South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-07
Indiana and Michigan Finds
Market for Heat as Bi-Pro-
duct and. Wants Fifty-Year
Franchise From City.
BOARD OF WORKS SEES
POSSIBILITIES IN MOVE
Would Supply Heat for Oliver
Hotel and Abate Daily
Smoke TroubIe-"But," Say
the Board Members.

a petition, embodying = method tor
abating the oliver hotel smoke nul-
sance- getting rid OF those black
clouds that emanate from the hotel
cks-has been filed with the
board of public works by Fred a.
Bryan, general manager Of the lndi-
ana x Michigan Electric Co. In the
nature of "A request for a 50-year fran
chise that Will enable his company TO
pipe over from its plant across the
river and furnish hot water, heat and
steam for that hostelry In other
words the Indiana x Michigan APP
pears 10 have contract for doing for
the Oliver Hotel Co what its own en-
gines and furnace are doing now. USING
the plant east Of the river as a base.
II furnishes a market for an / < NJ.
by-product.
The request is made more in the ma
ture OF a request for a franchise. than
in the language OF such a request the
document submitted being called "A
contract, according 10 members OF the
board. 'Once agreed 10. says City
Atty Seebirt, lit is a franchise, or
equivalent 10 one"
This board has adopted a policy OF
no more franchise grants save on a
basis Of a certain return To the mu-
stance, discussing the contract, and
Board Member Weber gave the idea
his Endorsement. Member Rice was
not present at the discussion
There are other ways OF abating
that smoke nuisance than giving away
heating franchise rights" Pres. Nor
ris continued. "and now that the mat
ter is up we may take action. 4
proper system OF stocking is all that IS
necessary" The contract submitted
by the Indiana & Michigan provides
merely as follows:
Some Contract Provisions.
l. For the right TO pipe from the
Indiana & Michigan steam plant, east
Of the river to the Stephenson factory
and wooden mills then across the river
beneath the COlfaN av. bridge TO Mich
igan St, south under Michigan ST. 10
Center st, and west under Center st.
10 the necessary point 10 jog down 10
the Oliver conveniently.
>. The right 70 furnish steam. heat.
etc, 10 the Stephenson factory, wooden
mills and Oliver hotel through such
pipes for a period 30 years.
3. Permission TO tap the main pipe
line for the purpose Of supplying other
business places along the route, upon
special resolution OF the board.
4. The Indiana & Michigan not 90
be required 10 furnish heat. etc. To
anyone unless II wants 10.
No compensation is offered 10 the
city for the use Of the under side OF
Colfax av. bridge, or for Michigan ST.
or Center St, and no provision is made
for the relaying Of pavement. etc, dis
turbed in the laying OF the pipes.
Covers Valuable District.
such a contract would make the
main portion Of the down town district
accessible 10 the Indiana & Michigan
fnr n
worths store, Wyman's, the oliver
annex. possibly the j. VI. s. building.
and in fact that whole block" SAYS
Mr. Weber, land such permissions are
considered valuable by numerous
heating companies that make a bust
ness Of it, Agreement 70 this contract
destroying so valuable a district for
these people for 90 years, would vir-
tually shut them out OF South Bend
for a like period"
According TO Pres Morris heating
companies IN cities where they are op-
Grating under proper franchises are
paying the city as high as two per
cent OF the gross earnings for the
granted privileges In other places
they heat public buildings as a COM
pensation.
True" says he. this is the first
attempt at it that has been made here.
and perhaps during the present ad-
n1inistratiOn the Indiana a Michigan
would. il the contract were made,
stick pretty close 10 the original terms
The future possibilities. however with
an administration willing 10 pass any
extension resolution asked for are
great. and the company could soon De
supplying the whole down town dis
trict without paying ever cent 20 the
rcity"
The board Of works has the contract
under consideration. and a counter
proposition may be made 10 the cleo
! trio company but the exact nature ot
what that proposition will be is not
given out