The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-03-16
Light, Heat and Power Com
pany is Employing Cut
Throat Methods to Get Hold
on Local Field.
GRANT RATES AT WHICH
NO MONEY CAN BE MADE
Representatives of the Trust
Concern Tells Well Known
Merchant that the City
Plant is Doomed.

''Our company has 100000 to put
the municipal lighting plant out of the
business, stated representative of
the Richmond Light, Heat & Power
company few days ago, to well
known Main street merchant. who has
been using the light of the municipal
plant I'VE have two years to put
the municipal plant out of business, -
continued the Light, Heat & Power
man, 'and we can afford to cut rates
so low that the municipal plant will be
unable to meet the competition
1t is known that for some time the
representatives of the trust plant have
been offering a rate of "a cents per
kilowatt for lighting purposes and a
rate of 31a cents per klowatt for pow
er. These rates are absolutely pro-
hibitive and the municipal plant can
not meet them and continue on a pay
ing basis.
Granting Suicidal Rates.
Superintendent Rogers OF the mu-
nicipal plant, stated yesterday after
noon that at the present rate OF 21s
cents per kilowatt, for lighting and a
rate OF 40 cents per kilowatt for
power, was being asked by the munic-
ipal plant. Mr.. Rogers stated that
these rates were the minimum ones,
and that il they were lowered the
plant would prove a losing venture
The rates now being asked by the
trust company are suicidal" stated
Mr.. Rogers.
s D. B. Johnspn 0fa she=beard Of psablie.
works, who supervises the municipal
plant, states that the time has now
come before the people of the city to
choose between the Richmond Light,
Heat & Power company and the mu-
nicipal plant. Mr.. Johnson states that
the municipal plant cannot possibly
meet the rates offered by its compet-
itor and that the business man who,
for the sake OF making a dollar, will
take this lighting, or power from the
trust company, not only shows a lack
OF civic pride. but also lack of bus
mess sagacity- He points out the
fact that the policy now being pur-
sued by the Light, Heat & Power
company means. if the business men
of the city lend their support to the
trust company, the eventual elimina-
ton of the municipal plant If the
trust succeeds in it's design of ap-
propriating money for the mainte-
nance of its local plant until the city
plant has been driven from the field,
the old condition of affairs prior to
the establishment of the municipal
plant will return and rates will once
more be boosted by the trust to an
extortionate figure.
Board Has Faith in Public.
Members of the board of Public
works are of the opinion that the trust
will not succeed in it's design as the
business men, even those who have
opposed the municipal plant from the
first, now realize that the city has
its money invested in the plant and it
is up to them to protect the city. They
have also seen that the plant is capa-
BILE of supporting itself and eventually
prove valuable source of income to
the city:
Mr.. Johnson states that the new
unit at the plant will be completed by
the first of April and at that time
many additional homes. business hous- !
es and factories will be supplied with
lighting and power. The city plant |
will make a gallant fight against the |
trust, but its present rates, which are |
very low. will not be lowered a frac- |
ton of cent.