Hammond Times, Volume 15, Number 37, Hammond, Lake County, 3 August 1921 — Page 12

PAGE

EAST CHICAGO WATER RATE SITUATION EXPLAINED

(Continued from page two.)

such that the total income to the company la not materially changed. Because of the uncertainty and the dirficulty of the problem, the Commission has delayed fl-xing a rata for sprinkling purposes until next April. As statod above the present rate will not be effective until September 1st, and sprinkling season will then bo about over for thle year. The Commission felt that It should have the beneflt of the actual experience of operation under the now rate until next spring to seo about how muSh water people would consume for purposes other than epriailing, and also discover how much rovecue the new rato would bring. With this information it feels it can more equitably fix a sprinklirg rate, and for th.it JTeason It has decided to have a heaxirg next April for that purpose. Another tliin-j that wiU be cf interest to landlords generally is that part of the order which n-quires the water company to put in separate meters fcr tenants if requested so to do and tho landlord at his own expense alters tho plumbing when ncctssary so as to put it ia proper ehape for separate meters. The expense of the meter iteclf, however, ia to be paid by the company. The company will divide the city into three or more districts for continuous meter reading purposes, ana the bills will not bo s-nt out all at one time. About one-third of them

will be sent out on the 11th day or

the month, another third on the 21s'

and the balance on the 1st of the next succeeding month, and consumers will

have ten days after the date of the bill within which to pay their monthly

bill In order to get the benefit of the net rate. There is a difference of 10

rer cent between the gross rata and

the net rate. In each case this is done to promote prompt collection of the bills the aame aa has been done in the case of your gas and electric bills for some time. It is presumed that practically all consumers will pay their

bills within such period and enjoy the

benefits of the set rate. There 13 a minimum rate provided for each ser

vice which carries with it the same

discount rule. In the case of most

consumers (who have 5-8 Inch meters)

this minimum rate covers a consumption of approximately four thousand rallons per month. As the meters Increase In size the number of gallons within the minimum for each montn

increases proportionately. The principal obpoction that X see with the rate to begin with la the size of the

first block, namely ten housand gal

Ions per month. If this blocs wero

cut in half and five thousand added to the second block the schedule would be much better for single family ser

vice. An Initial block of ten thousand gallpnvs for two-flat buildings

and other services with more than on

family seems reasonably fair, but

makes the schedule & little high for single family service. There is an

additional charge added to the minimum of SO cents net for each additional family, but In my opinion, that still docs not make the schedule Quite as fair as it should be to single family service.. I believe that experience will prove that the minimum t $1.25 net can be cut to $1.00 and that the initial block can be cut from tea thousand gallons per month to five thousand gallons per month. There is not very , much difference between the rate provided by this new schedule and the one now in use in Gary and Whiting. The difference between this futo and the Gary rato is due largely to the fact that we now have filtered water and Gary does not, also to the fact that the Gary Land Company pays a large proporion of the cost of sprinkling in that city. I herewith submit that portion of the order just made which I think will

be moat interesting to tie genera

puouc, ana . wmcn, aiscioses tne general attitude of the Commission toward our problem together with tne schedule they have adopted for trial purposes. A few days hence I expect to have several copies of the full order available for distribution td the press and organizations desiring them. "RATES." "It Is Impossible to determine exactly what the consumption of water will be under tha new rates, and impossible to determine exaet'y what the revenues will be. Operating expenses will vary to some slight extent by reason of greater or less consumption of water. The commission has estimated these things aa closely as possible in view of all the evidence. "It ia suggested ty the city that the Comission authorise ratos for a temporary period only, so that the rates may be changed if found to yield too much revenue, or found to be otherwise improper or unfair. The Coramission believes a better plan will be to require water company each month to make a report to the Commission and the City, showing its revenues and expenses and other operating data for the the preceding month. If it develops that the rates authorized are too high or too low, or otherwise improper, the Commission will upon its own 4nitlative proceed to raako such adjustment as are required. It will probably tako several months, and may tako more than one change of the schedule before a satisfactory adjustment of the rates is completed. "The conditions at East Chicago are peculiar and the putting into effect of meter rates that will be fair to each cf the various classes of consumers and to the company, will require some

