The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-01-17
Otherwise Some City Off
cialS Declare that r. G. w.
w, Proposition Is Better
than Present Franchise.
DESIRE TO DISPOSE
OF MATTER QUICKLY
Dill Declares that the Bid
Submitted Yesterday Is the
Best that Has Ever Been
Presented.

With the exception of some of the
rates specified, the bid submitted by
the Richmond City Water Works yes
terday to the board of public works. is
declared by some city officials TO be "A
better proposition than the franchise
under which the company is now oper-
ating. The board of public works will
take no action on the bid until the
regular meeting next Thursday.
One OF the chief objections to the
bid is the minimum rate for dwelling
houses of six rooms or less. The CON-
pany's bid has placed this minimum
at IS cents per month which makes
$40 per annum. Officials say this is
an unfair rate in many cases as some
cottages do not use~4o one half this
amount OF water in a year and are
forced to pay the same price as for
much larger house.
The city officials are in favor of al
lowing the board of works plenty of
time to take the matter of granting
the franchise into consideration, that
they may be able TO act intelligently
on this issue. Mayor Zimmerman
states that the matter probably will
receive quick disposition at the hands
OF the board so that il can be pre-
sented for reading to the council
On the recommendation of the board
of public works, Attorneys johnson.
Jessup and Gardner. will attend the
meeting of the legislative committee
on cities and towns in the senate
chamber at indianapolis Tuesday
night. The purpose OF the men will
be to attempt to have a clause placed
in an act which is before the senate
TO provide state public utilities COM
mission. which will include in the jur-
isdiction of the proposed commission
the power to deal with cities. which
have new water works contracts. IL
the attorneys accomplish this, accord
ing to city officials. il may mean a
change in the water rates fixed in
the new contract
Would Avoid Delay.
Howard A. Dill, superintendent OF
the Richmond City Water Works stat
ed this morning that the company is
in favor of Fastening the awarding OF
the franchise for furnishing water to
the city. The reason for this stand.
he stated, is that the company wants
to put in the improvements provided
for in the contract as soon as possible
as the city is contemplating improve
ments on many OF the same streets.
If the city does not act Immediately
in the granting of new franchise.
however. the company will profit by
the delay. according to Mr.. Dill as the
present rates are higher both 10 the
city and to the consumer. The city, by
the new rates of fire hydrants will
save more than 81 $50 per year and
the consumers will save several thous-
ands of dollars in meter rentals.
Mr.. Dill stated that when the COM
pany fixed the new system of rates,
the company contemplated completion.
Although they received the knowledge
that the Campfield company had de-
cided not TO bid for the franchise. no
change was made in the rates at first
fixed by the comuany.
He stated that the rates had been
made as business proposition, on the
capital, investment and cost of main
tenance of the plant. He does not be-
lieye that much change could be fairly
made by the public utilities commits
sion that may be appointed to appraise
the plant and regulate schedule OF
rates. IL any changes may be made
said Mr.. Dill. il is probable that the
city would be compelled to pay more
per year for the fire hydrants than the
rates fixed in the contract.