The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-06-04
investigation and Valuation Of
Plants Of the Kenosha Gas &
Electric CO. Started
A THOROUGH EXAMINATION
State Engineers Seek to Secure a
Standard For Future Use by Test
ing Various Plants in Differ
ent Parts of the State

The Wisconsin State Railroad Com
mission has at last got down to work
in earnest in connection with the ex-
animation into the rates charged by the
Kenosha Gas and Electric Company and
Wednesday five engineers from the
State Commission came to Kenosha and
began the work Of testing the service
furnished by the company and Of max
ing valuation Of the several plants
controlled. 1t is thought that it will
take some time to make the tests as
the examination by the aids Of the state
is to be most thorough one. Engineer
w. J. Huddle, one Of the best men en-
ployed in the offices of the state com
mission is in charge Of the work in Ke-
nosha. He arrived on Wednesday
morning and is setting up his testing
apparatus in all parts of the city. Ten
volt meters and as many pressure
gauges are being installed in different
parts of the city to test the voltage on
the electric light lines and the pressure
of gas mains. Other machinery is be-
ing set up at the two plants of the
company. The officials Of the company
are working with the state engineers
and are doing everything in their power
to facilitate the work. The investiga-
tion now being made is not on the
complaint of former Mayor German, but
on the demand Of the state commission
and while any results that may be OBJ
tanned by the state engineers will IN
doubtedly be used in the hearing on the
German complaint, the state is seeking
the information for the purpose Of set
| ting up a standard for lights which
is to be used in future examinations.
{ At the present time twenty cities in the
state have demanded an investigation
into gas or electric companies and the
state commission sees that there is
demand for a standard of measure
ment and it is planned to establish
this standard by actual tests in all of
the larger cities in the state. The big
volt meters set up on Wednesday caus-
+, ed some comment about the city as few
people knew that they were being set
i by the state officials.
] The engineers will get through with
their work in Kenosha just as soon as
possible, but they will have hard
job computing the value Of the differ
ent plants and at the same time making
an examination into the rates being
charged.
! Superintendent Kimball in speaking
Of the matter on Wednesday evening
said: Engineer Huddle came to me
with letters of introduction from the
state commission and we are giving
him and his men every possible aid in
making the examination of the Keno
sha plants thorough one. We hope
that the engineers will get information
which will be of great value to us as
to the members of the commission and
for this reason everything has been
thrown wide open to the commission.
I'VE appreciate the fact that there is
much to be gained by the state estab-
fishing a proper standard for light
ing"
Mr.. Kimball stated that he would al
SO aid the men in making an inventory
and valuation of all the property in
the hands Of the company.
This is the first move made by the
state commission in connection with
the Kenosha investigation and it is
hardly possible that the examination
Twill bring results during the present
year. An investigation was started in
Madison last August and while it has
been pushed with all vigor by well
known men at the state capitol, the
commission is not as yet ready to report
and no report is expected until after the
first of September. If similar time is
taken in the examination at Kenosha no
report can be expected from the com
mission until March or April of next
year.