The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-24
One of Most Important Feat
ures of New Water Works
Franchise Is Reduced Rate
for Hydrants.
NEW FRANCHISE TO
BE DRAFTED SOON
Will Be Submitted to Coun-
Gil by the Board After the
Bcasd Has Held an Execu-
tive Meeting.

When the board of works finally de-
cides to consider the water works
proposition. presented by the Rich
mond City Water Works last week.
the most important clause, aside from
the section by which the city will be-
come a stockholder in the company,
and so be in a position TO gradually
buy all the stock, will be that provid-
ing for the renewal of the contract un-
der which the company will furnish
fire plugs for Richmond
The present contract expires Sep
tember /, 1912. by it the company
has been furnishing the city with 225
hydrants at s55 apiece. and additional
ones Tor sac. Hydrants are installed
every 500 feet. All between these are
installed at the expense of the city,
but the water is furnished free.
Profitable to Company.
This contract means something ov-
err $4,000 each year to the water
works company. The city expects to
renew the contract at a lower figure.
| The fire contract was first made with
the company in 1885 for seven years
at $50 per hydrant. including ITO
plugs. 1t is considered that as there
was rate decrease in the second con-
tract there should be corresponding
decrease in 1912.
From reliable sources it is under
stood the company has expressed it's
Willingness to enter into contract
with the city. whereby the city may
have a representative on the board of
! directors and to be in a position to
! gradually absorb all the stock 1t is
generally admitted by members of the
board that the city would never be
able to buy the entire stock at one
time. 1t is said the company believes
the city would make good partner.
City Attorney A. NJ. Gardner and
| City Engineer Charles admit that the
proposition has been given to the
board and that it has been read over
| by several members. However, they
say the board has not had a session
yet to consider the company's fran
chise, nor is it likely to have one un-
til the individual members consider
it thoroughly.
|
be with the franchise and ordinance
committee of council present Mem
| bers of the board say that they
will come to no definite conclusion
until after the matter has been thor
oughly gone over with the ordinance
committee. Then it will be made pub
| lie, and following that an ordinance
prepared for submission to council
It will be necessary to obtain the
opinions of all the board members
and council members before the fran
chise is ready for presentation.
The new franchise, according to the
board, will be one of benefit to the
city, as well as to the company.
No Private Meetings.
Gardner and Charles are both
strong in their declaration that there
has never been private meeting of
the board to consider the water works
proposition.
/ Frank Waidele, chairman of the or
dinance and franchise committee will
fight for two clauses in the new ordin-
ance
First: That there shall be no mini
mum rate for meter charge, as was in
the franchise presented last year by
the company.
Second: The waterworks company
shall extend their mains where ever
there is a sewer. Also when con-
sumer wants an extension, it shall be
. made il found practical by the board,
without the city having to take fire
plug at $40 per year, whether it is
. needed Or not.
The necessity for this clause is re-
ceiving a demonstration before the
board of works at the present time.
The Richmond Furniture company has
petitioned the board for water plug
. west of their factory building at West
Fifth and Linden avenue, in order to
get an extension of the company's
mains. If secured it will mean de-
crease of their insurance rate 4 per
/, cent If not secured the company will
, probably leave the city.
It. was pointed out by City Clerk
Baltz Bescher this morning that it
would be impossible for the CITY to
spend $40 per year for fire plug ev-
cry time consumer wanted an exten.
sion of the line to his house or fac
tory For" he stated. 1.-The city would
soon be bankrupt" Bescher explained
that the company should extend its
lines without the city having to take
q fre hydrant.
What Wzidele Says.
waidele says there are three conn-
I =.
10 make close study OF the water
works situation. They are Messrs.
iCnufinued on Page Eighth