Norwich bulletin., 1918-12-12
WESTERLY

.ss 0OunCllII1a1 FTQerlck- F.. FOWleT. at the meeting Of the town council, when the proposed increase in rates of gas and electricity was being considered, voiced the sentiment of n1anufactur- CTS and large consumers. when he said, that the proposed charge in rates meant an increase in cost for power to him of 30 per cent. He said the increase would be so great to him that he must consider the use of steam power in the operation of his plants. He stated that the proposition of the electric company, if favored by the public utilities commission. would be liable to arouse so much indignation that town owned electric light and power plant might be the result. Arr thur L. Perry declared that the ser vice had deteriorated. with no. pros reet. of improvement, yet the con- trolling company sought to advance the rates.
 While. the electric proposition was being explained in Westerly by J. E.. Gray; rate expert. representing the Nara garsett Electric Lighting com pany, President Edward A Barrows, of the company, was doing like service at a special meeting of the Warren town5council. He told of the necessi- I tya of an increase by, reason of coal and oil having advanced over the rates existing.
 The. principal feature of the. increase to gas users. President Rarrows said was the service charge to be included | in the new schedule Of 50 cents a month The adjustment proposed was based also on $1.58 for 1000 feet of gas, with ret reduction when more
 than 1000 feet of cubic gas is used. | The meter charge is to be split wncav
 several thousand feet of gas is used in one month. s & Much opposition developed against | the service charge for meters, sev-
 eral cItizens criticising the action of
 the company, and pointing to the sum
 total from l 50-cent- month charge
 to the 5000 gas users in the district each month. President Barrows said
 that the service charge was not only | for meter use but for full equlpl..... E The council instructed the towr
 solicitor to arrange for a. public hear | ing before the public utilities com mission, and to ask for lower rates
 than are offered
 l Phineas MunseIl Randall, of West
 erly, has been promoted from second lieutenant, and, assigned as ade-de.
 camp. on the staff of General Aultman of the Second Army. Lieutenant Ran. dall graduated from the officers train l ing school at Madison Barracks, Nev York and has served in varied re, T sponsible positions. since going into 3I overseas service. svery soon after re
 cefving his. commission.
 l The. Westerly Highway commission CTS have appointed Albert N. Gran
 dall,> Walter S. Price and. Everett A | ' l.
 property to be taken for highway pur
 poses. It $ proposed to extend High
 land avenue and Auto be- Vose stree
 through to Granite streey, and to lay out state road from the end of tn, ii new construction from Franklin av enue to the 'Chariestown boundary line
 The annual financial meeting of tn
 town of Westerly will be held earl,
 in February, when the important mat ter of converging, the Westerly Fir District into a town system fire depart : ment will be threshed out, or be turn . ed down suddenly without discussion
 The subject is sure to come before tn
 meeting as. the secretary Of the fir district was Instructed in annual meet ing to present a resolution adopted a 1 that neeing which provides for ha T course. Those favorable to the chang | argue that the whole town 1S nON
 practically served by the fire depart
 ment while .:he entire cost Of the de
 partrnent is borne by the taxpayer
 within the Westerly fire district Wit
 the change all the taxpayers woul
 assume share of the expenses, an f the town as 3 whole would share ( l the expenses. and the town as whol would take over the property an : make good 10 the fire district el some way that a discussion would de
 ternnine.. ;. At the present time there are tw -j other fire districts within the town lin | ] it's. one at Pleasant View without a fl .l depar rtrnent, and one at Watch Hi : equipped with the most lncdern an E best standard type. of apparatus. Bot [ of these districts. especially the latt, e own considerable property and the 4 service is not confined to fire proteC l, ton and fire fighting, There will 2 strong opposition totown control of u !. Watch Hill Fire district, and in ar q l event, it could not be done in ju. q tice without. a large expenditure.
 2 Should there be general consolid; 2. ton and a town fire deoarrment, sul D ported by town appropriation it WI :. mean fire apparatus at Watch Hi e Pleasant View. Weekapaug. Whf