The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-06-30
A new FRANCHISE
/ FOR WATER WORKS
! COMPANY FAVORED
Fire Protection Committee OF
Commercial Club viii Ask
Board of Works To consid-
er It Immediately.
BETTER PROTECTION
IS NOW IMPERATIVE
Committee Reports That Re-
quired improvements Will
Be Made by Company If a
Franchise Is Granted.

Because of the constant danger the
city is exposed to. owing to the lack
of efficient fire protection, the special
fire protection committee of the Com
mercial club. at its meeting last ev-
ening, decided that a new franchise
with the Richmond City Water Works
company was necessary. The officials
of the Water Works company are will
ing to accept a new franchise. which
will compel the company to construct
additional mains, and add an extra
and larger pump at the pumping sta
tion, east of the city. A conference
between the board of works and the
committee win be held soon. date
being set on the return of B. b. john
son a member of the board. to the
city.
A lengthy discussion was indulged
in by the committee. which includes.
s. E. Swayne, Sharon e. Jones. w. K.
Bradbury, Charles e. Shiveley. Lee b.
Nusbaum and Edgar Hiatt. Besides
the subject Of a new franchise. the
matter of building code was discuss
ed. as was also the necessity OF addi-
tional fire fighting apparatus. n re.
commended by Chief Miller.
Expires In 1912.
At the present time. the question Of
franchise will be given entire consid.
Grafton. The present franchise Of the
Water Works company expires In
1912 but the officials are willing to
accept q new franchise at the present
time One Of the members Of the club
in discussing the Water Works com
pany's attitude. stated the officials
knew they would have to make the
improvement In 1912 and for this rea'
son were willing that the work be
started Immediately. in order that the
city may have increased protection
without further delay.
It is probable that the matter OF con
tract will be left entirely between the
company and the board Of works
However the Commercial club com
mittee has an ordinance which is, con
sidered a model one by the underwrit
ers association. which 1t may advance
as a suggestion Of what the citizens
favor. It is absolutely certain that un
der the terms Of the new contract, the
company will have to construct ar
additional IL inch main from the
pumping station to the city. install
another pump at the pumping station
and distribute the fire hydrants about
the city in a more systematic way. Il
Is also probable that the company viii
have to place additional mains In Wes
Richmond and other parts Of the city
which are now furnished fire protec
ton through six inch mains. But ont
main crosses the river for the wes
section of the city. and it supplies al
the water for this vicinity. In case o
a big fire, very little protection coult
be assured by reason Of the small
size Of the water mains and made
Quate distribution Of water.
Doubt as TO Attitude.
| Just what attitude the administra
ton will take on the question is mo-
known. It has been rumored on thu
street that the city officials woult
rather allow the next administration
to consider the question. However
pressure will be brought to beer upol
them. Of the necessity Of immediate
action.
The question of rates to be chars
ed by the Water Works company un
der the terms Of new franchise ha'
not been considered by the CONNER
cial club committee. Such details ar,
4 =