Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1914-01-17
PUBLIC UTILITY
MATTERS ARE
HEARD At
MEETING

The public service commission has
finished its business in Tonopah and
will go to Goldfield Monday to take
up complaints from that town on
the question Of water rates.
Three days were spent here in
hearing testimony concerning the
complaint of 8. r. Moore against the
sewer company to the effect that
tenants were refused connections
with the sewer system where discon-
nection has been made for refusal to
pay charges unless the new tenant
betrayed the cost OF cutting off the
sewer and the expense of restoring
the connection. A mass Of evidence
was heard on this complaint and the
commission took the case under ad
visement.
Following this. Chairman Bartine
held conference with President
Crumley of the sewer company and
Town Trusteees Davis and Marsh for
the purpose of considering the ex
pediency OF establishing sanitary
district by ordering an extension OF
the sewer service so as to take In a
large area not now served.
Owing to the obvious fact that the
sewer company was not making any
net profit on its investment, 1t would
be difficult. of not impossible, TO or
der any extension OF Hires unless the
company was assured of sufficient
connections to make II reasonably
profitable. No conclusions were
reached. as the conference was more
or less informal.
The question of fire protection was
taken up at conference between the
town board, the water company and
Chairman Bartine. The company
stated that. owing to the order of the
board lowering water rates having
cut seriously into the revenues Of the
company. 1t would be impossible to
entertain any thought of extending
the fire service by building tanks or
installing hydrants.
The matter of compelling patrons
of the sewer company to make a de
poslt before they could have connec-
tions made with their property was
broached This deposit question was
suggested by Mr.. Bartine to be a
difficult one and one that was under
consideration in cases Of analogous
character, and the Tonopah matter
would receive due consideration.
No additional testimony was of
fered on this point, as It was agreed
that the testimony taken at the for.
mer hearing on water revenues would
be accepted as testimony at this
hearing.
In view of the drastic order the
water company expressed unwilling
ness to incur further expense to the
extent of $4,000 or $4,000 TO furnish
the protection and Chairman Bartine
refralned from passing specifically
on the representations. as that was a
matter that would have to be- decided
by the fun board of the public ser
vice commission lie did, however.
intimate that there were grave legal
questions involved, and suggested
that, II Il we're possible to do so. the
town board and the water company
should get together in an amicahle
way.
In effect. Manager Bnrnham agreed
that his company would superintend
the construction of any Improve
ments Of this kind and charge moth
ing for The superintendence and thus
save the town from great additional
cost The plan proposed extending
the mains 10 one or two reserve res
rrvoirs 20 he erected on the slopes
NJ Mount nrougher. with a capacity
NJ mol less thar aoo.ooo gallons with
such appurteuances az were neees
sary to render this available IN ease
~ fire The estimate was placed b,
Nr rreudenhcFgcr, me engineer 8
the commission a. hetwren tsa'0 aus
iiNno0
Owing 70 lhe fact thar only twa q
fhc towu beard vrre present moth
ms definite Nas done hnt heftel
understanding % tbe attitude of ~
company and the wiahsn oi she taei
waa Fvashsa