Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 95, Decatur, Adams County, 22 April 1959 — Page 1

Vol. LVII. No. 95.

City Council Approves Plan To Keep, Improve City Electric System

The Decatur city council passed unanimously a four-point program Tuesday night to carry out the mandate of the people to keep the city-owned electric utility and bring it up to a satisfactory physical condition. ‘ Under the program, Consoer, Townsend & Associates, consulting engineers, will be contacted immediately by the board of works and safety to prepare plans and specifications for the improvement of the city and rural distribution systems, and all requirements necessary to purchase all power wholesale. A qualified distribution engineer will be hired as a full-time employe of the city. A utility accountant will be employed to study the utility rate structure of the Decatur light and power plant, in anticipation of the expenditure of additional funds. The firm of Ross, McCord. Ice & Miller, of Indianapolis, will be retained to pass on the legality of revenue bonds that may be issued' to provide funds to improve the -rural and city distribution systems, and with which to provide immediate requirements to purchase all energy wholesale. ■ Resolution Given The resolution reads in part as follows: Whereas, On or about September 16, 1958 the common council of the city of Decatur, Indiana, adopted a resolution accepting the offer of Indiana & Michigan Electric Co. for the purchase of the Decatur light and power department, including the generation and distribution systems tor the sum of $2,102,300 00. subject to the question of such sale being submitted through an election to the qualified voters of toe city of Decatur, and Whereas on or about April 14, 1959, said election was held in said city of Decatur, and by a vote of 1,500 to 1,227 said offer to purchase was rejected by said voters, and, “Whereas, by the report of Consoer, Townsend and Associates, consulting engineers under date of August 8, 1958, in order to improve the rural distribution system and the city distribution system to a satisfactory physical as well as financial position it is necessary to expend more funds than are available a tthe present time, and, “Whereas a contract entered into on or about November 20, 1956, with Indiana & Michigan Electric company for the purchase of power is effective on December 31, 1959, “Now therefore be is resolved by the common council of the city of Decatur, Indiana” that the above-mentioned four points be accomplished. Mayor Speaks Mayor Robert D. Cole, in explaining the city’s position to those present at the community center, made the following statement: “In order to clarify the position of the present administration, I wish to review the events that have taken place in the past two] or three years.

< n F , JL . - I L ‘ — — - JBB ■■ BBp:*i CONVICTS HOLD WOMAN HOSTAGE— Two convicts escaped from San Quentin, Calif., prison and threatened to slit the throat of a woman hostage, Mrs. Louise E. Gschwend, 53, unless they got a speedboat with which to escape across San Francisco Bay. Holding a knife to the Woman’s throat, prison guards in close pursuit, Billy Joe Wright, 26, of Trinity County, Calif., and William Werner, 24, of Fresno County, dragged Mrs. Gschwend to toe end of a fishing pier (arrow) where they made their stand. After six hours the convicts released the woman unharmed and surrendered meekly. • >

