The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-04
That the first consideration in a wa

That the first consideration in wa
ter works franchise is good pure wa
ter and the second is low rates were
facts brought out by Attorney Charles
E. Shiveley in discussing the PROPOSE
tion for franchise submitted by the
Richmond City Water Works company
at the meeting of the city council and
board of works last evening. Over 100
citizens were present. Mr. Shiveley's
argument required most of the time
and the entire proposal could not be
read and the meeting was adjourned
until this evening. .....
Among the questions asked by in
ber touching upon the Maury report.
To most of these interrogatives Attor
ney Shiveley asserted that he could
not defend the Maury report. A Ravis
who has been conspicuous in city af-
fairs, declared that Engineer Maury
set forth in his report that the depre-
citation of the plant for six years was
$68. .O0O. The Water Works represen-
tatives said that this was incorrect
and that their own engineer who had
worked with Maury had made the
same mistake.
Opposes Sharing Plan.
One Of the most important state
ments made by Mr. Shiveley dealt
with the proposal to have the city
share in the earnings of the company
in payment for the right given the
company by the city for use of its
streets in placing mains. Mr.. Shiveley
said that this was not feasible; that
his company could not, under such an
arrangement, get the necessary per
centage of returns on it's investment; !;
that the plan was also poor one from
the consumers standpoint, as he
would have to pay for in higher rates
what the company would lose in shar.
ing it's earnings with the city. "'As far
as the consumer is concerned 1t would
be case of taking money out of one
of his pockets and putting it in anoth
er pocket" said Mr.. Shiveley.
Belongs to Consumers.
The question as to whom the service
pipes belong was brought up and dis
cussed. 1t was the belief OF the ajor
ity of those present that the service
pipes. which are valued at about $55,
900, belonged to the property holders
The company's attorney admitted
that pipes laid on the consumers
ground could not be taken away from
him by the company. He said, howev
er, in answer to Councilman Evans
question that the company charged
rent for the meters owned by the con
sumers because the company kept the
meters in repair. Mr.. Dill refused t.
state what the cost of meter was.
Mr.. Shiveley declared in speaking
of the question of valuation that &C
cording to the engineer employed b,
the city, the plant was worth at tina
time. 100000. Il can't defend thu
Maury report said Mr. Shiveley, "bu
will say that when he took into con
sideration the going concern he fol
lowed the courts. 1t is important"
When asked what fair value coult
be placed on the going concern" Mr.
Shiveley said that inasmuch as he wa
| not an expert he could not place ];
price on the going concern
! The Maury report stated that two
thirds of the boilers were in good con
/ dition at the time the inventory wa
taken. B. B. Johnson, former membe
of the board of public works, declare,
that two 5ears afrerward all of tn
boilers needed repairing. In answer I,
Mr. Johnson's statement Howard Dill
superintendent of the plant, said tha
all of the boilers have been replaced.
Low Rates Not First
Low rates is not the Arst thing +
look after" reclared Mr. Shiveley i
the defense of his company's propose
rates. 1T is far more important "
have water supply free from germ
The mother and child must have pure
wholesome water and money will nc
improve a child's health. The next COZ
Isideration is low rates. We have ha
few individual complaints about ou
water and no one has contracted
disease from its use. The propose
rates were prepared with the assis
ance of water works experts who hav
had long years of experience.
''Our rates are raised SO that tn
water works plant may be purchase
by the city. The plant can be purcha'
led on our plan submitted and the onl