The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-01
Il Is minated That the Com
pany May Break Off Nego-
tiations With City and Wait
Until 1912.
ALMOST PERPETUAL
is THE FRANCHISE
This Fact Was Pointed Out to
Corporation After an Inves-
tigation Made by Attorney
Robbins.

Does the Richmond City Water.
works Company's franchise expire in
1912, except inasmuch as one section
10 concerned? This section relates
to hydrant rentals.
It is believed it does not. The fact
that the company may not need new
franchise is somewhat of a surprise
to its officials and likewise to the
city officials and the general public.
1t is very probable that unless the
company desires to continue negotia.
lions with the city, now pending, ev.
erything will be broken of and moth.
Ing further done until 1912.
While prosecuting their perusal OF
the present franchise. officials of the
waterworks company called the at.
tention Of their attorney, John F. Rob-
bins. to 1t. He made an examination
and enlightened his clients with the
statement that the franchise is prac.
tically the same as perpetual. 1t will
require no renewal except in the one
section referred to. ...
Must Find Z Way.
Unless the city can find some way
to compel the, company to secure a
new contract, 1t will be without DOW
er to require duplicate main for the
purpose OF better fire protection.
Neither will the city be able to re-
ouire more powerful pumps, nor in
creased pressure.
Tho circumstances governing the
franchise subject are the most pecul-
lar that ever have prevailed in this
city regarding public service cor
poration. Some officials OF the city
and OF the company were under the
impression the franchise now exist
tng expired in toto three years hence.
Preliminary steps have been taken
toward bringing about revision. But
now 1t becomes known the franchise
Will be just as good in 1918 as 1t is
today with the exception OF the one
small part.
Hold The City Has.
The only hold the city has upon the
waterworks company, according to
the Observation-Disclosures under which
authority for constructing and main.
tanning its system was given, relates
to the rental Of hydrants. The ordin-
ance provides that in consideration of
the benefits to accrue to the city. the
city shall agree to rent a certain mum.
Der Of hydrants.
This provision originally was for
seven years. Then It was renewed for
twenty years and this Is the clause
that expires In 1912. Can the city.
when making new contract for the
hydrant rental force in other proyis.
ions. such a. duplicate mains. aboli.
ton OF meter rental charges, etc?
Unless It can. there will be no need
Tor any revision Of any kind. The
city attorney believes it can be done
Officials Of the company are skep.
tical and probably hope it can not.
May BE Repeated.
The city was able to secure addi.
tional consideration when it renewed
It, hydrant rental contract in 1892
And what has been done once probab.
" may be repeated. In the year re.
ferred to, the city required that as
additional consideration for the ex
tension OF the franchise and the priv.
heses hereunder. the company should
agree to put in enough additional
pumping machinery to double the
then capacity Of the waterworks.
AS the result Of this provision the
company now maintains two engines
at Its pumping station. It is seldom
that both engines have been in use
at the same time. But the city IN
1892 proceeded upon the theory an
accident might happen and one pumu