The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-08-22
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Of INDIANAPO OILS
BEST IN NATION
John W. McCardIe Declares
Service Is Cheaper Than
Other Cities of Same Size.

Indianapolis has not only the best
but the cheapest service from its
public utilities OF any city Of com
parable size in the United States" was
the statement OF John ". McCardle.
chairman OF the public service com
mission.
ITO say that the service from the
street railway, the gas. electric and
water companies and the telephone
company is 100 per cent, is no ex-
aggeraton." he continued
Considering that the Indianapolis
Street Railway Company transports
315, 100 passengers daily, that So
. Go0, 900 gallons OF water are pumped
into city mains, that 500, 90 local tele-
phone calls are made through the ex-
changes of the Indiana Bell Telephone
Company and that power and light
are supplied many towns and cities be-
sides Indianapolis, by the two electric
companies, the utilities Of the city are
kept working to capacity twenty-four
hours a day
The indianapolis Water Company
has 465 miles OF water mains, vary
ing in size from four to forty inches
IN diameter. with proposals for the
laying Of twenty more miles this year.
The company has $1,000 customers,
probably supplies 55 900 families as
apartment buildings are considered as
one customer.
Every birth in Indianapolis or every
stranger who locates in Indianapolis
causes the water company to pump
ninety gallons more water daily at
an increased investment per capita of
$50. The flow OF the White River
daily is 100. 10000 gallons. 10000, 900
gallons Of which are consumed by
indianapolis patrons OF the water
company.
Considering the condition Of White
River after a heavy rain, when the
water is little short of pure mud. the
process Of filtration which takes place
is regarded as almost wonderful. No
matter how murky the water. that
which comes at the turn of the
kitchen spigot is Just as crystal-clear
and just as chemically pure as on
clear days in drought seasons.
Street Railway
The indianapolis Street Railway
Company, with $4,000, 900 invested in
6AuAp4lkGAL AGE4EA4EF4 AttN LAAC
and convenience IN transportation of
Indianapolis residents. carries on any
average day 259,50O 'jitney" passen-
gers, $500 transfer passengers and
1880 officials. employees and Others
who ride free. With fares at 5 cents
each. the company roslizes .015 Of
! cent profit on passengers. the actual
cost OF transportation being 4.0S5 of
a cent.
The indianapolis Street Railway is
one OF the very few privately owned
street car companies of the country
that did not enjoy higher than scent
fare in the last four years. The only
increase granted was the transfer for
2 cents and straight nickel fare over
+he old system OF six tickets for a
quarter.
Merchants Light
The Merchants Heat and Light
Company, which supplies the city of
Indianapolis. it's parks and country
club with electric current, operates
the largest Iow-pressure electric heat
ing system in the world With a gen.
Grafton system capable of $4,000 to
27,000 pzilowat production, not only the
city OF NIndianapolis with its industries,
but a large portion Of Marion and
Hendrix ks Counties are supplied with
slsctz'it current Between 1900 and
-, 900 customers are served daily by
this company which now operates
three plants. one at Washington St.
and White River. another at S. New
Jersey St and the belt, and a third
at Sixteenth and Alabama St.
This company at the present time
has under construction on the Wabash
River in the edge Of Vigo County, an
hydro-eIectric plant. which when com
pIAEsd. vii he tina most mode<n unit