The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-07-12
Statement to This Effect Was
Made Today by Nimrod
Johnson, Superinten dent
of City Plant.
CITY OWES $53,eOO
TO THE PLANT NOW
Johnson Will Ask Provision
for Paying Street Lighting
Placed in the Budget for
Next Year.

In case the fight to force the city
to pay for the current used for the
street arc lights and the lighting of
public parks and buildings, which has
been led by Nimrod Johnson, superin-
tendent of the Municipal Light plant,
is successful, the rates of the city
plant will be reduced one year from
September. A statement to this effect
was made by Superintendent John
son this afternoon.
An attempt will be made at the next
meeting of council to get the council
members to see the situation lin the
right way" In case council is interest
ed in this matter it will be asked to
appropriate between $4,000 and $780,
900 next September, at the time the
1913 budget is made up, for the pay
ment of the city lighting during the
next year.
Supt. Johnson declares that he does
not ask anything more than the ex
act cost of the current and maintain
ence of street lighting. He says that
the plant is handicapped now because
the city has refused to pay its light
bill and will continue to be handicap
ped as long as it does not pay it.
City Owes s5a,s63.
The city owes the plant up to July
l, $50 3,96306. An account is kept Of
current used by the city each month
and a statement is sent to the city
controller, although nothing has been
received by the plant from the city
since January, 1910. This was the first
month of Mayor Zimmerman's present
term.
Up to the first of June each street
light was billed at SIS per year. On
June / the mayor informed the plant
superintendent to charge the arc
lights at just what they cost. The su-
perintendent figured the cost at about
$48 per light, which, with the cost of
lighting of parks and public buildings
amount to s1,332.61 a month. The bill
was sent in at the last of the month
as usual, but when Johnson asked the
works board if it intended to pay for
the lighting, he received an emphatic
answer in the negative.
An Extension Needed.
Johnson declared that next year an
extension must be made at the plant.
He says that a new unit must be built
and consequently new building must
be erected. Another engine, stack,
generator and two new boilers are
needed, as the plant is "up to capa-
city now" These improvements, it is
estimated, will cost about $4,000.
1t will be necessary, because the
city has not paid for its lighting, to
issue bonds, upon w.Hh interest must
be paid, during the life of the bonds.
THAT is the danger" stated Supt.
Johnson today I'VE ought not to issue
bonds. If the city had paid us since
January, 1910, We would not have to
issue bonds for these improvements.
However, | don't expect to get any
thing up to next year. But l do hope
that the council will make provision
in the next budget for payment of the
street lights, the city building, the five
hose houses, Glen Miller park, South
Seventh street, South Tenth and North
Tenth street parks"
When the plant was built bond is
sue of $144,000 was made, of which
amount, it is believed, $4,000 was
used to pay of park bonds. These
bonds are not due until 1927. Interest
at the rate of four per cent is paid
upon them. Each month $500 is placed
into a sinking fund to pay off the
bonds when they become due.
In addition to the sinking fund the
plant has $4,000. This amount will
be used toward the cost of the i'm.
provements to be made next year.
Supt Johnson declares that he is
working and has been working to get
to the point where the rates can be
lowered He says that the purpose of
building the plant was to lower the
rates and not TO make money for the
city. but he says this cannot be done
until the city pays for its lighting.
There are now. according to the su.
perintendent, 321 arc lights which the
city should pay for. Ten other arc
tights are being paid for by the rail.
road companies at the rate of SIS per
year. In case the city decides to pay
/ for the street, park and public build
! ing lighting next year council must ap.
propriate $4,000 or 1000 for this in
the budget.