SERVICE COMMISSION HERE
The public service commission, A
G. Patterson. Fitzhugh Lee and
Frank Morgan, spent several hours
in Bessemer Wednesday in confer
ence with city officials in regard to
the city's application for a reduction
in water rates, and other matters
brought to their attention. The con- i
tract between the Alabama Water !
company and the city of Bessemer
was reviewed by the commissioners
as was other data in possession of
city officials. George Bumgardner,
city attorney, and B. Clay Jones, for
mer mayor, represented the city, pre
senting the claim for lower water
rates hero.
John Weakley, president of the
Alabama Water company, with his
attorneys, fluey A: Welch, were also
present at the conference, and a wil
lingness to make reasonable adjust
ments was signified by- representa
tives of the company. There was no
formal hearing, which will be likely
avoided because of the attitude of
both city and officials of the water
company, who, It is believed, will be
able to effect a settlement without
an appeal to the state commission.
Mr. Weakley also presented the
request of the company to be allowed
to build extensions to their systems
in order to furnish water to Huey
town. Dolomite and the adjoining
territorv. City officials express
themselves favorably toward grant
ing the petition of the water com
pany to extend this service, but de
sire a settlement of the water rates
within Bessemer before this is al
lowed, according to Mayor R. P.