time and considerable patience, and J

the continued co-operation of the City i consumers who desire to economize on and the Company with the Commis- 1 the use of water by the immediate re- ' sion. j pair of leaks in their services and by I The meter rates heretofore author- the avoidance of waste in other ways. ized are unreasonable in various par- j need not pay as much as they are now j ticulars and a new schedule should be paying under the fiat rateu. An ample I

and meter rates for water used for

other city purposes. The City seems inclined to this view. There should be no 'yervice charge or 'family charge.' Therj should be a minimum charge depending upon the size of the motor, and this charge will necessarily have to be somewhat higher than ia ordlnariiy the case for at leajjt the first month or two, until the amount of revenue under the new rates is disclosed. "The meter should be read and blV.a collected monthly in order that the consumers may bo Informed of their consumption. Landlords owning buildings for rent should bo perixiHted to have the entire building on one meter, or should have each tenant in tho buiidicg metered if they desire. In tho latter cae, the landlord should bo required to make any necessary alteration in his plumbing, and at his own expense, in order to install the meter. All tho water consumed, should bo metered by the water company, except that used for fire and other purposes where it is impracticable to meter. "It ta important that there shouid bo a rate established for domestic sprinkling that will encourago the use of water for that purpose. The sprinkling :?ason of 1321 will be pracically over when this order goes into effect, so that tho question need not be decided until more reliable information is available. It is difficult, if not impossible, to tlx a rate for that kind of service until experience under the new rates has developed what the con sumption for purposes other than

sprinkling will be. The Commission, therefore, will, not later than April 1, 1923 make an Investigation and hold

a hearing for tho purpose of establishing a special rate for domcstio sprinkling. If it is found to be practicably to establish such a rate. "FIRE HYDRANT RENTALS." "The evidence shows that the water company has 250.000 feet of water mains' ia East Chicago. There are la the city 373 fire hydrants. It is the almost universal rule in American cities that there should be at least one fire hydrant to each COO feet of water main throughout the city, and that in congested business districts the Intervals between hydrants'should be from 200 to 300 feet. East Ch:cargo has .too few fire hydrants, which Is a damage and detriment to tho city by way of less protection from destructive fires and also through the higher ratings of the insurance companies.

"The City should have at least 500 i

fire hydrants on the present system of mains, and the Commission believes that the water company should he required to install, at its own expense, a sufficient number during eoch of the next three years, without additional rental coat to the city, so that at the end of the period the city will have at least 00 fire hydrants on the present system of mains. These should be installed by the water company at points designated by tho City. At least 40 shouid be installed, during the first year. "The installation of these additional fire hydrants will cost in the neighborhood of $20,000, but the Commission believes that the expenditure Is necessary in order that the City may be assured of adequate fire protection in that respect. Tho City is now paying the water

company a rate of $4S.OO per year for

fire hydrants. Tho rate is extremely low in comparison with ratea of other

cities of like character. The best au

thorities agree that under ordinary

circumstances, such as exist in this

case, the City should pay for fire protection at least $1.00 per year per capita. Some estimates run aa high as

$1.50 per capita. It is also believed

that fire protection service In a city should yield revenue sufficient to meet

approximately 25 per cent of the whole cost of tho water supply. Including fixed charges. The Commission believes the City of East Chicago should pay, under the present circumstances, $40,000 per year for fire hydrant serv

ice, that amount being approximately

$1.00 per capita and approximately 16 per cent of the whole cost of furnish

ing the water service to the City.

The water company should be re

quired to install at its own expense during the next three years enough additional hydrants on the present sys

tem of mains so that at the end of

three years there will be 500 fire hy

drants on the present system of mains, and there should be no additional

charge against the city over and above

the $40,000 for such additional hydrants.

