The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-05-22

Richmond Light Heat & Power Com
pany but, according to the resolution
of Council, vote of the people was
to be had upon the question of the
erection and operation of an electric
power plant. This plant was to be
of sufficient power to furnish all the
! light needed by the corporation in
/ lighting her streets, alleys, avenues,
! highwys, public buildings and grounds
as well as to furnish electric lights to
| private consumers" This question
was submitted to a vote of the people
in May, 1900, the ballots being for and
against municipal ownership. 1872
/ votes were cast In favor of, and 437
against the proposition.
| Council then appointed a special
committee for the building of the
I plant, a consulting electrical engineer
was employed, plans and specifica-
| tons were drawn and contract let
the plant at price of s144 $4,000.
| The plant was completed and turned
over to the City in July, 1902. Four
| per cent refunding bonds running
twenty-five years were issued for
$144 100000 under the authority of
| Council granted March 3rd and April
| 7th, 1902. These bonds were sold at
par and the proceeds used for the
| payment of the plant
Operation Of the Municipal Plant.
The operation of the municipal plant
by committee of council existed for
short time only. The LEGISLATURE
of 1901 PISSED an Act giving the City
Council power to elect three Electric
Light Commissioners who were to
have entire charge OF the electric
! light plant belonging to the city. The
powers of the Commission were of
the broadcast nature and subject to
general supervision by Council. The
| Commissioners were authorized to
have complete charge of the operation
and management of the plant. The
| City Council at once availed itself of
the authority granted by the legisla-
ture and in June, 1902, provider for
| and elected such a Commission, which
took charge of the plant August first,
1902. From this date until the pre-
sent City Code went into effect in
May 1905, the Board of Public Works
May 1905, the Board of Electric
Light Commissioners had full control
of the plant. Under the provisions of
the present code, the Board of Public
Works, as an incident to it's general
duties, has charge of the municipal
| as fully as has the Board of Electric
Light Commissioners under the old
law. This board consisted of Messrs.
Joseph S. Cellar, George r. Williams
liams' resignation, Mr.. William E..
Thornburg was elected. He in turn,
resigned and Mr.. A. M. Gardner sue
| ceeded him.
The time at which the Board of FL
ectric Light Commissioners assumed
it's duties. August first, 1902, is the
beginning of the operation of the mu-
nicipal plant. At that time the con-
tract for lighting the streets by The
Richmond Light, Heat & Power Com
pany had nearly two years to run.
The policy was adopted of not pur-
chasing additional arc lights from
The Richmond Light, Heat & Power
Company, but wherever occasion
arose for additional arc lights. the
same was furnished by the munich
pal plant; the number, however of
these, was inconsiderable and the
city continued to pay, under it's con-
tract, the sum of ninety dollars for
each arc light until September. 1904.
The schedule of prices for domestic
and commercial lighting adopted for
the municipal plant was as follows:
Lighting Rates.
From 1 to so K. w. :. =. 80 cents
From 81 to 200 K. w. :. .. IS cents.
From 201 to 1000 X. w. ;. II cents.
From 1901 and over. :. :. 6 cents.
Power Rates.
From 1 to 200 X. w. =. :. &c cents.
From POI to 1000 K. w. :. .. cents.
From 1901 to 5000 K. w. :. A cents.
From 30O1 to 5000 K w. :. cents
From 5000 or more K. w. ..21a cents.
These prices are subject to a dis
count of 90 per cent for prompt pay
ment. with minimum rate per
month of fifty cents.
This was very considerably less
tnaQ the prices IOT lHS Sd1ue SSFVlCe
as charged by The Richmond Light
Heat & Power Company. This
company now reduced it's rates for
commercial and domestic lighting,
publishing a rate OF ten percent less
than the schedule of the municipal
plant. How closely The Richmond
Light. Heat G Power Company has
adhered to the rate OF ten per cent
less than the published rates of the
municipal plant it is impossible to
say 1t is well known, however,
that this company has made special
rates below the published schedule.
At the outset of it's operations, there
fore, the municipal plant was met
with severe competition and had lit
tie income from street lighting. Large
expenditures in addition to the ORR
ginal contract price of the plant were
found necessary and on the date at
which the Board of Electric Light
Commissioners assumed its duties
the cost of the plant to the city in
Guiding the services of the consulting
engineer, was $15S,5S2 %. During the
year from August first, 1902, to Au-
gust first, 1908, an additional invest
ment was made in building an equip
l.