The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1917-06-23
PERMISSION TO DISCONTINUE
WATER SERVICE DENIED
Public Service Commission Says
Ruby Hill People Must Be
Supplied With Water

Supplied With Water
In March, 1917, Fred Bartine. own
er of the Ruby Hill Water Works,
made application to the Public Ser
vice Commission of Nevada for per-
mission to discontinue the service at
Ruby Hill.
The Commission has recently rem
dered an opinion and order denying
the application. The document is of
too great length for publication in
the SENTINEL, but the following ex-
tracts taken from it cover most of
the facts:
In this proceeding, the applicant,
Fred Bartine, owner and manager of
the Ruby Hill Water Works. applies
for permission to discontinue the bust
ness of furnishing water to the resi-
dents of the said town of Ruby Hill.
The reasons for making the applica-
ton as given are as follows:
That the only e received
from said business by the petitioner
is the sum of $3.50 per month; that
said sum is paid by eight families at
rates ranging from so cents to $500
per month, making a total Of $1,000
per month; one school at the rate of
81 per month. and one mining COM
pany. the Richmond Eureka. at $40
per month. Petitioner further states
that his works are furnishing water
to a mining company at a distance of
three miles at the rate of $500 per
month. making a total revenue re-
ceived by said works of $4,000 per
month. The petitioner further says
that it costs him more than that
amount to maintain and operate said
works; that it is necessary for him
to devote his time and labor thereto,
or keep a man employed therefor.
But, petitioner states that he intends.
if necessary or permissible. to con-
tinue to furnish water to the mining
company mentioned as being three
miles away, at $500 per month.
To this application opposition is
made by nearly all of the residents
and consumers of water in the town
of Ruby Hill, acting through a duly
constituted agent, |. H. Rogers. In
his written protest Mr.. Rogers states
that he has been assured by Mr.. Bar
tine that if the permission is given
to discontinue the service he does
not intend to make any change I'M
til next Spring, and that he may not
make any change even then. The
said Bartine thought of using the
water for small ranching, but would
not want to do so for at least a year.
That he. Bartine. seems to think that
if he could obtain permission to dis
continue service, he could either con-
tinue it or abandon it at any time he
saw fit to do so; but he also gave as
surance that if the permit was given
to him he would allow enough water
to come through to the Ruby Hill
tanks to supply family needs, which
at the present time is about five
barrels per day. and which pays
$25.0 O per month. Mr.. Rogers fur
Their states that said Bartine admit
ted that five barrels a day would not
cut any figure in his ranching, and
that he was perfectly satisfied to con-
tinue service to the extent of supply
ing domestic needs. Mr.. Rogers
further declares in his statement,
which Is sworn to, that the abandon
ment of the service would be a great
hardship to the people of Ruby Hill
and no advantage to Mr.. Bartine.
The foregoing is substan. ially all
the showing made in the case. Upon
such showing the Commission does
not feel that it would be justified in
authorizing the discontinuance of the