The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-27
Begin Effort to Reach Fair
Valuation for Engines Re-
Gently Installed by Private
Utility.
DISPUTE TO ARISE
Municipal Plant Files Speci-
fications for New $4,000
Turbine With Public
Works Board.

tomorrow Superintendent Klein
knecht Of the Municipal Electric plant
and President Bavis of the board of
public works. will start taking an in
ventory OF the equipment installed At
the electric plant OF the Richmond
Light. Heat & Power company since
last June.
The Indiana Public Utilities COM
mission last Thursday issued an or
der establishing $174.155 as the pur-
CHASING valuation Of the L., H. & P.
electric plant on June 10. this year.
was further provided in the order
tnat the city should also pay a fair
va!uat1on for equipment installed at
TINS plant since that date. City Of
riciais estimate that the valuation Of
additional equipment at the L. H. &
r. plant since last June does not ex-
ceed $25.0O0. On the other hand
L.. H. p. officials assert this addi-
uonal equipment has a valuation of
approximately $4,000.
To Determine Value.
After the city officials have COM
pleted their inventory of additional
equipment they will submit to the L.
II. 4 p, q proposition for the pur-
cnase OF the same. In the event this
proposition 10 not acceptable to the
company the commission will be
called upon to determine the valuation
OF the additional equipment. II is
provided that the city and the COM
pany shall have twenty days in which
10 reach an agreement on the valua-
ton Of the property in question.
President Bavis today reiterated
the determination Of the city to com.
bat the effort Of the L., H. & p. to
influence the commission to authorize
a seventy-five per cent increase in
local gas rates. Last Friday Presi-
dent Bavis asserted that II the COM
pany did not modify its demands the
city was prepared to 90 before the
commission and petition for the au-
thorization Of q special rate for cleo
tric power to be used for cooking pur-
poses. and that the rate petitioned
for would be 30 low that the house
wife would not be able to afford to
continue the use Of gas for cooking
purposes.
Offers Low Prices.
Tn the city OF Logansport the
municipal plant has provided a spe-
cial rate Of two cents per X. ". hour
for cooking purposes and the rate
sAssc AAA0uS a uSNtuSu upRCdI Nue
householders." Mr.. Bavis said "Peo-
pie in Logansport who are now using
electricity instead OF gas in their
kitchen ranges have found that the
cost ranges from $1.00 to $3.50 a
month, or an average expense Of about
$500. We think we can convince the
commission that our municipal plant
is in a position to offer a rate of one
and a half cents per k. w hour for
cooking purposes. making the aver
age bill range from 75c to $3.50 d
month. or a mean average of a lit
tie over $1.00. The average gas bill
at the present time in homes where
gas is used exclusively for cooking
purposes is between $3.50 and $1.75 a
month"
Specifications for a new 1000 k. ".
turbine engine the city proposes to
install at the city plant were filed to-
day with the board of public works.
1t is estimated that this new unit will
cost not less than $4,000. It is pro-
vided that forty per cent OF the cost
will be paid upon delivery. forty per
cent after the unit has been installed
and the remaining twenty per cent
ninety days after delivery.