'On new mains laid during the next

three years, and after that, unless

otherwise ordered, the City should have

installed on the average of one fire

dydrant for each 500 feet of main, and should be required to pay an annual

rental of $60.00 per hydrant for such hydrants. The City should also be required to pay $50. 00 per year for each hydrant in excess of 500 attached to the present system of mains, if there should be any such. The rates herein authorized are a

radical reduction and modification of the meter rats heretofore authorized. The audit shows that tho new rates will yield little, if any more, revenue from the average domestic consumer than the flat rates now in effect. "The rate to the cityfcas been somewhat increased, but the increase is offset to a considerable extent by the additional fire, protection which will be given by the installation of tho additional fire hydrants by the water company without initial cost or raie increase to the city. "Tho rates to industrial consumers have been adjusted and arc believed to bo reasonable. Domestic and other

company now in effect is unreasonable and discriminatory and

should be discontinued. j 2. That the schedule of meter) rateu and rules heretofore author-j

Ized by tho Commission is unreasonable and excessive and should be set aside 3) That all the water service, with the exception of that used for fire protection and certain other purposes where it is impracticable to meter should be metered and rates provided on a meter bashi. (4) That the rates hereinafter ordered are reasonable and should beccmo effective on all consumptions subsequent to September L 1921. (5) That the East Chicago and Indiana Harbor Water company should meter tho water used by each consumer for the month preceding the taking effect of the rates herein ordered, and should compute each consumer's bill and inform him what it would be for such period under tho schedule of rates herein ordered. (6) That the East Chicago and Indiana Harbor Water company should during each month, commencing with October, 1921, make a written report to the Commission, copy of which should be delivered io the City Attorney of East Chicago, such report to .be as prescribed in this order. "IT IS ORDERED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF INDIANA, that the Eatrt Chicago and Indiana Water company bo, and It is hereby authorized and directed to charge and collect on and after' September 1, 1921, the following schedule

of rates, and to put in force and effect at tho same time the following schedule of rules: SCHEDULES OF MONTHLY METER RATES Consumption per month Per 1.000 gal Gross Net For the first 10.000 gals. .$ .35 $ .315 For the next 15,000 gals.. .25 .225 For the next 25.000 gals.. .20 .IS For the next 250,000 gals. .15 .135 For the next 700.000 gals.. .10 .09 For the next 2,000,000 gal .08 .072 For all over 3.000,000 gal. .04 .05S5 "Bills "shall be rendered and duo

Wednesday, August 3, 1921.

authorized in order to more equitably

distribute tho burden. The Commis

sion will attempt to work out lit this,

supply of fi.tercd water of the quality

now iurn.sceo at .uasi tjuicago, u an enormous asset to the City and nec-

and if necessary in subsequent orders ' essarily the heavy investment ia the

a schedule of rates that will permit! the greatest possible use of water for J sprinkling and other uses requiring aj large volume, at the lowest possible

coin, ratner tnan a scneauie aesignea

to restrict the u.-es of water for such cities, purposes. In other wordi, it is be- j "Tho

ieved that there rhould e a large volume of water sold at a small marsraia per thousand above cost, rather I thaa a lesser voiuiae of water at aj greater ma-rjain. j The CSiy iuclf should pay a gTeater I propcrtioa of the cost for furnishing I vtixer it has tn the .past, by way I at lAcreed rates for lira hydrants J

filtration plant at East Chicago and the expense for operation of the plant, make the cost of water somewhat higher than the coat of unflltercd lake water to the people of neighboring

monthly. If paid within ten days, be

ginning with the day following the day bill Is properly rendered, the net rates shall be charged; otherwise the gross rates shall be charged. When the tenth day falls on Sunday or any other

legal holiday, the first business day thereafter shall be Included la the discount period. MINIMUM BILLS The following shall constitute minimum charges for service. Size of meter Gross Net

5-S inch $ 1.40 1.2 3-4 inch 2.00 1.S0 1 inch 3.50 3.15 1 inch 5.00 4.50 2 inch 8.00 7.20 3 inch 15.00 13.50 4 inch 24.00 22.60 6 inch 40.00 36.00 Where more than one family is served from the same meter the above minimum will be Increased 55 cents gross or 50 cents net for each additional family so connected. Private fire hydrants, $50 per hydrant per year. PUBLIC FIRE HYDRANTS For the public fire hydrajit service now installed on the existing system of mains in the city of East Chicago, $40,. 000 per year. For each fire hydrant installed on additional mains $60.00 per year. For each fire hydrant installed on existing system of mains in excess ol five hundred $60.00 per year. "FLAT RATES" FIRE PROTECTION LINES For use only in extinguishing fires For fire service from 2 Inch line for standpipe, $20.00 per annum. For fire service from 3 inch line for standpipe $45.00 per annum. For fire service for automatic sprinkler service through first 4 "inch line (maximum heads, 700) $60.00 per annum

For each additional 4 inch connection for same property $55.00 per annum. For private fire hydrant, $50.00 per annum . No fire lines run into building or fire lines supplied with water unless water ia taken also for general purposes. BUILDING RATES Laying brick, 5,000 or less per 100o

Each additional thousand over 25000 1

$0.075.. No charge less than $1. Laying stone per yard, $0.03. No charge less than $1. Plastering, per 100 yards, $0.03. ro charge less than $1. Imitation stone-facing per 1)0 yards $0.30. No charge les3 than $1.

