The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-23
At Board Meeting he Ques-
tions Officials and An
nounces His Intention to
Compete for Franchise.
JUST NOW WILL NOT
MAKE KNOWN BACKERS
Eastern Capitalists Interested
He, Admits-Cheaper Gas
and Many Other Things
Will be Offered.

Will be Offered.
Another eastern company wants 4,
public utility franchise In this city.
A New York corporation. represen-
ted In this city by e. NJ. Campfield.
will ask for a gas franchise. although
Mr.. Campfield declared that it 10 not
the same corporation ~ the one as-
king for a water works franchise.
The matter was made public at the
of the board OF public works
on Monday morning when Mr.. Camp
field appeared and requested the
board to let the gas franchise 90.
cording to law. that 10 to advertise
for bids in the same manner ~ for
any other franchise. He said that his
company merely wanted IN opportun-
ity to submit bid for 4 contract and
that II the matter was advertised in
the required manner that his COM.
pany would have an equal chance
with the present company. .
Mr.. Campfield said that he had
learned that John T. Beasley. IN Indi.
ana lawyer for the corporation which
controls the Light, Heat and Power
company had conferred with the may.
or and city attorney in regard to .
new franchise. Mayor Zimmerman
informed him that the attorney had
merely said that the company 10
ready and willing to make conces-
sions in the readjustment Of gas rates,
and that the matter would not be tax
en- up at present.
City Attorney Gardner Was asked
by Mr.. Campfield Il the city was noe
obliged to advertise for bids 0ard-
nsrs did not answor- tha 0ne1tiQn.
The acts OF 1909 were cited BY Mr..
Campfield showing that the city n
forced to advertise for bids for. the
furnishing of gas. either natural or
artificial -
Furnish Cheaper oas.
When asked. II the company which
he represents will furnish gas 1T .
lower rate than the Light, Heat and
Power company is furnishing 1t, Mr..
Campfield said that 4 much lower rate
will be offered although 1T the pres.
ent he is not authorized to say just
what the rate will be.
"Will your company erect . plant
or will it attempt to purchase the
present plant and system. providing
the franchise 10 awarded to TT" Mr..
Campfield was asked.
"As to that I cannot say at this
time, was his answer. you see this
thing was sprung 20 quickly that ws
have not had time to learn from our
company just what 1t 'contemplates.
We were Just instructed to inform the
board of works that We wished to b
invited to submit . proposition"
Mr.. Campfield. who has retained A.
C. Lindemuth. a. attorney. says that
his company is willing to submit .
bid for gas and electricity but he
does not believe that the city VIII ad-
vertise for bids for electricity fnas-
much as the municipal light plant 10
obliged to work against the Light.
Heat and power company. The COM
pany represented by Campfieh Will
furnish artificial gas only. -
Easternsrs His 0aci<srs.
The name Of the eastern corpora
ton Mr.. Campfield refuses to disclose
as he says that he has learned not
to make public the name Of his client.
He said that he did this before and
the Richmond City Water Works
company sent representatives. to New
York to interview the corporation ask
ing for q water works franchise and
of his company. s'
The corporation owns several public
utility plants throughout the country,
Mr.. Campfield says. He also refuses
| to give out the capitalization Of the
corporation.
II 10 the belief of Mr.. Campfield
that the city should specify in it, I'd.
| vertisement Just what the quality Of
gas should be. He asserts th1t rome
qualities Of zas can be furnished 1t Z
much lower rate than other qualities
| "TJnder the present franhcise th1
| city has no way OF forcing the com.
pany to give certain quality Of gas,'
he said. 'but believe 1t would be IN
better TO specify Just the exact mum.
ber of heat units which the gaa
will contain"
+. Mr.. CampfIeld believes there VII
be more bidders for = gas franchise
lST MARY,S FAIR WAS