The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-11
DON'T MUDDY
THE WATER

nom de plume of Citizen" questions
the statement that the writer made:
That the interests with which he is
connected could have no selfish inter
est in the present power and current
rates, inasmuch as they maintain
their own power plant,
The writer stands by that state
ment, and Mr.. "Citizen" is hereby in
vited to come down to The Wayne
Works, and go through the plant,
bringing with him whosoever he may
see fit, one VINO is competent to judge
and when he makes an examination,
he will find seven motors in this plant
varying from 31a TO so horse power!
Six of these motors are on direct cur
rent lines. All light lines for factory
use, except five lights, are on direct
current lines.
He will also find that there are no
transformers on the direct current
lines for lighting, except in the office
and a short line in the factory of five
lights. He will further find that there
is no direct current commercial line
running into this factory from any
source whatever, and want to empha-
size the statement that 99.5 per cent
of the power and light used in this
factory is made, and has been made
for the past six years, by ourselves.
We have one motor that is used to
run one wire knotting machine at
NIGHTS uba,, hI,cipocc ic UoOd enough
to demand night running and it takes
one horse power of current to run
this machine. This is the only alter
mating current motor in this factory
and the only one for which we buy
any power whatever and there are
times for eight months at a stretch,
when this motor does not turn over,
having nothing to do.
When we use power Of sufficient
quantity, we pay 212 cents per kilo-
wat, that being the city's regular rate,
so far as we know At night, in the
office, We use sufficient light for the
janitor to clean up the office, and that
done, one 16 candle power lamp is
maintained all night.
Those of us who are connected with
the office here, pay the regular city
schedule for lights. We have never
run below 7 cents per kilowat, fire.
quently running as high as cents
more often cents than either of the
above named rates. and in support OF
| this statement, will be glad to furnish
| the receipts of the Municipal light
| plant If anybody questions the truth
| fulness of the above statements.
| The only other place in which the
writer could possibly be interested
would be the livery barn on South
Eleventh street
This barn was erected close to sew
en- years ago. T. c. Taylor leased thi:
barn for five years, and the elevato
was operated during four years of tina
time by direct current motor. cur
rent furnished by the Light, Heat &
Power Co, at a flat rate of $3.50 pc
month, or $4,000 per year. The cit.
plant would not furnish current an,
other way than by meter and MI
Taylor was afraid at that time tina
meter measure would make it cos
him too much money.
When John Benning & Son becam
lessees of this property, they, tn
same as Mr.. Taylor, assumed unde
the lease. the current and water bills
: and made their own contracts 70
same. The writer changed the direc
current motor to an alternating cul
rent motor taking out the Light, Hea
& Power Co. wire, and had the city If
stall its current, taken by meter. TIL
/ result was that the aggregate cost I
John Benning & Son dropped fror
$4,000 per year, to a little less tina
$1,000 per year. they paying the cul
: rent rate, and since the change Nj
) Benning informs the writer that tn
, Light, Heat & Power Co. have solici
ed his business, and are willing t
save him money at a rate lower tina
he Is paying. and vet Citizen" say
: that the City Light plant IS losin
money. and Mr.. Witherby says:
want to furnish you light at a les
rate than the city is furnishing it,"
So much in explanation of the a,
g cusation made by "Citizen'
Now. Citizen" asks the questio
whether the writer believes that
maximum rate franchise could be vi,
: lated and gotten around? In direC
e answer to that question. l most ce
! tainly do believe it,
) He follows up this question wit
the statement that it is a reflectic
! on the legal talent Of the city to maI
). a statement of this kind.
a Now, in the first place. there is T
= reason why the legal talent Of II
city should be pulled into this matte
0 The writer has entire faith that q
I most any good lawyer in the eli
: could draw up a franchise agreemel
-, that would be water tight. but in O
der TO do this. the franchise won
have 10 revert 10 the city, and the co
ditions under which the plant wou
be purchased would necessarily ha,
S to be OF such a complicated charact,
t that no man with ordinary horse sen.
IS would accept and pay his money f,
the plant
II this plant is sold. it vii! be so
l. outright, and the company purchasir