The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-02-13
MANAGER FOSTER OF LOCAL
COMPANY SAYS RATES ARE
FAIR.
ASKS INVESTIGATION
Manager Foster Writes Letter to
The Ardmoreite Stating r;is com.
panys Rates are Cheaper than
Elsewhere.

The ArdmOreite,
Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Gentlemen:
We have before Us the following
letter from the Retailers association:
"Ardmore Ice, Light & Power Co,
"Ardmore, Okla.
Gentlemen: In pursuance OF res
olution passed by the Carter County
Retailers association on December
5, 1913, we, the committee, acting
upon the instructions of the Carter
County Retailers association, here
with enclose to you copy of the
said resolution, which is self-eX-
planatory ald ask YOU if it is your
desire to meet this committee at any
early date, if so, please let us know
by the 10th of this month. Your
failure to respond will be taken as
refusal and we will act accord
ingly. Respectfully yours,
(Signed M NJ. JOHNSON,
j. A. BODOVITZ,
wv. J. DANE,
Committee" "
Which refers TO a resolution pass
/ ed by the said Retailers association,
which is as follows;
BE 1t Resolved by the Carter Coun-
ty Retailers Association:
THAT the rates charged by the
Electric Light company are higher
than are justified By the service rem
dered and the amount earned by said
company; therefore,
BE 1t Resolved, that the chairman
of this organization appoint a COM
mittee of three to confer with the
said Electric Light company and if
| neces ssary with the corporation com
mission and endeavor 70 procure an
equitable rate that will afford the
said Electric Light company a fair
return on their investment and
at the same time give the con-
sumer fair rate for the use of
such electricity"
We beg to submit our answer
thereto which is as follows:
Mr. W. ]. Lane, Pres,
Carter County Retailers Assn.
"Ardmore, Okla.
Dear Sir: In reply to the lines of
your committee on. NJ, Johnson, ]. A,
BCdovitz, W. J. Lane) of Feb. u,
1914, relative to your claim of eX-
cessive rates being charged for elec-
trio lighting in the city of Ardmore,
We beg to submit the following:
I'VE were assessed by the state,
county and city a little more than
$229,OOO on which we paid taxes
this would at least indicate that the
corporation commission thought that
cur plant was worth at least $229,-
600.
During the state fiscal year end
! ing June 30, 1913, our net profits,
exclusive OF any depreciation, were
$25.67736. and under the rules OF
machinery depreciation We are en-
Ltled to at least ; per cent deprecla-
tion, which would mean $3.50, leav-
ing net earning of S17,SO7 for prop
erty upon which We are paving taxes
at valuation of $4,000.
IF you will carefully make these
figures you will ascertain that we
are making less than s per cent on
our investment, and we certainly
think this is not exorbitant
"A number of you who are unfor.
unate enough TO have to borrow
money have no hesitancy In paying
some of the several banks in this
city 10 per cent or u per cent, and
make no complaint.
we pay more taxes than any in
stitution in Carter county, except
perhaps. the railroads, no other per
son excepted
We spend this money endeavoring
to give our citizens flrst-c'ass ser
vice. in which We think We have
succeeded
Our monthly and annual reports
to the corporation commission will
corroborate our statement through
out, certified copies of which we
have in our office at your disposal
Cand it is a we'll known fact that
any erroneous representations to the
F. CORPORATION commission become a
penal offense and that the person
making such falsiied reports is sub
iect to a term in the penitentiary
l.