The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-19
To the Citizens
of Richmond, Ind:

The following proposition was presented to
the City Council of your City on December 2, 1907,
as follows:
TO THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, IND:
GentIemen:-
The undersigned is interested in the opera:
ton and financial success OF the Municipal Light
Plant in your city as is no other person or corpor-
alton, for the two evident reasons that NOT only
are we the second largest taxpayers, but we
are likewise the only competitor OF SAID plant.
That our position may in no wise be msunder-
stood, we at once acknowledge our desire TO pur-
chase the city's plant, provided satisfactory ne
gotiations may be carried through We would be
willing to accept a new franchise safeguarding
the city and the public as to the rates for current
that may be charged in the future: Our desire to
purchase is inspired by reason of the tact that
under present conditions of competition this COM
pany is not, from the electric end OF its plant oper-
atnq profitabIy, although operating, as we be-
Iieve, at lower cost than the ctys plant, with
conditions more favorable to that end. The exist
enCe OF more than one corporation furnishing the
same public utility leads to duplication in the
development of the plants in serving the COMMIT
nifty, and prevents either plant from earning SUI
fcient interest on its investment to Justify future
extensions, which would be beneficial to the citys
future growth.
Therefore we request and petition that for
the purpose of establishing basis for further ne
gotiations, and arriving at an appraIsement or
true value of the plant, and for the further pur-
pose of accurate knowledge on the part of the
city's officers, firm of competent chartered &C.
countants and electric engineers, trained IN Mu-
nicpal 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 exnenses incident to the same this COM
pany agrees shall be added to any purchase price
hereafter established should we purchase. And
should sale not be Consummated, we agree to
reimburse the city TO the amount of such expense.
The Richmond Light, Heat & Power Company
George Bullock, President
On December 18TH the same was laid to one
side and refused US.
Now, permit us to say that if the city plant
is making money, we cannot expect to buy IT; u
it is losing money, that fact should be matter OF
common information to tther tax payers as well as
ourselves that they may be able to enter into an
intelligent discussion OF the possible future sale OF
the Cty's plant.
Having been refused the CO. cooperation of the
city government, we now direct the same propoS
al to any organization of citizens already existing
or any group of taxpayers forming self con-
stituted committee, that if they will make propo-
stion to the city government asking for such an
investigation and report, we stand ready as be-
fore to bear the entire expense of the same II it
can be brought about.
We make this offer in view of the fact that
it has been openly stated in the council chamber
by a member, that if such proposition came
through the channels we now invoke, it would no
doubt receive favorable consideration.
Respectfully,
The Richmond Light, Heat and Power