The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-03-08
Board of Works, on Sugges-
tion of Commercial Club,
Asks State Aid in Water
Works Case.
NEW PIPE LINE is
THE PROSPECT NOW
Probable Company Will
Build 1t Pending the Set
Element of the Question BY
Commission. -

The city OF Richmond and the Com
mercial club will make application to-
day to the new Public Service Commits.
sion. through Governor Ralston. for an
immediate investigation of the water
works question in Richmond.
At a meeting of the public service
corporation committee of the COM
mercial club. late yesterday afternoon
1t was decided 10 make an immediate
recommendation to the board of public
works that the city apply. without
delay, TO have the Public Service COM
mission take over the local water
works question. also that the Rich
mond City Water Works company be
asked 10 lay a new main from the
pumping station 10 the city limits. in
order to insure ample FIRE protection.
while the question is being considered
by the commission.
The committee believes that the
commission has full authority TO es-
tablish a valuation on the plant, fix
rates and authorize bond issue for
Improvements in the plant. and that
the water works company would be
amply protected on all bonds issued
for the necessary Improvements.
Appear Before Board.
The club committee appeared before
a called meeting of the board of public
works this morning and acting chair
man of the committee, E. H. Harris,
presented the recommendation. The
board was told OF the necessity OF
having the commission take up the
water works question in Richmond as
soon as possible after the organiza-
ton of the commission. May 1st The
board was reminded that with over
5000 public utility companies in the
state, that unless this city was prompt
and urgent in its demand for an i'm
mediate hearing on the question IL
might be some time before the ques-
ton would be taken up. Mr.. Harris
stated that the committee could see
no harm in making such an applica-
ton. as 1t was an emergency case.
which the commission would recognize
il called to its attention.
The commercial CLUB committee
which appeared before the board was
composed of III. c. Hasemeier. w. X.
Bradbury. Z. II. Harris. s. z. Swayne.
president of the Commercial club, and
Charles Jordan. secretary
s. z. Swayne explained the need OF
a new pipe line from the water works
pumping station to the city He stat
ed that should the present pipe line
ever burst the city would be placed in
grave danger. He stated that high
pressure in case of fire'might burst the
pipe line. The citizens and fire depart
ment are entirely dependent on this
main for water.
Mr. Svayne stated that the commit
tee would ask the Richmond City
Water Works company TO lay a new
main at once while the whole question
is being considered by the public ser
vice commission.
The General Opinion.
II seems to be the general opinion
that the city had better operate under
the present contract while the COM
mission is considering the question
rather than enter into a new contract,
which might be nuIlified by the COM
mission. The Commercial club com
mittee thinks that the Richmond City
Water Works company would be will
ing TO make the improvement asked
for il the company can finance the
project under present conditions. The
matter has been taken up with the
water works and Mr.. Dill stated that
he would bring the new main ques-
tion before the board of directors and
report their decision IN few days
AS yet no complete copies of the
new public service commission bill
have been printed but II is reported
that they will be out in a few days. at
which time a complete study will be
made of the new Law by the Com
mercial club committee and the city
officials.
City Attorney VIII Bond advised
that the official application to the pub
lie utilities commission be made by
the board of public works. The water
works company will also be asked to
send an application. referring to the
application sent by the city. The Com
mercial club viii also send an applica-
ton and mention the applications for
warded by the city and the water
works company This plan. the city
officials and committee believe. would
serve TO impress the commission of the
necessity of acting AT once on the sit
uation here.
II is probable that as soon as the
commission is organized that a COM
mittee of city officials and members of
the commercial club will appear before
that body to urge satisfactory action