The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-27
The Kind of Argument Advanced Be-
fore the Council Committee
ON Contracts.
WATER sURREPTITIoUsLY USED
MIR. DAVIS GIVES INSTANCES OF AL
LEGGED PIPE TAPPING.
He Also Tells the Committee Of Some
Unusual improvements
Contemplated

Vice President T. A. w. Davis, of the
Indianapolis Water Company and John f.
ODonnell, of the same company, were be-
fore the councilmanic committee on con-
tracts and franchises last night to give
the company's reasons why certain amend
ments should not be made to the proposed
new water contract. While speaking on
the subject of private rates and regarding
an amendment to the contract whereby
private fire lines in business houses and
factories should be furnished by the COM
pany free of cost Mr.. Davis made the state
ment to the committee that this could not
he done on account of the surreptitious use
of water by private consumers in Indianap-
oils. He said all rates were based upon
experience, and the company had met with
many experiences which demonstrated that
it could not give consumers the benefit OF
free lines. for they have been tapped in
many instances and the waters used for
divers purposes without the company Sc
curing any revenue pay for it.
One of the gentlemen present asked Mr..
Davis if the fact that people stole water
from the company prevented the company
from making concessions and also caused
rates to be higher. Mr.. Davis replied that
the company did not place the matter in
that light but he used the word sur
reptitious' in many instances. He gave in
stances that have come under the notice
of the company where fire lines have been
tapped and also where lines in private
houses have been used for more purposes
than the consumers had contracted for.
The length of the contract is eight years.
and when the question of shortening it TO
five years or even less came up Mr.. Davis
said he told the Board of Works the COM
pany would make a contract for five years
under the present rates, which provide for
$50 rental for fire hydrants, but the board
said it would give the company a. longer
contract If the rates were reduced TO $40.
Mr.. Davis then told of the improvements
contemplated, and said the company could
not make the improvements If short con-
tract were made. He said the company
will install a new engine costing S150,OO for
direct pressure, lay thirty-six-inch mains
into the city. costing 100000, lay new mains
in the business section of the city to re-
place the old ones and build filter beds at a
cost of $4,000 He said the money had to
be borrowed and the company could not af-
ford to make the improvements under a
the city could purchase the plant at any
time by giving six months notice.
Mr. Billingsley said as the commercial
service in the city would be doubled in the
next few years the company should make
some concessions, and Mr.. Davis answered
demonstrating that Indianapolis had fewer
consumers TO each mile of mains than most
cities in the country. The private rates
were discussed for time.
The committee decided to take no action
on the contract until ii is learned what
legislation the Legislature will enact re-
garding the water works question in In
dianapolis.