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

“As you will recall on or about May 21, 1956 a petition was filed before the public service commission of Indiana by a large group of rural patrons requesting to be released from toe city of Decatur. “Thereafter on September 14, 1956 the public service commission ordered the-city to report to the commission relative to its intention concernipg rehabilitation and improvement of the distribution system in the city of Decatur, Indiana. Adams county, and Allen county. Power Purchased “In October. 1956 the council, realizing the increased demand for power, adopted a resolution authorizing the board of works to purchase a block of power from a private utility. On November 20, 1956 the city made a contract with Indiana & Michigan for the purchase of 7,000 KVA. “Bv written proposal of I&M on July 31, 1957 the beginning of the terms of the agreement was deferred until the permanent facilities required under the agreement were installed, or until June 1, 1958. Study Made “In the meantime many meetings and discussions were held with various groups including I&M. and on March 4, 1958 an extensive study was completed of the Decatur electric utility by I&M. covering ‘ a 12-month period ending Oct. 31, 1957. By comparison with I&M billing of customers, rural consumers would have had a total decrase of $43,051 in electric bills annually, with no increase to toe 967 rural consumers. “Thereafter, on April 1, 1958, Decatur employed Consoer, Townsend & Associates as consulting engineers to perform the follow(Continued on page two) Mennis Wulliman Dies At Berne Home Mennis Wulliman, 78, a native of French township and life-long resident of Adams county, died of a heart attack at his Berne home Tuesday at 121:15 p. -m. He was the son of Jacob and Catherine Neuensehwander Wulliman. Surviving are the widow, Pauline; five dons, Curtis, near Monroe, Herman, Harry and Charles Willard, of Berne; three daughters, Mrs. Rolandes Liechty, of Berne, Mrs. Glen Adler, of Decatur, and Mrs. Kenyon Nussbaum, Berne; 33 grandchildren, a greatgrandchild, and three sisters, Mrs. Anna Augsburger, Miss Lydia Wulliman, and Mrs. Melita Siegrist, of Berne. Mr. Wulliman was a member of the Berne First Mennonite church. Friends may call at the Yager funeral home after 3 p. m. today. Services will be at the First Mennonite church at 2 p. m. Thursday, the Rev. Gordon Neuenschwander officiating. Burial will be in the MRE cemetery.

Organization Os Rural Users Is Completed The organization of toe rural electric consumers association was completed Tuesday night following toe meeting with the Decatur city council, Fred Schamerloh, chairman, announced this morning. Schamerloh, of Union township, was elected last week in a special meeting of the group. Officers elected Tuesday night include: Earl Caston, of Root township, treasurer; Gene Rydell, of Root township, secretary. The following precincts chose their precinct leaders: East Union, Arnold Thieme; West Union, Dr. Arnold Spiegel; East Root, Cooney Houser; West Root, Everett Singleton; East Washington, Carl Baker; West Washington, Lee Mcßride; Preble township, Ray Reinking; St. Mary’s township, Charles Wagner. Kirkland township voted to join the Root township organization, and Monroe township voted to join with Washington township. All were represented at the meeting. Following the meeting, the individual farmers and rural people present came forward and donated money to hire attorneys to separate toe rural lines from toe city. Schamerloh opened the meeting by pointing out that they were all agreed that high rates and poor service were their main problems, and that to ecity was in no shape to grant them either better rates matching the $40,000 they could save by being on other lines, or in changing over to better power. The rural users were agreed, he pointed out,.that they could not wait for another election. The biggest disagreement arose over the appointment of an attorney to carry on the work. Schamerloh explained that Custer & Smith had handled the matter in the beginning. One of the men in the audience arose and made an impassioned attack on hiring a Decatur attorney. First he suggested hiring a regular utility lawyer, “one who does not know what the word retreat means,” A committee should be appointed to investigate toe man, and he should not be from the city which had' rejected the farmers, but from Fort Wayne. “The rural people do not want a divorce lawyer in this matter, but a lawyer that can get them a divorce from the city electric lines.” Another rural member arose and moved that Custer & Smith be retained, and that another lawyer be hired'in addition if it was necessary. The voice vote on toe (Continued on page two)

Meeting Tonight On Electrical Problems The industrial committee will definitely meet with the "citizen’s committee ’ and the city council tonight, LowelßW. Harper, chairman of the group, said today. Members of the committee, in addition to Harper, are George Auer, Cletus ’ Miller, Noah Steury, Louis Jacobs, and Cal Yost. Through a misunderstanding it was announced that the industrial committee to sell the Decatur electric utility had disbanded. The exact opposite is true, Harper stated. The committee will very actively oppose any attempt to raise toe present high level of Tates, which discourages business and commerce, he added. INDIANA WEATHER Fair and quite cool tonight with scattered frost or freesing temperatures. Thursday sunny, warmer south, a little warmer north. Low tonight 30 to 36 north, 28 to 34 south. High Thursday 60 to 65. Sunset today 7:30 p. m. CDT. Sunrise Thursday 5:57 a. m. CDT. Outlook for Friday: Fair and mild. Lows 30 to 40. Highs 60 to 70.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IX ADAMS COUNTY

Detatur, Indiana, Wednesday, April 22,1959.

