The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-09-20
WATER COMPANY
 ASKS PERMIT
 TO RAISE RATES

After a quiet campaign to sound out those who would be most affected by the proposed change. the Bridge, last night before the Common Coun- cil with a request that the city au- thorities cooperate with the com pany in asking the Public Utilities Commission for an increase in the Lovery, vice president of the com pany, stated in connection with the proposal that the increase will only affect the largest users of water in the city. If the rate is not raised it was stated that the water company would not be able to continue opera tionS.
 Since 1915 the expenses of the Hy- an extent that they are now operating at 2 decided loss, said MT. Lavery. In order to raise the minimum rate from the present figure of three cents per hundred cubic feet to six cents, it is necessary to have the approval of the Utilities Commission as the com pany is under contract with the city. The ordinary domestic users will be in no way affected by the change. The increased cost to the city will be about $5,000 yearly The large man ufacturers are the only ones who will be seriously affected MT. Layery has interviewed most of the largest l users of water and finds that they are all willing to the increase, as they realize that the company can not continue under the present status. An addsuonal revenue of approximately s100,000 will be secured by the in crease.
 The letter from the Hydraulic conn pany to the Board of Aldermen fol- lows:
 Bridgeport. Conn.,, Sept. 19, 1921. To the Honorable Common Council
 of the City of Bridgeport: Gentlemen:
 The Bridgeport Hydraulic company respectfully represents that, in or der to provide the City of Bridge port With the same full and ample water facilities as in the past, it is necessary to increase it's present in come. Under existing rates, proper financial arrangements to pay for ad- ditlonal construction cannot be made
 The General Assembly passed a sta ute, which is now in force. to pro vide for such emergencies of the pub J." utility corporations, but your pe- t!tloner believes that the Bridgeport situaion can be solved by agree ment with those interested Lowest Rate in East.
 The Bridgeport minimum meter rate of three cents per hundred cubic feet is much lower than that of any rate, which means the rate prevailing for households, Is on a reasonable | basis sS nearly as your petitioner | can ascertain, and we believe, there fore, that the additional income which in necessary ought to come through an adjustment of the mini mum meter rate, which is plainly out of proportion to similar charges in other cities, and that the charges for househo old services should remain as at present.
 Manufacturers Consent. The meter rate referred to applies to various manufacturers and to the 1vy ai%Iy iro oh no1S and mean an added expense to the city of about s5,000 per year. This problem has been preseTed to the manufacturers individually and through their association, and the latter has unanimously approved the position of your petitioners and has consented to the adjustment of the minimum rate, which the company asks that the city. through the Com mon Council, join with the other | large users of water in the change
 of the existing rate of three cents per that the following resolution be adopted:
 | Domestic Use Unaffected. Resolved, That the City of Bridge | port hereby consents to change of the
 prese-t minimum meter rate of three
 cnts per hundred cubic feet, effective October 1, 1921, it being understood
 and agreed that the proposed change | WILL III IO way dnSCL lnS pISSSH l charges for water for household ol dop estic use.
 l When the matter was brought UT | before the common council last nigh | President Beers moved that it be re | ferred to the miscellaneous. commit i tee and to the city attorney Jointly
 as a legal question was involved. The 1 motion was carried.
 NIT. Lavery explained last night | before the council met, just why i had become necessary for his com
 pany to ask for the increased rate
 Since 1915, he said, the taxes of tht
 company have increased from around
 s3O,0OO to $40 1000, and the fixed
 charges from S25.000 to s240,0O0. Il
 was also stated that Bridgeport wa:
 at present getting water mucf cheaper than any other communitJ l of the same size The average fo!
 4-10 cents while in Waterbury it is u l cents
 Some time ago work on Eastor
 reservoir was begun, great deal ol | expensive machinery was installed and now the company is unable tc | complete the job, which would pro- wide 6,000,000,00O gallons of water fol the city. because of lack of funds That is illustrative of the whole position of the Hydraulic company to. 1 day. said MT. Lavery. If add1t1ona | income is not found some place the company will have to discontinue op- | erationS.
 WOMAN HAD PNEUMONIA