The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-25
Howard Dill of the Local
Corporation Appears Be-
fore Board and Promises
a Proposition.
HOW THE CITY CAN
OWN WATER PLANT
Company's Plan Will Provide
for Outright Purchase or
Gradual Acquisition of the
Stock.

Within the next thirty days the
Richmond City Water Works company
will submit its proposition TO Rich
mond. A statement to this effect was
made by Howard A. Dill, superintend-
ent of the company this morning. The
proposition is to be presented to the
board of works. at its own request.
and will include terms by which the
city may purchase the plant outright,
if found advisable, or by which it may
become a stockholder in the company.
and gradually take over all the stock.
President Hammond Of the board,
this morning declared himself in favor
of municipal ownership of the Water
Works company, while it is a well
known fact that Mayor Zimmerman S
chief hobby is municipal ownership
of light and water companies.\
But there is no probability, it is
said, that any definite action will be
taken by the board of works on tle
matter, before the framing of the 1912
budget ordinance. City officials be-
lieve that this will include a provision
for an appropriation to take over a
certain percent of stock in the Water
Works company. in case the PROPOSE
tion of the latter is satisfactory to the
board and council.
Would Be Impossible.
A purchase Of the plant outright
would be a financial impossibility,
city officials believe, but the acquisi-
ton of certain per cent of the stock
every year would be possible and, the
board of works thinks. practical
In Mr.. Dills statement, to a Palla-
dium reporter, he said that the COM
panys proposition for the city was
gradually rounding into form for pre-
sentation. He said that there are yet
some minor features of the terms,
which the attorneys for the company
and the board of directors are differ
ing on. He said the framing of such
thing meant months of difficult and
| careful work.
But" stated Mr.. Dill, 'I think that
probably within thirty days we will
have the bill ready for presenting.
Yes. l can say definitely it will be
AS to the provisions of the propo-
sition, Mr.. Dill said he could not out
line them now. in courtesy to the
board of works. He said the PROPOSE.
! tion was being framed for the benefit
| of the board at it's request.
Il am in favor of the city becom-
| ing stockholder in the Water Works
| company" declared President Ham
mond. 1T should be paying invest
ment to the city as is the municipal
| light plant, or even more SO, because
| the company is certainly showing
good profits. Municipal ownership OF
| water, electric and gas plants is a
good thing"
Hammond Favors it. ,
! Mr.. Hammond is in favor of placing
some city official probably the city en-
| gineer or city attorney, on the board
of directors of the Water Works com.
pany, in case the proposition offered
| is accepted by the city. In this way
he thinks, the board could keep in
touch with the company's business
| A great advantage in having city
stock in the company, according to
Hammond. is the fact that then desir
| ed extensions, improvements of fire
service and proper regulations OF
rates will be made possible. Although
| now the company is granting requests
of the Board in many matters as tc
extensions and more efficient water
service. Hammond thinks it would be
more satisfactory to have man or
the dictatorship with the city's in
terest entirely at heart.
The companys proposition viii
probably be submitted at closed
meeting of the board of works. and
nothing given out until some definite
! understanding is reached.