South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-19
LAKE COUNTY GETS
FILTRATION PLANT
Public Service Commission
Orders New System to
be Installed.

The public service commission has
entered an order in the East Chi
Cage and Indiana Harbor Water Co.
filtration system case, under which
the company is directed TO proceed
at once ito construct a filtration
plant land such other device for
the mechanical and chemical treat
ment of the water) that will render
the water distributed TO said city
and the inhabitants thereof clear.
pure, wholesome, sanitary, potable
and otherwise fit for all domestic
uses before such water is forced
into the distribution system Of said
company" and TO maintain the sys-
tenn at all times so that the health
of the citizens Of East Chicago shall
be protected.
The order followed closely on the
heels of a hearing Monday before
the commission, at which Bernard
Korbly. attorney for the water COM
pany. finally admitted that new fill
tration system was needed, but ar
gued that the company under it's
present financial arrangements was
not able to float the bonds necessary
TO erect such a system. Korbly and
G. L. Kirk, president Of the East
Chicago company, and Of the In
dianapolis Water company also, so
Unanswered that proposals were
made to the other side for rate
agreement on the whole East Chi
cagO situation. Carrying out Kinks
wishes in the matter apparently, the
commission indicated il would take
up the question of rates as soon as
an inventory of property was filed
with the commission.
Other Questions Continued.
That condition, and one raised by
an intervening petition from East
Chicago citizens asking for action
By the commission looking to ap-
praisal of the property and sale to
the city. were disposed of under the
commissions orders Of today by the
following paragraph of the order:
1T is further ordered by said
commission that all other issues in
volved in said petition, and all the
issues presented by said answer and
Yening petition, are hereby con-
tirued until further order of this
commission"
The order on the filtration plant
set out that the water company
shall file plans and specifications of
the proposed new filtration plant
with the commission before July 1,
and that the work shall be COM
pleted within six months after that
date. Among the various agree nents
made was one in which IL was under
stood that if the company made a
bona fide attempt to complete the
work OF erecting the filtration plant
within six months and failed, and
extension of that time would be
granted by the commission.
Understanding as to Rates.
Chairman Duncan of the commits
sion, in outlining the position of the
commission. also let il be under
stood that when the inventories of
the property had been sent in and
valuation of the old and new prop
critics made. the commission would
make rate" and have it waiting
for you" when the new filtration
system is complete. This discussion
took place Monday after evidence
in the case in the morning had been
continued until the afternoon. APP
parently some sort Of a conference
had been held between the two ses-
sions of the hearing. for an agree
ment was in prospect when the af-
ternOon meeting started and Mr..
Korbly, who is state chairman Of the
democratic party, plunged into his
company's proposals in the compro-
mise as soon as the afternoon hear
ing began. The order was handed
out in record time by the commits
sion.