The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-02-20
Hydraulic Engineer, Testi-
fies Before Commission
That His Appraised Valua-
ton on Plant Is $711,O00.
EXPERT SAYS RATES
SHOULD BE LOWERED
Fire Chief Miller Called on
Stand to Testify to Low
Amount of Fire Loss in the
Citl Last Year.
(By Staff Correspo ondent)

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2o.-E. E.
Watts, an hydraulic engineer of
Princeton, Ind, proved valuable wit
ness for the city of Richmond in the
hearing of the water works valuation
case before the state commission, at
this mornings hearing.
Mr. Watts testified he had made an
investigation of the valuation of the
Richmond water works plant and he
appraised it at $711.OOO. almost $780,
900 less than the estimated cost of re-
producing the plant as fixed by engi-
neers of the commission. which was
$8O2,9e and almost $4OO 900 less than
the valuation claimed by the water
=, works company.
Mr.. Watts said that after the Maury
water works valuation report had
been made. in 1909, the company had
changed it's bookkeeping system so
that all items in the Maury report
would be charged to their proper ac
| counts. He said number of the items
in the Maury report were duplicated.
He also said he had deducted such
items in preparing his valuation esti
| mates:
Reduction Possible.
After the noon adjournment Mr..
Watts said if the commission placed
a valuation of 100000 or less on the
| water works II would mean a reduc-
tion in rates. At least, he said, there
would be a reduction for the small
| consumers and a readjustment of 9TH
er rates.
| The hearing Of the case is pro-
crossing very slowly and Chairman
Duncan expressed the opinion this
morning that it would take at least
two weeks to present all the evidence.
The first witness this morning was
Ed Miller fire chief of Richmond. who
was called by City Attorney Bond.
Miller testified the total property loss
in Richmond last year from fires was
only $4,000. The purpose of this tes-
timony was to show how little water
had been used by the city for fire pro-
lection.
Alfred Bavis, president of the Rich
mond board of public works, is attend
ing the sessions to assist Mr.. Bond
and Mr.. Watts if necessary. Mr.
Watts will take the witness stand
again this afternoon in behalf of the
city.
At the opening of the session yes
Iterday afternoon. Engineer Garman
completed his testimony on the meth
cd used in compiling the report which
was submitted to the commission
Mr.. Robbins, on cross examination,
asked the witness if the work had
been done with view to treating
both sides fairly and he replied that
the estimates had been made as near
as possible to what would be just to
both sides, but he said there were
many items in the report which the
commission would have to pass on as
part Of the valuation.
In all of the testimony yesterday,
Engineer Garman attempted to show
that the plant condition in Richmond
was an average and therefore the de-
probation figure was an average de-
probation on all items in the report
The average cost of setting meters
he placed at 81 per service.
Dill and Hibberd Testify.
II. A. Dill, superintendent and treas
urer, and Elgar Hibberd. secretary
and a director, were called to identify
the book of rules which the company
had issued They claimed that all OF
the rules of the company were in the
book The book of rules and the sched,
ule of rates We're introduced into the
evidence by Attorney Bond.
E. f. Watts, engineer for the city
was the next witness and testified
that he has made an examination and
an audit of the plant of the local com.
pany and had placed valuation OF
$711 900 on the plant. This amount
he claimed. did not include the items
for extensions and the item of Going
Concern" which he said would be
brought out in the testimony today.
Engineer Watts was examined in
the same manner as the engineer for
the commission and testified how he
arrived at each of the figures which
made up the total of $711,00
When the session adjourned Mr.
Watts had not completed his testi
mony.