The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-06-18
Engineers of State Commission
Find Strange Defect in Equip.
Inent of Electric Co.
BILLS THREE PER CENT LOW
All Electric Light Meters in City Are
Running Slower Than the Standard
Meter Adopted by the State
Change to be Made

The worst has happened and unless
some merciful providence intervenes it
is probable that the cost of electric
light IN Kenosha will be increased
rather than diminished as a result of
the visit of the engineers of the Wis
consln Railroad Commission to the city.
The engineers Of the commission, have
announced to the manager of the com
pany that test of the local standard
electric meter with the state standard
in Milwaukee shows that the local me-
ter is not up to standard, but con
trary to the expectations it is running
three per cent slow. This is the meter
which is used in the test of all other
electric meters in the city and the re-
port Of the engineers of the commission
would indicate that all meters in the
city are running slow and that the
Kenosha Gas and Electric Company
has been robbed by the customers to
the amount of three per cent Of all
bills. Just how long this standard has
been out Of whack is not apparent, but
it is certain that as a result of the
visit Of the engineers the company will
see to it that the standard for the test
Of other meters is made the same as
the standard in Milwaukee and that in
the future the Kenosha meters will be
started going at speed to make up
the three per cent The company will
not probably make any effort to collect
the amounts that it could claim on ac-
count of the slow meters, but it is
probable that rebates for fast moving
meters will be cut off in the future until
the standard has been tested.
This is the first of the doings of the
engineers of the commission that has
come to the ears Of the public and if
the remaining work is OF the same
nature the people Of the city can get
ready to dig.
Thus far the city has taken no steps
to make new contract with the com
pany for street lights or to build a
municipal lighting plant There seems
to be a general desire on the part of
the city officials to avoid responsibility
in this business, but it is thought that
the Council will get together on this
matter before the end of the summer
and either make some arrangements
for a new contract with the Kenosha
Gas and Electric Company or for g
contract with some other company The
possibility of building a municipal plant
seems TO be decidedly remote at this
time and there is nothing to indicate
a revival of the sentiment in favor
of the municipal plant.
The matter has been discussed in
formally among the members of the
Council, but as yet the Council has
taken no formal action on the matter
The contract with the company will
expire early in 1909 and if some provi-
sion is not made for the new contract
the city will be at the mercy of the
company. Mr.. Kimball the superinten-
dent of the company has announced
that he will be ready to treat with the
city in regard to new contract as
soon as the city is ready to tell just
how many lights will be wanted and
how long term contract can be secur-
ed. He has intimated that the com
pany will furnish light for the streets
at a lower figure than at the present
time if new contract is made.