Central Soya Asks Additional Power

The Central Soya company petitioned the city of Decatur to provide an additional 1,000 KVA of standby power capacity, and to meet with that company to discuss rates, clerk-treasurer Miriam Hall told the city couneil Tuesday night. Specifically, Central Soya asked that its standby be increased from 1,500 KVA to 2.500 KVA. on or before September 1, 1959. Last month Central Soya used 279,600 kilowatts of electricity. The iff l crease is believed necessary due to the increased storage capacity and elevator service placed in effect this past year, and now reaching capacity. Soya also requested a meeting with the council to discuss three points: ' v _,r < < 1. How will toe city utility service the increased capacity? 2. What will the rate structure be for the increased capacity? 3. What will the coal clause in the rate charge be? (The coal clause in an industrial rate contract permits the raising of the price with the increase in the cost of coal, and of transporting coal. Presently Central Soya’s coal rate is $.04 as compared with I&M’s $.01). Mayor Cole stated this morning that he had contacted Central Soya engineer Ken Robertson and informed him that at the present Council Approves Lease With School In regular business meeting before going to toe Youth and Community Center for the mass meeting, the Decatur city council approved the 30-year lease of a field in Hanna-Nuttman park to Decatur Catholic high school, accepted the resignation of Lester Mitchel, electric plant engineer, and recorded several requests, including one from Central Soya asking for an increase in standby power. This was all in addition to the resolution to initiate action on improving the city electric plant. The council also accepted city engineer Ralph Roon’s plans for an addition to the North 15th street sewer at a cost of $1,737. Everett G, Hutker, member of the school board, applied for re-appointment to that position through a letter to the council. The final resolution was also adopted for the 12th street sewer plans submitted by engineer Roop. The city also answered a request from the public health department for further information concerning the sewage disposal bonds. Al Geimer, partner of a local commercial establishment, as'ked the council why the “step-children” or the commercial users of electricity, had to pay such high rates. He also wanted to know if any reduction could be seen in the future. Mayor Robert D. Cole“answered that the information disseminated as the” mass meeting with the “country cousins” might clarify his questions. The resolution passed by the council last night, also included a provision for an accountant to study the rate structure and provide the city with a revised schedule. The lease with the Catholic high school stipulates that any organized recreational function * will be allowed .there, if first cleaned through toe school’s athletic direct tor. who at the present is the Rev. Robert Jaeger. Rev. Jaeger was instrumental in gaining the lease as was the Lions club and the city board of worid. Mitchell, in resigning, s&id that he thanked the city for the time he spent with them, but felt that he could better himself elsewhere. The Central Soya request for increased standby power, from 1,500 KVA to 2.500 KVA, also asked how the city 'planped to supply this needed amount. It Also asked the rate structure, and that the power be available by September 1 of this year.,

