The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-09
FURTHER CHANGES
IN WATER CONTRACT
Companies Want Meters to
Measure Water in Free
Fire Service.
ACTION is DEFERRED
Bids on the Water Works
Proposal-WHl Be Adver-
tised January 10th.

Further changes in the water works
contract on which the city is trying to
secure bids were asked by the Rich
mond City Water Works company and
the E. M. CampfieId company today.
The board of works took the request
ed changes under advisement.
II. A. Dill, superintendent of the
Richmond City Water works request
ed the city to change the clause so
that the water works company will not
be compelled to pay for the meters
which he held should be installed on
the free fire lines of the city to pre-
from the company. The Campfield
company concurred in the request of
Mr.. Dill. ..... .---~
According to Superintendent Dill it
is an easy matter for consumer to tap
the free fire mains. Many persons. he
said, do not know that these lines are
for fire protection only. 1t was said
that no one is suspected of tapping
lines now, but the possibility OF this be-
ing done is present. Attention was
called to the water which big corpora
tons have stolen in large cities.
There are thirty-eight fire mains in
the city, twenty-five are six-inch
mains. fifteen are three-inch mains and
one is four-inch line. Mr.. Dill does
not believe that the corporations
should be compelled to install meters.
but only such companies and factor
les which are suspected by the water
works company. The merchants will
not b compelled to do this according
to Mr.. Dill. The cost of the six-inch
meters is 1884, the four-inch $176, the
three-inch $88, besides the cost of in
stallation.
Benefits Companies.
1.-THE companies which have the free
fire lines installed are benefited more
than the water works company, as it
not only furnishes them free fire pro-
lection, but also lowers their insur-
ance rates to such figure that the
price of the installation of the entire
system, including the meters, will be
paid for within four years." explained
Mr.. Dill. "The only other instrument
which is less expensive is detector
which shows that water is being TAX
en- from the pipes, but it does not show
how much is taken"
The air pressure systems of fire
lines may be exempt from this addi-
tional meter tax, stated Mr.. Dill, as
they cannot steal water without a
great deal of trouble.
A local corporation, in which two
six-inch free fire lines have been in
stalled was cited as an example of the
need of the meters, as the workmen
are continually breaking the seals I'M
beknown to the officials of the corpora
ton or the water works company and
taking largs quantities of water.
The water works officials this morn
ing finally agreed to stand the expense
Of maintaining the meters and mains
II the meters would be installed. There
are the only meters which will not be
paid for by the city.
Ready BY January IS.
The city attorney was ordered to
have the proposal advertised and the
bids will be received by January 16
The assignment clause has been ad-
justsd to the satisfaction of both
companies and the city. The clause
pertaining to the kind of building ma.
teriai has been changed SO that a fire
proof roof on the company's building
will be required. A $5,000,000 gallon
pump will be required of the company
though the pump may have a larger
capacity. The iron markets are SO
overcrowdsd with orders that 1t might
be impossible to get the new twenty.
inch main within one year was report
ed TO the board and tho companies re-
Quasted that the test not be required
until two years aftertthe franchise had
been given.
The test requires water be thrown a
prescrdbed distance through fire hose
operated at the same time in different
parts OF the city. The board agreed tc
this Mr.. Dill and Mr. Campfield both
said that the new twentyinch main
would be the first Improvement the
companies would make.
The appraisers reported to the board
OF works that the option of the fran
chise was worth $1,000 to the company
which receives the contract, provided
that a new company. receives it. Il
the franchise is granted to the Rich
mond City Water Works, no fee will
be paid to the city. This appraisemen,
was made by Henry Burns, Charles
Marlatt and George Eggemeyer.
The water works company reported
to the board Of works that the new
main to the Reid Memorial hospital
and Spring Grove had been completed
The water pressure will not be salts
factory to the residents and will give
the hospital the fire protection it need
ed. The residents Of Spring Grove are
pleased with the new water supply &C
cording to Mr.. Dill. AS per contract
the city is charged with $500 feet Of
this extension, and will pay for the
maintenance of a hydrant on Nortt
Tenth street between j street and the
river.
Discuss Viaduct.
Richmond's first yiaduct was dis
.eussed by the board 1t is located or
South d street and extends under the
c. & o. tracks. 1t was built by ths
city to protect children who carry din
ners to their fathers.
The final assessments was read and
approved for the improvement o.
South D street with cement sidewalk:
IN hath CsIaS 80 Az, e4rno< fror, c1,,@N