The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-06-06
Ouestion of Meter Rates or
Flat Rates in New Water
Contract Considered by
Board Today.
METER RATES WERE
FAVORED BY BOARD
but Flat Rates Can Be
Charged Residence Own
ers or the Tenants Under
Certain Conditions.
The board of works this morning in

The board of works this morning in
Another session devoted to a discus
sion of Section 13 of the city water
works contract proposal did not ar
rive at any conclusion as to whether
meter rates alone or both meter rates
and flat rates should be provided. Ar
Iguments for and against providing for
only meter rates alone were heard.
City attorney Gardner was finally ad-
vised to draw up schedule Of rates
for both the meter system and flat
rate system.
E. NJ Campfield and Howard Dill,
prospective competitive bidders, were
both present. Mr.. Campfield declared
himself in favor of the meter system,
with the successful bidder to have the
privilege to make private flat rates to
large consumers, based on the meter
rates. Mr.. Dill declared himself for a
continuance of the present system of
both flat rates and meter rates. Mr..
Dill claims the cost of installing me-
ters for all consumers would be about
$780, in addition to the cost Of the
other improvements and extensions
made necessary by the proposed con-
tract. and that it would place too
heavy burden on the water works COM
Ipany. He admitted. however, that it
would be only question of a few
years until the meter system alone
would be used in this city. Mr. Dill
based his objections to meters for ev-
iery consumer on the initial expense Of
installing new meters, and the incon-
Ivenience of setting same meters.
Mr. Campbell, however, states as
his belief that the saving of water
and machinery by installing meters,
thus obviating the water waste where
consumers are furnished on the flat
rates system, would more than pay for
the cost of the installing of the me-
tiers. He stated that it would only be
matter of about twenty years utnil
Richmond would have to obtain new
water supply. The conservation of the
present supply. Mr.. Campfield argued,
cannot be better accomplished than by
making every water consumer pay for
the water he uses through a meter
land thereby stopping water waste on
flat rate system.
i Terms Of Section.
The provisions of section 13 as
drawn up by the city attorneys are
such that the company must supply a
water meter to the consumer, if the
consumer SO desires. The company
may compel the consumer to use a
meter
Mr.. Dill stated that the installing Of
Fmeters In the homes Of small consum-
ers would cost SO much in some cases
that the returns from water consumed
would not meet the cost of installing
11o neker for perhaps twenty years.
In suggested service charge
@E <tgeis to be the minimum rate
IN xt4 be charged against the own
Ier - property in which water works
connections We're made, whether or
not the property owner or tenant used
ANY water.
Mr.. Dill stated that about 60 per cent
sof the consumers of the Richmond
Water Works Company We're supplied
with water at the flat rates He stated
the cost of installing meters in these
homes would be very large. OF this
sixty per cent. about five or ten per
cent could not be supplied with me-
tiers except at very heavy expense,
the cost of installing meters in some
places where there is no cellar and
where rock would be encountered in
setting the meters at frost proof
depth, being as high as $50 each
The meter rate charge would much
simplify the bidding, but would be
much harder for the bidder TO intelli-
gently solve. taking ali things into
consideration, stated Mr.. Dill
A Conservative Policy.
Mr.. Campfeld stated his willingness
% bid on a meter rate basis providing
2.he. successful bidder be allowed to
make contracts for flat rates in case
he SO desired. The flat rates in these
cases, would be governed by the reg
nlars meter rates. He cited the loss of
natural gas in this vicinity, which he
~ Dpld not have occurred IL me-
tn cen installed The flat rate
~ fuses consumers to be care
lexG 66 wasteful, Mr. Campf1eld stat
ed. but II they are charged for their
Continued on Page Seven)
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