time it would serve no useful purpose to have a meeting. He explained that the city Will begin a fate study just as soon as possible, that when all power is purchased a change in the coal rate will be possible, and that while the present time it would be impossible to service an additional 1,000 KVA, it should be possible when the new improvements are completed late this year or early next year. I The petition by Central Soya was , viewed by many as the first step in a wholesale attempt by industry to leave the Decatur power system. It was stated that if the city could not meet the requests of the Central Soya company, the path would be open to appeal to the public service commission for a direct I&M line, and that every industry in town would then follow suit. Last year industry used 16,592,308 kilowatts Os electricity out of the total load of 36,297,100 kilowatts, or 45% of the total amount distributed by the city, including the water department, street light- . ing, and schools. ; All Bids On County 1 Building Rejected No bid for the construction of the proposed Adams county building at Monroe was accepted this morning when all of the bids submitted exceeded the appropriated $42,000. Five bids were publicly opened today by the Adams cdunty board of commissioners for bids on constructing the new county building. A sixth bid was submitted, for the heating and electric work only, but was rejected when the bid was not signed. Bids submitted this forenoon are the following: Yost Construction Co., Inc., of Decatur, $43,100; James S. Jackson Construction Company i of Bluffton, $44,860, and a 75-day completion date; Baker & Schultz, of Decatur, $47,332.08, and a completion date fixed at September 15, 1959; Bultemeier Construction company, of Decatur, $49,950; and Solaman Schwartz, of Geneva, $51,795. The bid on the heating and electric contract submitted by Biberstine Electric company, of Decatur, calling for $8,750, was not considered because the bid was not signed. None of the above bids could be accepted when all blds were over the $42,000 appropriated from the general fund by the Adams county board of commissioners and the county council for the construction of the proposed building. Robert S. Anderson, county attorney, and county commissioners, Loren Heller, Stanley Arnold and Roland Miller, stated this forenoon that they would confer with Henry* Dehner, chairman of the county council, late this afternoon about the matter. Only two alternates concerning the high bids can be considered by the county commissioners: to recall the county council to appropriate an additional $l,lOO needed to meet the low bid by Yost Construction company; or to re- , advertise for new bids. The commissioners and the county attorney recessed the meeting until 4 o’clock this afternoon when a decision is expected to be announced. Others attending the opening of the sealed bids were: Ed Jaberg, county auditor; Lawrence Noll, county highway superintendent, Walter Gililom, county engineer; Bud Werling, representative of Civilian Building & Supply, Inc., of Fort Wayne; William Garver, of Fort Wayne, engineer in charge of drawing the building plans and specifications, and several business representatives who submitted bids. .

New Election Is Sought On Utility Sale Two problems were posed to toe city-council Tuesday night by commercial or store users in the city of Decatur: a request for another election, and a request for a rate adjustment to bring commercial rates lower. Al Geimer. Decatur commercial power user, asked the city council first for a non-discriminatory rate for local stores. Geimer asked why his rates should be at four and three cents while industrial, rural land residential rates were all lower; ' J Mayor Robert D. Cole explained that the rates were fixed by the public service commission. He Also explained that a rate study by a rate accountant would be made just as quickly as possible, with the very fairest rates for every user. When the council adjourned to the Youth and Community Center, Robert G. Smith presented a petition to the council, on behalf dt comfoevciaA users, asking ter Another election on the question. The petition maintained that the voters had been completely misled by vicious lies and half-truths spread up and down the street, and especially by a printed, unsigned letter the day before the election with the anonymous “citizen’s committee” name'on it. The undue influence of this vicious propaganda swayed the populace against its best interests, they maintained. A five-page list of statements made by the citizens committee, and the truth in rebuttal, was presented to the council, and read to the group by clerk-treasurer, Mrs. (Continued on page three)

Christian Stuckey Is Taken By Death Christian E. Stuckey, 92, a native of French township and lifelong resident of Adams county, died at the Lutheran hospital in Fort Wayne Tuesday at 9:45 a.m. He was the son of Christian and Elizabeth Christner Stuckey. Surviving are four sons, the Rev. Walter J. Stuckey, Wabasha, Minn., Homer C„ of Fremont, Leslie 1., of Berne, and Carl E. Stuckey, of Decatur; four daughters, Miss Estella Stuckey, at home, Mrs. Calvin A. Sprunger, of Berne, Mrs. Homer Winteregg, of Monroe, and Mrs. A. C. Ferber, of Fort Wayne; 17 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Mr. Stuckey was a member of the Cross Evangelical and Reformed church. Friends may call at the Yager funeral home after 7 p.m. today. Services will be held at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Friday, the Rev. William Feller, of Decatur, officiating. Burial will be in the MRE cemetery.

