capital Bureau)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. Dec. GA letter from the Vulcan Tile and Brick company upholding the recent action of the Alabama Public Service commission in fixing the rate on brick and tile was turned over to the Montgomery bureau of The Age Herald here tonight
 The letter is as follows:
 Editor, Birmingham Age-Herald, Bir- mingham. Ala.
 Dear sir: The several items recent ly appearing in your paper attacking cur state utilities for its decision on brick and tile rates were inaccurate and unfair and with your permission we would like to express our views.
 In any general revision of rates where existing rates are in a tumble and without uniformity, there must of necessity be advances. There are also reductions and numerous of the reduc- tions will be very substantial. In the case of building tile the reduction will out number the advances nine to one.
 Accused Of Selfishness
 Why should shipper, located thirty, forty or fifty-five miles from Birming- ham criticize rate making body for not giving him the same rate to Bir- plant at North Birmingham for a dis tance of only four miles. There can be only one answer and that is selfish ness. The critics of the commission say nothing about our natural disad- vantages, both of which are clearly ap- parent. Being near city, we and our competitors in Greater Birmingham, have a greater property investment and owing to competition for labor, our la bor cost is greater than that of our competitors, located outside of Greater Birmingham. The latter manufacturers have their raw material (shale or clay) at their back door, while we in Greater Birmingham must pay minimum transportation cost of 45 cents per ton On our raw material. That minimum rate, after allowing for loss of weight due to evaporation and other causes, is approximately double the differential the commission has fixed on the fin ished articles to Birmingham as be- tween producers in Greater Birming- ham and those located outside thereof.
 Interests at Montgomery, Mobile and Selma have been criticized for favor ing the revised rates, but the logic of such criticism is not apparent, because, only one mileage scale has been fixed, and that scale is to apply uniformaly throughout the state, except that to Birmingham exceptions have been made to group certain rates thus giving cer- tain shippers lower rates than the scale would fix. In other words, the only departure from a strict mileage scale has been made as to Birmingham and that departure is favorable one.
 Birmingham To Profit
 When the revised rates take effect Alabama and Birmingham will have what builders have in the central west, that is, brick and tile on the same clas- sification, and what it ought to have had years ago. The people of Birmins- ham, including these in this district, in stead of being penalized will reap greater benefits, owing to the reduction in rates on hollow building tile, and it will enable them to build houses of permanent nature. Heretofore, on ac- count Of prohibitive rates on building tile, the difference in cost between frame house and one built of tile was so great that the majority of our citizens could do only one thing, build cheap houses.
 Lastly, why should a competitor com plain of a 25 per cent increase in his rate when to satisfy him an increase of more than 100 per cent in our rate is necessary.
 In conclusion we unhesitatingly say that our state commission should be recommended for its action and if such a thing were possible the commission is entitled to a vote of thanks for its un- biased decision, and the rates it has fixed as reasonable rates.
 Yours very truly,
 VULCAN TILE & BRICK Co.