The Dolores star., 1916-03-31
Cut N WATER RATES
REDUCTIONS oRoaRGo ~ Pu0LIc
ur'L'TiEs CONFUSION.
'rsesasat In Cooperation Regulation
establlshsd BY state Oeard In
Cripple cresk Case.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Dsnvsr.-An important precedent
n fixing water rates and otherwise
regulating water corporations in the
cities OF the state was established by
the Colorado Public Utilities Commits
sion in . decision OF the controversy
between the city council Of Cripple
Creek and the Cripple Creek Water
Company.
Immediate 10 per cent horisontal 70
duction Of water charges was ordered.
and . Is per cent reduction in n.y.
drant rentals.
The decision declares the rule 70
curing consumers to lay and pay for
their own connections to the mains n
unreasonable" and orders the substi.
tuition Of . rule requiring the company
to make such service connections at
It's own expense In the future.
The decision was given after an In.
vestigation started at the request Of
the city Of Cripple Creek. Oct. 6.
1915. The hearings were held there
and the company was ordered to
bring its books from the company's
offices in Bay City, Mich.
The estimate of c. P. Allen, ensI-
neer for the company, Of the value Of
the plant at 3346.S15. was reduced for
the rate-fixing purposes Of the COM
mission to $233,7s5. on the advice OF
D. 8. Hooker, the commissions engi-
neer.
Reductions were made In estimates
for engineering service, contractors
profits. legal services. interest during
construction and for certain pipe
lines. which. owing to the alleged do
crease in the city's population. were
no longer used or useful"
The company was finally ordered
to keep its books at its Cripple
Creek offices. that they might easily
be accessible to the commissions in
spectors at any time.
Deep SHOWS Affect Forest Business.
The unusually heavy snowfall
which has signalized the past winter
throughout the West is said to have
materially affected national forest
business. According to Denver fores-
try officials. timber sale receipts
have decreased In some regions, par
ticularly in the Northwest, because
logging and milling operations have
been hampersd by deep SHOWS and
exceptionally cold weather. Similar
conditions have given stockmen using
the forest ranges much concern, al
though no severe losses have yet
been reported. Tho foresight Of stock
| fA vutntnr Toad q kNa.
lieved to have prevented the heavy
losses OF former years. Damages
caused by SHOWS, slides and floods to
forest service trails, telephone lines
and other improvements are not yet
known, but undoubtedly are heavier
than usual and repairs will make
much spring work for the rangers.
To Name Five for War Board.
Colorado scientists, engineers and
skilled technical men are to be re-
quested at an early date to form a
state board consisting of five of the
most efficient men in the state who
may be available to assist . national
board in working out plans for the
mobilization Of industries in the
event Of war. according to informa-
ton received IN Denver. The local
board is to be . component part Of
an Organization being formed by the
naval consulting board, Of which
Thomas A. Edison 10 chairman, to
work out . program for industrial
preparedness.