Fine Arts Festival At High School On Friday

The musical program and names of the Adams county artists who will display their art work at the fine arts festival slated for Friday evening at 8 o’clock at the Decatur high school gym, were announced today by Hugh J. Andrews, principal. Miss Kathryn Kauffman, art instructor at Decatur high school, said today that the festival will show about 75 oil paintings, and several water colors, ink, pastel, cut paper, ceramics, chalk drawings, mosaics, lapidary art, and ■many other types of art work. The high school art class will display aluminum trays and enameled copper' jewelry. - Doors to the gymnasium will open at 7 o’clock so spectators may view the displays before the musical jjfogram starts at 8 p.m. Persons unable to view the exhibits and displays before 8 o’clock may do so at the conclusion of the band and choir program. John Sheets, a former Decatur high school student, is preparing a "seascape" to be given as a door prize. Artists The following names comprise the artists who will feature and display art work: Oils—-Katherine Anker, John Sheets, Grace Allwein, Wilma Lou Dippel, Harry Brown, Mrs. Harry Brown, Mrs. Ervin Stuckey, Mrs. Frona Floyd, Geary Buechner, John Games, Wade Marbach, Margaret Azbell, Jean Finlayson, Rosemary Baker, Steve Markley, Mike Burke, Helen Kollman, Mrs. John Doan, Janelie Heller, Mrs. Julius Brite, Pam Koos, Rita Runyon, Rev. George Yarian, Harry Stults, Mrs. Vivian

Rural Users Petition For

City Release

More than 500 persons, at least 400 representing rural electric users from Madison and Monroe townships of Allen county, Preble, Root, Union, St. Mary’s, Washington, Kirkland, and Monroe townships of Adams county, met with the Decatur city council Tuesday night at toe Decatur Youth and Community Center, and presented a petition requesting that users outside the corporate limits of Decatur be released from all obligations to the city of Decatur. The group, in short, asked release from insuffiecient, unregulated voltage and discriminatory rates. They rejected waiting for another election, or any more talk. They thanked the mayor and council, and those who voted for toe sale, but decided to proceed at law for a release. The city council met first in the council chambers where about ten visitors and the department heads filled all the available seats. They then adjourned to the center where the large auditorium was set up with chairs. Mayor Presides The council, mayor, clerk-trea-surer, and chief of police took their places on a specially prepared stage, and the mayor called the meeting to order. Except for the first two rows of seats, the entire area was filled, and a number stood in the rear near the doors. Perhaps 100 townspeople, interested in the meeting, turned out to watch. The mayor called the meeting to order, and attorney Robert G. Smith read a petition from commercial users, covered in another story. The mayor then read a letter dated April 17 from Fred Schamerloh, chairman of the rural electric comsumers association requesting the special meeting, and . another dated April 20, which read as follows: ! New Election Rejected “We represent the rural patrons of the light and power department of the city of Decatur. Needless to say, we were disappointed in toe result of the recent special election when the voters of toe city determined to retain their electric facilities. We feel that we were given no consideration by those voting in the majority and know that the result of the election was not in our best interests. We believe that toe election was influenced by a vast amount of misinformation, and in order that there might be no doubt or confusion as to our feelings and attitudes and/or future course of action, we are addressing this letter to you. Grateful To Mayor “First of all, we are grateful to you, the city council and all those who voted for the sale of the electrical “ facilities of Decatur. We

