The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-11-12
He Thinks 1t Would Be Nice
to Allow the Companies
to Submit Their Self-made
Contracts.
CONDITION NOW is
BAD, HE ANNOUNCES
Kennepohl Says a Few Speci-
fication Changes Are Re-
quired, but the Board Is in
No Hurry.

Impatient at the delay of the board
of works in determining whether il
will modify the specifications of the
water works contract proposal on
which the city of Richmond desires
bids. the E. NJ. Campfield company to-
day addressed communication to the
mayor and the common council.
The communication alleges it is
necessary to grant a contract at once
and points out alleged weaknesses in
the present water system of the city
1t maintains that the present water
supply does not afford sufficient FIRE
protection, indicates that although
the franchise of the Richmond City
Water Works has expired consumers
are compelled to pay meter rent and
high rates for water. and insists that
simple contract between the city
and water works company would
clarity the present muddle.
B. A. Kennepohl, president of the
board of works. said today that he did
not know when the board would con
slider the changes asked in the speci
f1cations of the contract proposal. He
said that some changes are necessary
as none of the companies will bid or
the present draft. but said he did moi
know when the changes would be
made.
City Attorney Gardner said he had
not been informed of the pleasure o
the city authorities regarding the spe
ciAcations, and that he had heard thar
the board of works would consider
the problem Thursday. President Ken
the question would be presented then
The text of the Campbell communi
cation is appended:
campfieId Seeks Action.
Gentlemen
In view of the importance of tn,
matter and the great danger in della.
We wish to supplement our short let
ter of few days ago with some add
tional facts.
The present Richmond City Wate
Works contract and franchise expired
on October first, 1912. Since then W,
have been needlessly compelled to pa,
meter rent at 25 cents per month an,
higher water rates, and will continu.
so to do until a new contract ant
franchise is awarded. Had there beel
no unnecessary delay all this woul,
have been avoided.
We also wish to call your attention
to the night of April Sth, 1903, whel
the Colonial Building burned, whicl
was about four and half years ago
and at that time the water work
system was inadequate for extinguish
ing such a fire; and IL 1t had not beel
for the Dayton fire engine pumpinI
water from the cellar of the sam
building, in all probability the entir
block between seventh and eight
streets would have been burned. Sine
that time there has been no increas
in the water supply, the pumpinI
equipment, reservoir or mains. Whel
new contract and franchise Is mad
it will require at least a year to plac
new mains, receiving reservoir pumps
etc.
The city of Richmond is growin
both in size and population and
great deal more water is being cor
sumed than was consumed in .90s.
He Predicts. Big Fire.
Sooner or later Richmond will b
| visited by another conflagration Hk
| that of the Colonial building, or, the F
G. y. Lawn Mower plant. Have yo
made any arrangements to meet sue
confIagration? Your water plant 1
much weaker today than it was Il
1908.
Our city is larger; the buildings ar
taller, and more chance for fires !
water works built to suit the times Il
1884. twenty-eight years ago, whe
Richmond had about half the populs
tfon and one third the present area
should not be expected to supply Rict
mond today.
Considering the present size Q
Richmond and the way it is CROWNS
il is a question whether a new twent
inch main will be sufficient. We do nc
wish to sound the alarms. but yo
might just as well understand tn
question first as last. IN our opinio
the present water mains and othe
parts are inadequate. Read the Maur
Report II will tell you some of tn
weaknesses.
\ When you take into considerable
that it will require nine to twely
months to complete them, the layin
of the new mains and adding a me-
water supply cannot be begun to
soon.
! Furthermore-we are anxiousl
waiting to hand you a proposition fo
gas franchise. The rate the citizen
are now paying for gas. is exhorbi
ant In our opinion, better gas at
much cheaper rate can be secured /
new franchise. We stand ready I