Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1922-11-21
CITY COUNCIL ACTS ON WATER
RATES.

AT the regular meeting OF the lily
Council l2z1 algnL, LaeE- were pres
ens Mayor " yscass LouaeLMea Gar-
ney, LoekrelI, AAaeEsen, 6alowIns
Azn1ney, LoAklyn and Philips.
Ene committees appointed AZ 2
Iormsr meeting to consider the pro-
posed increase OF rates. 0y the water
Company, submitted taelr report,
and the council approved the rzets
sGa1e4 Eaexeln, b9E, 0ec44ed that Il
viii take No action Tor or against
me action OF the y asef Company ii
ASKING TOR an increase IN water
rates
me report Of toe committee fol
10 the Town Council Of Charles
4oux Committee appointed to In
vesElg4te and report upon the pro-
posed increase II wzEex rases at the
instance OF Forrest A. Brown, ke-
ce1ye< OF Eae water Company, re-
specIEuI4y report a. rollcIS:
.sIlaE they have g0ne over the re-
ceIpss and operating expenses OF the
/ company WITH Eas Receiver ana ind
Iaat curing the last nscai year the
AeceEyer pzEe.y made enGs meet
financially after paying operating
expenses, per cent on Bonded In
GeDtedness OF S67 ,5U0.UO, and per
cent on the Receivers Indebtedness
OF S7,600.00.
mat up TO October 1st, 1922,
electric power was costing approx
nateiy S45U.y0 per year OWING 70
erroneous billing Dy the power CON-
paay but from that date on It viii
cost approximately Sz,000.00 d year
On TIE lowest power schedule
nat this neeeSSsIs ties an addi-
tional income CT approximately
fSI ,oV0.00 q year TO meet this IN
aycIdaDle Increase IN pumping ex-
pense-
That the pump used on the cleo
ttrIe power Is an efficient modern
centrifugal pump and no saving
could be effected oy an change IN the
pumping facilities
That an internal combustion en-,
CINE could be installed but that the
electric power would have to be KEEP
: ana the minimum paid as q matter OF
lp1blc safety ana N view of the fac
that electric power IS more reliable
and IN view Of the cost Of installing
/. an engine and the limited life there
OF we believe that it Is best from the
public standpoint TO continue the us,
OF the electric power.
That We do not find any way Of
materially decreasing operating ex
: pense although some items such a
repairs, etc, are variable and ma!
. increase or decrease from year Il
year.
We believe, therefore, that th'
; Company should be allowed an in
crease in rates to bring IN an add
tional annual income OF $1,000. 90 t,
. meet the increased costs of powe
and further believe that il IS not con
dueiye TO the public welfare to com
: pei the operation Of the plant OIL
such narrow margin financially an,
that an additional increase of $500.
90 year making total increase o
+ 100000 year should be aIlowet
TO permit the Receiver to reduce TIL
deficit IN operating expenses hereto
fore incurred by reason of made
quate rates and to have some margin
to take care Of unexpected expense
and improvements conducive TO goo,
service.
: We therefore recommend that tn
Council concur with the Receiver il
asking 20 per cent increase in an
nGal income and that this be dis
: tributed among the water consumer
as follows:
t, "(a) By raising the first charg,
> Of $1,000 to $500, estimated t,
bring in about $4,000 additions
! from the fiat rate consumers, less
per cent discount.
OBJ BY raising the fire hydran
charge from $4,000 to $500 pc
b annum estimated to in about SI56.
90 additional from the tax payer,
, generally, less per cent discount.
"lc) By raising the meter rate.
20 per cent throughout the schedul.
with minimum of $50 instead Of
IS per cent per month, estimated t.
bring in about 5000. additional, les.
per cent discount.
. We therefore recommend tina
THE Council pass q resolution ap
proving the attached schedule Of
rates reserving the right to either
party to apply to the Public Service
Commission for an adjustment a
any time that they may deem a re
adjustment proper and that a certi
fed copy Of said resolution be giver
to the Receiver Of the Water Com.
pany TO file with his application tc
the Public Service Commission fol
the establishment of the rates pro-
posed"