Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer., 1922-07-20
CITY OFFERED CHANCE
TO DECLARE PEACE
AND MAKE MONEY
MEANS BIG SAVING
POWER COMPANY WILLING TO
GIVE VALUABLE CONCESSIONS
TO BRING ABOUT ELECTRIFICA.
TON OF CiTYS PUMPING STA.
TIoN-GUARANTEG LARGE BEN
EFITS TO MUNICIPALITY.

Electrifcation of The pumping sta.
tion on a basis that should result IN
large savings to the city was put W
to the council by V. j. Duncan, spokes
man for the Northern Illinois Light
and Traction company. last night in a
manner shat win leave the admits
tration little TO do but accept the
terms offered by the attorney for the
concern
Interest Of the electric lighting ana
power company was drawn to the
matter by recent events at the water.
works which proved conyincingly III u
the city will of necessity, within D
very short time. have to replace the
boilers with new ones. purchase ma.
chinery and lay out large sums for a
plant so badly deteri0ratol from long
usage that nothing can now be done
except to re-eauip 1t almost entirely
with new and very costly devices.
On its face the offer embodied 50
many features of vital moment To the
people of Ottawa, aud contained sneh
galaxy of phases of apparent adYan
tage to the city, ii left the mayor and
commission a wee bit Habbcrgasted
The proposal covers wide field Of
promises oral and written, includm"
among which are:
Withdrawal Of the ~ !. L. &
T.'s suit before the Illinois COM
merce commission asking the
right to take up the north side
tracks
Withdrawal from the County
Court Of the company's objections
to the North ottawa paving.
Reconstruction Of all trackage,
including new rails and new ties
north of Rock Island lines
Renewal of the electric lighting
contracts for a ten-year period on
the same basis of pay allowed
under the present contract, which
was drawn and accepted in 1917
Install at The company's ex-
pense all machinery and equip-
ment for electrilieation of the
pumping station.
Purchase and install at an OK
pense of about $1,000 a Ventura
meter. which becomes the citys
property. This meter will be used
TO measure all water pumped into
the mains before it reaches the
consumer and give the city an ac-
curate cheek on all water con
sumed when compared to the lit
tie meters in homes, factories
and business houses
Guarantees a saving of at least
$4,000 a year over the cost of
coal for fuel, approximately
$1,000 year in maintenance and
1lpkeep costs, and chance to
save large sums in general ex-
pense of operating the station.
Has Chubbuck's o. X,
The offers. which were contained in
proposition submitted by H. /,
Chubbuck. vice president-exccutive If
the Mckinley system, were supple
mented by Mr. Duncan, who had boon
authorized to appear before the cOun,
ell with the proposal and submit it
for consideration Of the administra-
tion.
Pointing out to the citv the many
advantages that lay in the Offer Mr.
Duncan touched upon the suit now
in pendoncy before the commerce
commerce commission, in which the
company is seeking to secure state
permission to tear up its tracks on
Norris aud DE Leon streets.
Dismissal of that suit alone" Mr..
Duncan said. means the N. |. l.. e T..
company will have to make an outlay
Of about S95 900 for new rails, new ties
and new grades for its tracks The
company promises to dismiss the ne
tition and assume this expense if this
proposal Is accepted.
'Then it will withdraw its objcc-
ticns to the north side paving he
added. THAT means an additional
$4,000 assessment will be met to pay
its share Of the improvement. These
two items alone will cost the company
100000"
Installation Of the machinery neces-
sary to electfifv the pumping station.
he said will cost approximately $l0,-
900. all of which will be borne by the
company. The Ventura meter 20
measure the water pumped adds $4,000
more to the cost The electric n
stallstion and pump will be turned
over to the city and become its prop
crty. the company getting its money
out of the rentals during the ten-yeat
neriod of the contract on the basis of
IL cents per kilswat COR power and