Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-29
Looker-On In Iowa

! Latimer, Jan. os.-One Of the ques-
tons before the legislature is that CT
public utilities commission for Iowa.
/ That we need something OF the kind
is illustrated on the Algona branch OF
the N. & ST. L. railroad running thru
this town. For some time past the
water tanks in the passenger cars nave
not been filled with drinking water.
, and the patrons Of the road go dry till
they arrive at their destination. In
quiry brought out the statement thai
the men running the train did not have
to fill these drinking water tanks-it
was not their business. Another state
rnent was that the law prevents the
use of the common drinking cup,
what's the use Of filling the tanks
when there's nothing 10 drink out OF,
thes peaker forgetting that many carry
{. the individual drinking cup. All this ID
mentioned in this column. as citing one
f, Of the hundred cases where the public
/ is imposed upon, simply because what
+, is everybody's business is nobody's
business. Such condition OF affairs
would De remedied in twenty four
! hours in :tew York or Connecticut,
| where they have public utilities COM
missions that do things.
The citizens of Cromwell. Conn,
made certain complaints to the public
utilities commission Of the state of
Connecticut. Citizens of Iowa and
| members OF the Iowa legislation should
read the following from late issue
| of the Hartford Conrant 1t shows two
| things. First that this commission has
power. secondly they use 1t.
| The public utilities commission on
Saturday gave a decision in the mat
ter OF the complaint received from
residents Of Cromwell regarding the
service of the Cromwell Water Com.
pany. The finding Of the commission
ers indicates that the complaint was
! justified, as they say: 1T clearly ap-
| peared from the evidence that the al
! legations Of the petition were we'll
founded and the commission finds the
same proven and true" The commits
sion declares what the complaint was
based upon and to meet the stiua-
tons complained of. makes the fol-
flowing order and recommendation:
! The Order.
! The Cromwell Water Company Is
!
! First-To thoroughly clean the
stand pipe and flush the main and dis
| tributlng pipes
Second-Repair all broken mains and
pipes. including leak, II any, in the
standpipe.
Third-Repair and renew, II neces-
sary. present filter system and put
same in godo working condition, or In
stall a more modern, approved and eff
ficient filtration system for ali water
supplied for domestic purposes.
Fourth-Put pun ping station and
equipment in perfect working order.
F'ifth-Have at least one months
supply Of coal in the bin ready for
use in the operation OF the pumping
station at all timse.
Sixth-Carefully examine the water
shed with view to keeping the water
in the reservoir free from contamina-
ton.
The foregoing order to be fully com
piled with on or before the fifteenth
day Of February,1913, excepting para
grab three thereof pertaining to filtra
ton, which shall be fully complied
with on or before the first day of June
1918.
Recommendations.
In addition to the foregoing order
the commission recommends
THAT the Cromwell Water Com
pany place a competent man in charg
Of the plant, who shall be located a
Cromwell, clothed with sufficient powe
to act for and In behalf of the compan
in obtaining all necessary supplies, re
: pairs and equipment and authorized t
:, represent the company in dealings wit
its patrons.
2-That meters be Installed for tn
larger consumers and water furnishe
TO sucn consumers at reasonable nete
rates.
3-That the bed Of the reservoir b
cleaned and its banks protected a
soon as weather conditions will perm
during the summer Of 1913.
Here's another case, in Connection
!. showing decisive action in contest fo
: supremacy between a city and a rail
, road company.
The city of Waterbury and tn
Connecticut company were the partie
in contest.
"The Connecticut company appeale
, from a decision Of the mayor and a.
dermen Of Waterbury imposing ce,
: tain conditions on the plan to doub
track the WATERFOWL road from III
end Of the company's right OF way
, Morningside turnout. The petition
+, the city government was accepted b
\ the town ftahers with the provisio
v that new poles should not be erecte
. when old poles can be used, and thi
all new poles shall be of iron, eigi
inches in iameter at the base and thu
e between the tracks and for q dill
!: lance Of two feet outside Of them, VII
e rified brick on concrete foundatio
: should be laid. The company held thu
: it was not the province OF the CT
= government to specify the kind. qualil
n and finish Of trolley supports. and OF
jected to the second requirement. 81
cause the pavement required was be
le ter and more expensive than that vii
d which the balance Of the road IL povt
oil and which is known as teiford paw
lie ment.
'ei The petition was heard on Nov.