The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-07-16
Representatives of the Cor
poration Met This Morning
With Board of Works and
Make Statement.
SUGGEST SUBSTITUTE
-
FOR A METER RENTAL
E. II. Gates Informs Officials
That the Company Is Now
Perfectly Wiling to Seek a
New Franchise.

sSSssSsUNNo
A square deal for the company ant
= square deal for the city was asked
by representatives Of the city Water.
works company this morning. e. H
Gates and Howard IDill representing
the company met with the board ol
public works to discuss the proposed
franchise the company is seeking. Mr.
Gates said that although it is not nee.
essary that his company renew its
franchise in the immediate future tbs
company is-wflling to act with the
present board OF works as it would
with its successor.
Proposed Inquiries.
The impression was given out by
the company's representative in the
conference that IL the city abolishes
the custom to charge meter rental, It
will seek substitute. The company
proposes a minimum charge, such as
10 maintained by the city for electric
current Mr.. Gates intimated the wat
erworks meters might be placed upon
the same basis as those used to meas
ure electricity. The city places a
meter and charges so cents per month
as minimum rate. It is claimed this
10 to insure protection of the property.
It is questionable as to its legality,
but the matter has never been deter
mined In court. II is absolutely ne
cessary that the consumer pay at least
so cents per month for his electricity
whether or not he burned that much.
The company now requires that me-
ters be installed which belong to 1t.
Unless customer is willing to use a
meter, he must pay water charge
based on the number OF rooms in the
house. 1t is alleged that the meter
such as the company puts in can be
bought for about Sd, but the company
retains possession of it and charges
q monthly rental of % cents. This
rental is paid in addition to the charge
for water consumed.
Gives an impression.
Mr.. Gates proposed that the city
make inquiries Of as many cities as
1t may care to and ascertain the rate.
He proposes to be willing to abide by
an average rate for his company. He
says he believes it will be found other
cities of the size of Richmond pay
more for the water, II all things such
as quality and quantity are taken into
The company's representatives main
tanned they do not wish to take advan.
tage Of the city in any way. They as
serted there is a popular demand for
a duplicate main and an additional
pump. They say they will go to this
expense purely as concession. say
ing they would not do it unless re-
Quired. They claim an additional
main will not increase the water pres
sure in the least, but might be found
OF use In case the present main should
break.
Dili's Statement.
Mr.. Dill said that his experience has
led him to believe the water main now
In the ground is in better condition
than 1t was five years after it was
laid. He said there is practically no
limit to the life of cast iron pipes un-
less electrolysis has damaged them.
He said the disintegration OF the lead
used at the joints might be effective
for few years. but afterward every
thing would be tighter and better than
while the process of erosion was in
progress
It was the contention OF Mr.. Gates
that the installation Of the new pump
and additional main could not be built
without an expense approximated at
800. .OOO He said it would not be
worth 81 to the company but might be
worth something to the city. He in
he did not have much conf.
dence III the interest of the insurance
in the matter.
As the result OF the conference it
was agreed the company should pre-
pare proposed franchise embodying
In 1t what 1t desires from the city and
what 1t is willing to concede. The city
win then take up the document and
after consultations, conferences and
references make what revision it
1eems proper. Mr.. Gates assured the
board no request will be unreasonable
aor excessive. He expects it will take
he company about thirty days to pre-
pare . draught Of the franchise and
he board of works will require equal |
y as long for consideration.
aRfan ra1rfnrn