Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-09-27
WATER RATES.
Sew scaedule srsans Big Additional
Cost to Ellsworth Cousmm...

Means Big Additional
Lost TO Ellsworth Consumers.
ane new schedule OF water rates for
Ehsworth, recently announced by the r.,
nafoor q Union River Power Co. will re-
suit In big additional cost to ElIsvo,th
water takers, in some instances doubling
'ne previous cost. The increase il NOT in
.ne rates 90 much a. in the charges for ~
tachments and conveniences hitherto not
charged for.
The people OF Ellsworth pretty rener-
any are aroused, and petition to the
runhc Utilities commission is probs BILE.
lney look upon the new schedule Is a re-
'anstory measure taken by the power
company because OF the recent increase
IN the valuation of its property here.
made by the assessors.
Iae company, during the first few years
after the building OF the new power
plant here, was assessed merely a nominal
tax. Later this was increased to about
pW,Oo, and this year the assessors in
creased the valuation from sl15.soO TO
sHo,250, the Ellsworth tax paid by the
company this year being no. SOL 81, against
H,isa-s5 last year.
Inc water plant Is but one branch OF the
company's business here, tae electric
power plant being its largest investment.
Representative-elect Fulton ]. Redman
has interested himself in this matter, and
mas sent communication to the power
company, OF which he gives copy to THE
AMERICAN for publication. 1t follows:
EILswoRrH. MAINE, Sept. rs. 1916.
Har Havbord Uaion Rtrer Po,eer Co., Els
rorth, Ne.
GENTLEMEN: In October, 1915, I was law
ing Tor water at my home In Ellsworth, at
the rate OF sai per annum. subsequently, the
rate was raised to s2s per annum. and am
advised that under the new schedule my rate
viii be $40 per annum. have lust been fur
Their Informed that there will be an extra
charge OF "a per annum for q young calf that
have thus far been raising on skim milk
This makes total charge OF s42-just double
what was paying year ago.
IL Is so much the custom for the price of
commodities to be raised these DAYS, that I
pay little heed In mos; instances, but / can
think OF no reason why we should pay war
prices for water In this town. And as for the
argument, so very common. that the supply Is
diminishing and the demand increasing the
excuse advanced by the gasolene producers
would remind you that the water In Branch
pond has rarely ever been more plentiful
than during this past wet season.
II the water company is not earning a fair
rate Of interest on It's Investment, and can
Justify the increase in water charges, do
not wish to complain. but1 believe that the
water users OF this community are entitled TO
be enlightened in regard to this, at a time
when public service company Is attempting
TO charge more for water which the COM
muuity consumes.
In this con nection, beg to state tina. In the
community where / heretofore resided, in
spite OF the fact that in that community the
natural facilities for water supply were
not nearly as good as here. my rate for water
including as many faucets as wanted and
lawn sprinkler all day and all night, was
sa2-5o per annum.
Would you be so kind rs to eniishten the
water users OF this community with the
answer to the following questions;
when did the Public Utilities Com
mission Of the State approve the
schedule which appeared In your re-
cent advertisement In THE ELLSWORTH
AMERICAN, what was the nature Of
the proceedings, and did any one rep
resent the water-users of Ellsworth at
the time such approval was obtaineds
Assuming that the Public Utilities
Commission Is acquainted 10 . general
way with The capitalization Of the
company which operates sthe water
system in Ellsworth, Nas.sthere any
evidence presented to the commission
showing or tending to show tue valua-
tion Of the Ellsworth water system as
. unit9
Was the matter Of segregation OF the
Ellsworth water plant from other
business conducted by your company
gone into with n view TO determining
fair rate to be charged for water ser
vice.
am sending copy Of this letter to THz
ELLSWORTH AMERICAN, as believe this q
matter In which the public is vitality inter.
ested. Yours very truly.
FULTON J. REpMAa.