The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-03
PRESENT LOW RATES
TO ALWAYS PREVAIL
Purchaser to Accept New
Franchise Which Will
Fix Light Rates.
JESSUP PRESENTS OFFER.
ARGUMENTS PRESENTED, SAY
JESSUP PRESENTS OFFER.
ARGUMENTS PRESENTED, SAY
THAT NEITHER OF THE LOCAL
LIGHTING PLANTS ARE NOW
MAKING MONEY.

The Richmond Light, Heat & Power
company has again come forth with Il
proposition to purchase the Richmond
Municipal Lighting IL Power plans.
This unexpected move was made last
evening at council meeting, when f.
X. Lane, manager of the Richmond
Light Heat & Power company, and At
torney Wilfred Jessup, who represents
the company, presented the following
communication to council, copies Of
which We're given to all the council
men, city officers and newspaper men:
November 3Oth, 1907.
TO the Mayor and Common Council Of
the City of Richmond, Ind.
conference.-the undersigned is in
terested in the operation and financial
success of the Municipal Light plant in
your city as is no other person or cor
poration, for the two evident reasons
that not only are we the second largest
competitor of said plant. That our
position may in no wise be mfsunder
stood. we at once acknowledge our de-
sire to purchase the city's plant pro-
vided satisfactory negotiations may be
carried through. We would be will
ling to accept new franchise, safe
guarding the city and the public as To
rates for current that may be charged
I'm the future. Our desire to purchase
is inspired by reason of the fact that
under present conditions of cOmpeti-
tion. this company is not, from the
electric end of it's plant, operating pro
titably, although operating. as we be
1ieve at a lower cost than the city 5
plant, with conditions more favorable
to that end. The existence of more
than one corporation furnishing the
same public utility leads to a duplica-
tion in the development of the plants
an serving the community, and pre-
vents either plant from earning suffi.
cient interest on its investment to jus
tify future extensions, which would be
beneficial to the city's future growth.
Therefore we request and petition
that for the purpose of establishing 4
basis for further negotiations, and ar
irving at an appraisement of true val
tie of the plant, and for the further pur-
pose of accurate knowledge on the
part of the city's officers, firm OF
competent chartered accountants and
electric engineers, trained in municipal
investigation and satisfactory TO both
the city and ourselves, be retained by
the city to make such examination and
appraisal, and to report at the earliest
opportunity.
The expenses incident to the same
this company agrees shall be added 20
any purchase price hereafter establish
ed, should we purchase. And should
a sale not be consummated. we agree
to reimburse the city TO the amount
OF such expenses.
THE RICHMOND LIGHT, HEAT 4
POWER COMPANY,
GEORGE BULLOCK, President.
After the communication mad been
read. a motion was adopted to have a
committee of three councilmen ap-
pointed, to consult with the board OF
public WORKS in regards to the propos
ed sale of the municipal plant. Mayor
Richard Schillinger appointed the com
mittee on contracts and franchises &c
represent the council in the matter
Councilmen Henry Deuker and Matt
Won Pein, tried to be excused from this
committee, but Mayor Schillinger in
sisted that they serve. 1t is probable
that the board and the contracts and
franchise committee will make a re
port to council at the next meeting.
Although it is not set forth i'll The
communication, the officials of the
Light, Heat x Power company have
stated that in the event the city agrees
to dispose of the municipal plant tC
that company, a franchise naming thl
smallest possible rates for lighting ant
power, will be accepted. These Off
cials state that this would guarantee
the city for all future time cheap elec
trio light and power. and at the same
time relieve the tax payers of a bur
den.
1t is true that neither the city plan
nor the Light. Heat & Power compa
ny plant, have since the operation o.
the former plant been financial success
es Whether the citizens of Richmon,
desire to continue to operate the mu
nicipal plant, or to abandon it, re
mains to be seen. Friends of the plan1