The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-05
new WATER WORKS
CONTRACT is READY
Bids Will Be Asked on Alt
cred Contract by Board of
Works Next Monday.
MADE MANY CHANGES
No Assurance that Either
Company Will Submit
a New Bid.
MADE MANY CHANGES

Provisions in the water works con-
tract on which the city will solicit bids
was changed by the board Of works
today. 1t is expected that bidding
companies will be inclined to submit
offers now The board will advertise
for bids on the contract next Mon
day.
The assignment clause was altered
by City Attorney Gardner SO that it
now stipulates that the city is the only
corporation to which the contract can
be assigned after term of five years.
Some of the members of the board be-
1ieved that the franchise should be
drawn up so that the city could buy
the plant at any time. This was not
changed, as it was not thought the
city could buy the plant until long
after the expiration Of the five years.
This has been the chief demand of the
bidding companies.
The capacity of the pump was regu-
lated SO that no special pump Is re-
quired. 1t must however, be modern
and have a capacity of 100000 gal
ions. Several pumps are now on the
market which are considered superior
to the pump designated in the original
contract City Attorney Gardner an
nounced that the contract could be an
nulled according to law If the contract
REQUIRED certain make of pump, be-
cause this act would tend to stifle
competition.
Asked Many Changes.
E. NJ Campfield requested the board
to have the contract altered so that
the company which receives the fran
chise can bond the plant, If a $4,000
extension is demanded by the board
of works. Mr.. Campfield told the
board that, according to the franchise,
IF the company did not have this privi-
1ege it would be forced to bond their
company unnecessarily high. City At
torney Gardner said that no demands
would be made of the company which
would be unreasonable, as the coun-
Gil and people of the city would not
stand for any injustice. I'VE would
not want the company to bond the
plant to the extent of 100000 if it
was only worth 100000 and the fran
chise only allows the company to
bond the plant for 100000" said Mr..
Gardner. The fine of $25 per day for
every day after the stipulated time
which the company is given to make
an extension will not be forced upon
the company unless the corporation is
unreasonable was an explanation given
Mr.. Campfield by the mayor.
Attorney Henry U. Johnson, repre-
4{kx Ia
Mr.. Campield that the water works
company had made more money dur
in the oast years than it would make
in til tire. Mr.. Campfield told the
board the city is growing so rap
idly that many additional extensions
would necessarily have to be made at
great expense to the company Also
the price of coal and every other arti-
ole necessary to the plant would be
higher, according to Campbell. He
held,that the city was getting the best
of a long franchise rather than the
company. Mr. Johnson told the board
that the most unreasonable part Of the
agreement was for the franchise to
years. The appointment of utility
commission will regulate this accord
ing to the attorneys.
The Pressure Test.
It was decided to regulate the "pres-
sure test" clause SO that the test de-
manded Of the companies will not be
demanded until all improvements nee
essary for the test can be made by
the company. According to Mr.. Camp
field all Improvements can be made
within two years after the franchise
has been given. The contract will be
changed and the time required for
Improvements will be changed from
three to two years.
The clause limiting the building
material Of the company to brick and
concrete was changed and a roof of