Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-02
STATION EQUIPMENT
VALUATION CLASH AT
ELECTRIC HEARING
William Draper Lewis Wants to
Know How Prof. Jackson,
Expert, Reached Figure
of $7,851,900
TILT ALSO ON POLES

An item of 1851 300 for "station equip
ment In the general appraisal of s5l, ,562,
Oio given as the total physical valuation
of the Philadelphia Electric Company's
property In this city, was subject to
searching inquiry today before the Public
Service Commission in the course of the
hearing on Director Cookies contest to
force the electric company to reduce its
rates and improve its service.
The explanation given by Professor
Dugald C.. jackson, the company's ap-
praisal expert. of how he had reached
this 100000 total. and what estimates
he had used in fixing the unit cost prices
for the various types of machinery and
electrical apparatus, failed to satisfy Will
liam Draper Lewis, counsel for the com
plainants.
Mr. Lewis. assisted by tho complain
ants electrical experts. accordingly pre-
pared n lengthy blank schedule OF es-
Inmates and cost prices, which he re-
quested Professor Jackson to fill in with
the figures used in preparing the COM
pany's data. This information. the COM
pany's expert promised to prepare and
lay before :he Commission at as early a
date as possible.
The question of the proper physical
valuation of the company's electric light
poles, which consumed more than half
the time of yesterdays session, was re-
opened by Mr. Lewis this morning to
the evident surprise of Professor Jackson.
who remarked that he thought this sub
jcct closed.
MIR. Lewis again directed rapid fire
of questions at Professor Jackson In an
effort to show that the valuation placed
upon the poles in the physical appraisal
of the company's property was consider
ably In excess of the fair and reasonable
valuation.
Professor Jackson repeatedly insisted
that the thousands of poles now existing
were placed under such varying conditions
that any estimate of the depreciation Of
the used poles and of the expenses for
renewals of bad poles could not be pre-
sented with arthmetical eNactncss, and
that all estimates must of necessity be
approximate.
Many of the long poles after use are
cut down for shorter poles, according to
the testimony of Professor Jackson. When
pressed for n detailed reason OF why the
company used secondhand instead of new
poles, the witness offered the surprising
reason that the company was Interested i'll
the conservation of the chestnut forests.
The contest over the rate of fares
charged by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company between Broad Street Station
and 10th street; the price of crushed
stone in Philadelphia, in addition to the
Philadelphia Electric rate controversy,
will be taken UP by the Public Service
Commission at three different sessions 1t
will hold simultaneously in City Hall to-
morrow. The six members of the Com
mission will divide the cases among
themselves in order to expedite the
hearings
The rate of fare case was brought on
behalf of the West Philadelphia Business
Mems Association by Fred H. Bradley.
The crushed stone case was brought by
DouEhtcn & Son. II South 18th street who
claim that they are being charged more
for crushed stone south of Market street
than they are north OF Market street