Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-11-05
RAILROAD BOARD
TO LET REPORT
In AS EVIDENCE
Engineers Busy On Plant
AS Rate Hearing
Is Held

Americus gas consumers are 20
have the benefit Of an expert survey
and report on the gas plant Of the
Americas Lighting company, after
all. This came out yesterday in At
/ lanta at the hearing of the appli
cation of the Americus Lighting com
pany for 25 per cent increase in gas
rates and higher electric power
charges. The company having pre-
viously refused the city's request fer
a continuance SO that an expert sur
vey might be amde, the city proceed
ed with its defense, and at the same
time informed the commission that
an expert survey of the plant had
just been started and demanded that
the right be granted to the city, as
part of the evidence in the case, to
submit the report of this survey to
the commission when finished. This
the commission granted on acquiesc-
ence of the representative of the
Lighting company. The city then
went ahead and made the best show
inD it could, to combat the claims
of the Lighting company, taking the
position that, regardless of what the
figures of the company show, the
commission should not consider an
aunlication for increased rates un-
til service, as required by the com
missions ruling and by law, had first
been rendered at the old rates by
the companq.
In connection with the statement
there that a survey of the plant was
in progress, it developed that the
day after the Chamber of Commerce
directors and representatives of the
city met the first of the week, and
/ decided not to employ an expert for
varying reasons, Engineer Keis, Of
! the firm of Norcross and Keis, con
/ sulting engineers, of Atlanta, who
had been recommend for the job h''
the railroad commission, arrived
here to negotiate with the city for
undertaking the work. He was put
/ to work almost Immediately by the
council committee having the matter
/ in charge and has been here at work
! since. Today Mr.. Norcross, the eth
( er member of the firm, arrived to
assist in the survey, which they eX
! rect to complete very shortly. Mr.
! Keis is understood to have made
some interesting discoveries at the
plant before his identity became
/ known to the representatives of the
lighting company.
At the hearing in Atlanta, Presi-
dent Lucas, of Baltimore, OF the
Americus Lighting company, and
Manager Rogers of the local plant,
were the only witnesses for the COM
pany, they presenting quantity OF
cost data and other evidence to sus-
tain their claims for higher rates. For
the city, City Engineer iTedeman
and C. S. Glover, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, appeared as
witnesses Mr. Glover informed the
commission of the very bad service
rendered by the company here and
of the long-suffering attitude of the
public and chamber heretofore, and
/ Engineer Tiedeman testified concern
ing the physical condition OF the
plant.
It was stated today by represen-
tatives Of the city that the Lighting
/ company, in it's figures presented to
the commission showing cost of op-
Grafton, included interest on $780,
900 bonds. This the commission
promptly ruled out, declaring that
the company must not expect the
public to pay interest on this bor-
rowed money and profit to the com
pany on it also.
City Attorney Lane and W. W:
Dykes conducted the examination OF
witnesses and arguments for the
city and Chamber Of Commerce,
while w. A. Dodson, of Americus,
and Prince Webster, of Atlanta, rep
resented the company.