Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-05
WATER LINE MUST
HAVE PROSPECTS
Commissioner Magee Gives De-
cision in Mt. Union
Water Case

In an opinion dismissing a complaint
filed by the borough of Mt. Union
against the Mt. Union Water Company
for failure to extend water mains to
extensions recently placed upon the
real estate market because of the in
dustrial boom in that town Public Ser
vice Commissioner William A. Magee
says that the attitude of the borough
has been unreasonable. The company
contended that the construction of new
dwellings was due to the industrial ac-
tivity and not evidence of permanent
growth and that the extensions asked
would cost $500.
IF the respondent were compelled
to extend its lines into every new plan
of lots in which a temporary demand
for a water supply exists not only
would the existence of the company be
imperiled to it's owners, but to the
detriment of the town as well and when
the boom subsidies, as it will in all
probability, the temporarily increased
revenue will have been eXtinguished
and the substantial elements in the
population will be called upon for in
creased rates to pay return upon the
overextended plant" writes Mr.. Ma
gee. THE best interest of a commun-
ity dictates a gradual extension of it's
public utility facilities in accord with
it's real solid growth" The opinion
suggests that the borough and the
company get together on a plan to
finance the extension.
The commission in another opinion
by Mr.. Magee orders the Marion Cen
ter Water Company to file a complete
and proper tariff containing reasonable
rates and regulations" and to give
notice. The decision was rendered in
ruling against the company for shut
ting off domestic service of consumers
who did not pay fire plug" or chose"
rates and the rate system in force is
sharply criticised in the opinion.
The Commission in an opinion
handed down to-day by Commissioner
Brecht refuses to approve the applica-
ton for incorporation of the Pocono
Telephone Company to construct and
operate a line between Stroudsburg
and Tannersville, Monroe county. The
line, built by private parties in 1918
and operated as a partnership since
Is about nine and a half miles long
but the decision contains a ruling with
regard to competition. The Strouds-
burg and Bushkill Telephone Com
pany operates in the same neighbor-
hood.
The opinion says eff the incorpora-
ton of the proposed company were
sanctioned by the Commission it would
be an injustice to all interests con-
cerned, since it would open the door
to one more company to compete for
its share of patronage in a territory
already occupied and served by sub
stantial and well established COM
panies in active competition and
abundantly able to take care of all
the business that may Offer
Commissioner Alcorn has refused
the application of the Edison Lycom-
ing Company, Williamsport, for an
order on the Philadelphia and Read
ing Railway to construct and main
tain a switch connection from a pri-
vate side track of the company to the
Reading tracks. The Reading an
swered that the alleged switch is a
branch railroad and is for the pur-
pose of connecting with the Catawissa
Railroad. The supreme court held
that the predecessor of the electric
company had no right to construct a
switch it had previously laid across
a right of way of another company
and ordered it's removal. The Com
mission holds that it is without power
to order the switch,