The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-04-28
CITY ADVISED
[continued From Page one.1


tories at rates lower than any other
business concern in the city enjoyed
Uses Different Rate.
These contracts, it has been assert
ed, would be nullified as soon as the
state commission had established new
rate schedules for Richmond The con
tracts were entered into last Deem
be- when one Of the members of the
state commission. without notifying
the city, authorized the Light, Heat
and Power company to establish a
special rate for a New Paris, O., con.
Germ lower than the minimum power
rate which had been provided for
Richmond
To the surprise OF even the Light
Heat and Power company officials
this commissioner also ruled that this
special rate could be offered to local
consumers, so that there would be mo
discrimination although the city
plant was not given the same privi-
lege. The Light, Heat and Power COM
pany then induced four big manufac-
turing concerns in this city to enter
into contracts for this special rate be-
fore the city was aware Of the fact
that its competitor had been given au-
thority to offer a special rate. The
city protested against this irregular
procedure and the other commission
ers promptly revoked the order in
question. The contracts signed by the
four local factories are still operative,
however, pending the action Of the
state commission in local readjusting
rates.
The statement is made that with the
notification of these contracts there
is every reason to believe that the
four companies would once more at
rorize the city plant. leaving the
Light, Heat and Power only a small
business in this city, which the city
could also take over by energetic &C
ton.
Supplies Small Towns.
81 know that the Light, Heat and
Power company does not look to Rich
mond for the future expansion of its
electrical business" said the citizen
who advocates the "get-more-business
campaign for the municipal plant.
The policy the holding corporation
has established for the electrical
branch Of its local company is to make
It's electric plant central station to
supply current to towns surrounding
Richmond 1t frankly recognizes that
municipal plant in the local field. 1t
expects to be forced out Of this field.
At the present time the Light, Heat
and Power company is supplying cur
rent to Liberty. New Paris and Brook
Vile, it is building line to Fountain
City now and it will soon contract to
supply current to several other towns
IN this vicinity.
Therefore, | would like to know
with the fight to eliminate the Light,
Heat and Power company from the To-
cal field practically won, why should
he city plant want to pay out 100000
20 $c75,000 to it's competitor for the
purpose of eliminating competition in
Richmond?
Would it not be a more sagacious
policy for the city to spend $4,000 Or
$4,000 in an active campaign to take
away from it's competitor what local
patronage it now enjoys?
Would Junk Machines.
The electric plant of the Light, Heat
md Power company as 1t now stands
s far from being an up-to-date plant
The commission quite probably would
establish a selling value Of 100000
Tor it, as it now is, and the city Of
ucials admit that only about 100000
Of it's equipment would be useful to the
.ity plant The rest would be disposed
Of as junk. Figuring interest and de-
probation at 10 per cent per annum on
he buildings and equipment not used.
he city would have to charge itself
With $4,000 a year until all have been
disposed Of.
There is another point to be con-
Ldered: In the improbable event that
! campaign to eliminate the Light,
Heat and Power company's competf-
lon should meet with failure, why not
let the city come out with an offer to