Miller and Donna Miller Lehman. Water colors — Katherine Anker and Irene Krueckeberg; ing, Harry Brown; cut paper, Irene Krueckeberg; ink, Wilma Lou Dippel; drawings, Hubert Feasel; pastel, Wilma Lou Dippel; ceramics, Agnes Arnold, Ireta Judt, Alta Brown, Kathryn Morris, and Helen Howell; chalk, Jane Bedwell; moisaics, Hubert Feasel, and the Decatur high school art class; lapidary art, C. W. Kent. Musical Program The choir and band selections comprising the musical program are the following number, composers, arrangers, and featured soloists: choir—“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” J. S. Bach; “The Col®-, rado Trail,” arranger, Tom Stott; “John Peel’s Kentucky Kin,” arranger, Clint’Reed; “San,” McPhail, girls quartet, Eleanor Miller, Linda Jackson, Kay Wynn and Janet Miller; “Scarlet Ribbon," Danzig; “The Birth of the Blues,” Hendersori-Wamick. Band — “Air To Bouree,” from “The Water Music,” Handel; “Concerto for Droodlers,” Bartok; “Choral and Canon.” composed and arranged by Mike Kaehr; “Echoes from Spain,” Chabrier; “Stories of the Bluetail Fly,” as told by a farmer, hunter, preacher and goat rancher; "Bugler’s Holiday,” Anderson. Band and choir — “George Brown’s Fiddle," student band conductor, Mike Kaehr; “God’s Trombone,” narrated by the Rev. Edward Pacha; and “Now God Be Praised In Heaven Above,” Vulpius, student band conductor, Ron Feller. ’

Six

would express our appreciation to all who thus attempted to help us and we realize that such persons, are, so to speak, ‘caught in the middle’ of this situation. However, all are aware of our problems relative, to our electrical service and the many intolerable situations resulting. After Tuesday’s election, we consider that there is only one course of action open to us to enable to have relief. We propose by this letter to inform you of our intentions. Further Talk Wasted “We believe that any further attempts at ‘talking the situation over* would simply be so much wasted ■ effort and argument. We have done that for years now without receiving any appreciable relief. Therefore, we do not propose to meet with any so-called ‘citizens committee.’ The only solution to our electrical problems acceptable to us is the immediate and unconditional release of us from the lines of the light and power department of the city of Decatur that we might obtain power and electric service elesewhere. We have retained counsel and all our resources and efforts will be directed toward obtaining such release. “In an effort to avoid controversy and litigation, we intend first of all to file our petition with the common council of the city of Decatur requesting our immediate and unconditional release from the lines of the electric light and power department of the city of Decatur to enable us to seek another power source. We are hopeful that such petition will receive the favorable action of the council. “We do not mean this letter to be a criticism of you or your administration but as we have stated, we simply write this that our position and aims may be made clear to you.” Petition Submitted Schamerloh then-read the following petition: “The undersigned, representing and on behalf of all rural patrons of the electric light and power department of the city of Decatur, being those patrons of such utility outside the corporate limits of the city of Decatur, Indiana, would respectifully ask and petition aS follows: “Whereas, said rural patrons of the electric light and power department of the city of Decatur, Indiana, are all under contract with the city of Decatur to purchase electricity from such utility to service their farms and homes and have paid for the erection of lines to carry such electricity, “And whereas, the power and service furnished pursuant to such contracts is and has been for a long time past unreasonable and inadequate with very poor voltage regulation and has not met and does Mt meet and conform to the minimum standards as prescribed by the public service commission of the state of Indiana, “And whereas, on such lines there is a total lack of sufficient primary line and transformer capacity as a consequence of all of which bulbs, appliances, and machinery have burned out and have failed to function, Rates Discriminate “And whereas, the rates and charges of the electric light and power department of the city of Decatur are unreasonable and unjustly dischiminatory as applied to these rural patrons and the electrical services supplied in return for sums paid therefore is completely inadequate and insufficient, “And whereas, the undersigned is advised that if the city of Decatur will voluntarily release its rural patrons-from their contracts and if the public service commission of the state of Indiana will approve, that another source of electrical energy is available and adequate to serve said rural patrons. “Now therefore, the undersigned respectiftilly asks and petitions that said rural patrons be released .from all obligation to purchase electricity from the city of Decatur, and that said rural patrons be permitted to enter into contracts with another utility to supply them with electrical service; that when another such power source is available that said rural patrons be permitted to disconnect from the electric light and power department of the city of Decatur and cease being customers of such utility.” Following this, the mayor read the resolution passed earlier, and explained that the council could not permit the rural lines to withdraw. The council then adjourned, and withdrew from the meeting, while the rural customers remained. ' "

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