Fire-proofing per 100 square yards, $0.25. No charge less than $1. Tiling and mosaic, per square yard $0.0025. No charge less thaa $1. liazing buildings, one story $2.00. Each additional story $9. Cinder filling 3 inch or less per cqyard $0.0025. Cinder h.ling 4 in. or less per square yard, $0.00-1-3. FLAT RATES CONCRETE WORK Four Inches thick or less per square yard $0.0075. Four Inches to 6 inches thick, per squara yard $0.0125.

Six inches to 8 inches thick, per square yard $0,015. Per cubic yard 1.000 cubic yards or less $0.07. For second 1000 cubic yards $0.05. All in excess first 2, OOOcbuio All in excess first 2,000 'cubic yalds $0.05. No charge less than $1. Cement porches each $0.73. Cement blocUs, per 100 blocks. $0.10. No charge less thau $1.

cement curb;ng (without gutter) per foot $0.0025. With gutter per foot $0,003. No ci.aigu Ics than $1. Cooling concrete or pavement in addition to above charges, per square yard $0.0025.. Grouting street, in addition to above charges, icr square yard $0.0025. No charg leas thaa $1. Hoisting engines, 3 II. P. or less per month or fraction thereof $3.00. Each additional H. P. up to 10 per mouth $1. Eaeh additional H. P. over 10, per month $0.50. Circuses from $10 to $25 per day. SPRINKLING HOURS 5 to 3 a. m. 4 to 3 p m. Tho Compejiy shall have the right to divide said city of East Chicago into

: 1 L Ul WBgB

' IWIWIl ij i

water company contends that 1

a rate of l'i per cent should be allow- ! districts and inaugurate the continuous ed for depreciation. The Commission; reading ystei. " believes 1 per cent to be sufficient and i 1 sha-i be very glad to give an fur-

will majo that allowance in computing thcr explanation of this order or in-

the water company's requirt-ments. "The Commission being sufficiently advised ia the premises findst (1) That the schedule of rates

fox wn.tfvr service ul the E" ChA-

formation thai I can to anybody and invite inquiries from any source. Very respectfully submitted. 3d. E. CRITES. City Altoxoey

Edward CL

TV rr

o

G0o

Here's the Good News

Waitim For

M

sive oee

nnouncing the Most Stupendou

Ever Attempted in Northern Indiana

For the last two weeks you have been wondering what that mysterious "Number Nine" has been in the newspaper. It preached that it was bringing good news, and that it was lucky. It was right it IS great news, the best bit of sale news you have heard for some time the best news that your pocketbook has known for many a day. And this is it : The Nine Cent Sale is Announced to Begin at 9 o'clock Friday Morning, August 5th and will Continue for Five Startling Days , This store has had many value-giving activities this year, but no other event can boast of being so important to the interest of all Lake County as this Nine Cent Sale. There have been a vast number of "Nine Cent Sales" presented in this community, but we believe this will out-do them all. In its scope there is nothing to compare with it in value-giving it will be unequalled and the merchandise you will buy at this sale is the regular Minas Standard Quality and carries with it the same service and assurance. This is a great five-day event, during which prices combined with the quality, variety and all-around desirability will prove an attraction to everyone in all Lake County. We have planned for weeks to make this Nine Cent Sale an occasion never to be forgotte n, whereby our patrons will save thousands of dollars on merchandise they now need. We knew that thi s sale must see us at the height of completeness, and we are ready for it, beginning Friday morning at 9 A. M. See Our Page in Tomorrow's Lake County Times for the Opening Story

Each day new offerings will be brought forward, thus making every one of the five days one of great importance.

Watch your door-knob for a partial list of Cent specials.

'Nine

Just Try a Times Want Ad