The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-04-07
Water Company is Willing to
Place Franchise Matter in
Hands of Public Utilities
Commission.
COUNCIL WILL TAKE
/ MATTER UP TONIGHT
Plans Have Been Made For
Main But Company Awaits
Action on Question of In
determinate Permit.

In a written statement today to the
board of public works, the Richmond
City Water Works announced that IL
will Immediately start to make the Inn
provements asked for I'm the Maury re-
port and relinquish its present fran
chise. accepting in its place the inde-
terminate permit as provided for In
the new public utility law.
The company In its statement says
that the accidental destruction OF the
water main on April 8, has hurried the
company In making its decision.
The action of the company places
the settlement of the water works
question entirely up to the Public
Utility Commission, and secures for
the city the much needed improve
ments.
Plans for New Main.
Complete plans for an additional 70
inch water main to Richmond from
the pumping station were also made
by the company this morning at the
meeting of the board. The survey for
the main which will bring IL along the
National road into East Main street
has been made and the contract for
the pipe has been let. Right-of-way
for the main will be obtained I'm a few
days from the Pennsylvania railroad
and the county commissioners. The
water works company is making the
preparations voluntarily as no con-
tract has been signed between the city
and the company. The water works
company win probably ask for an in
determinate contract which will be in
effect until the Public Utilities COM
mission acts upon the bids for a new
franchise to the company.
Supt. Dill stated that the water
works company has taken the steps
for the immediate installation OF the
main through the dynamiting of the
single water main by Alfred C. Under
hill on April 3rd when the city was
entirely without water for more than
Difficult TO Finance.
19 hours.
The financing of the proposition has
been the only thing for which the COM
pany has held back. The bonded in
debtedness of the company natures
October Is. 1913. and for that reason
according to Mr.. Dill. IL will be a diff
fcult proposition to finance the i'm
provements which will involve an ex-
penditure of more than 100000 ha
says. Unless the city will give to the
company an indeterminate permit to
operate until the public utilities COM
mission fixes the rates and grants a
| franchise. il will probably be a diff
fcult matter to dispose of bonds 10
r. g. a..
ment. The matter of granting the in
determinate permit will be taken up
with the city council tonight
Mayor Zimmerman stated that he
was pleased with the action OF the
company. He said that he Is In favor
OF doing whatever possible TO make
I the financing OF the proposition as
easy for the water works company
as possible. He believes that the COM
pany is working for the welfare of the
people in the attempt to provide am
pie water and fire protection for the
/ city in the future
Other improvements
The improvements which win be
made by the water works company
are not confined 10 the laying OF
new main. An additional pump will be
installed at the water works pumping
station, auxiliary lines will be laid IN
the city and several new fire hydrants
will be located according TO the judg-
ment of Fire Chief Miller Other mi
nor improvements will also be made.
( il is said
! The route for the new main has been
surveyed according to the recommenr
dation of the Maury report made sew
eral years ago. II will be placed along
the right of way of the Pennsylvania
railroad, Cincinnati division, to the
I first road east From that point. IL win
run to the National road and west into
Richmond. Either at Twentieth or
Twenty-third street il viii be divided
into three separate mains leaving East
Main crraof IN fha eide Gfroafa