[U.-1650] IN RE APPLICATION OF THE PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY OF DANE COUNTY FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE RATES Decided December 1, 1919 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Applicant, Peoples Telephone Company, seeks to increase its gross rate for two or more party-line service from $15 to $18 per year, and for individual lines from $18 to $21, a discount in each case of $3 allowed for payment yearly in advance. Increase in Operators' Salaries. Three operators are employed at a cost of $1,020 per year, which, on account of the minimum-wage order, has been increased to $1,463 per year, about the same increase as will be provided by the proposed rates. Maintenance of Equipment. On the whole, the service cannot be considered inadequate, but an inspection shows that no trouble record is kept, no peg counts taken, and maintenance of equipment is not properly cared for. For the past fiscal year only about $21 per month was paid for labor in the maintenance of wire plant and substations and for general supervision. Proper maintenance will call for a greater expenditure in the future. For the year ended July 31, 1919, the gross income, before providing for depreciation, was $869.69, about 13 per cent on $6,700. Since the value of the plant is at least that amount, this is reasonable. Rate Differentials. Applicant proposes to continue to charge business and residence subscribers at the same rate. This is wrong in principle, and the order will provide for proper differentials in these rates. Local Service Beyond Village Limits. The fact that there are single- and two-party lines extending for considerable distance outside the village is unfair to rural subscribers who must pay the same rates for rural service. A line charge of $4 per quarter-mile for distances over one-half mile from the central office will be provided. Summer-Resort Rates. Under the $2-per-month rate, the average summer resort pays about $6 per year, which is below the cost of service. For this service there should be applied the usual provision for the payment by short-term users of regular monthly rates, while the service is rendered, and 50 cents per month for the remainder of the yearly contract period. Discounts. The discount which is allowed when rates are paid yearly in advance should be allowed for payment quarterly in advance. Moving and Installation Charges. Moving charges are also requested, and will be authorized, but the installation charges will not be allowed until a formal case now pending, relating to the reasonableness of such charges, has been passed upon. The schedule authorized Service and Bookkeeping Improvement. will net about $100 per year more than the proposed schedule. Applicant should devote this to the betterment of the service, as suggested, and in revising the bookkeeping procedure to reflect an accurate statement of the applicant's financial condition. ORDER accordingly, specifying a schedule including gross rates for business one-party service of $6, for business two-party and residence one-party service of $5.25, for residence two or more party or rural service of $4.50, the net rates in each being 75 cents lower; and moving charges of $1 for inside moves, $2 for outside moves, and $3 for rural moves. [R.-2524] CITY OF RHINELANDER VS. CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY, AND WALKER D. HINES, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF RAILROADS Decided December 4, 1919 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Petitioner, City of Rhinelander, alleges that the highway grade-crossing on respondent's line at South Oneida avenue is dangerous, and requests that respondent be required to provide adequate protection. South Oneida avenue intersects the main track and three sidetracks at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, and cars often stand on the sidetracks so that the view of the main track is obscured. This crossing is a part of state trunk highway No. 14, and carries a considerable amount of traffic which will probably increase with the completion of contemplated improvements. Because of the fact that the crossing in question is located in the Rhinelander yards where frequent switching movements occur, and that much traffic passes over it, particularly school children on their way to and from school, protection by flagman is necessary. ORDER accordingly. [U.-1747] IN RE APPLICATION OF THE SEYMOUR ELECTRIC COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO CHANGE ITS DISCOUNT PERIOD Decided December 6, 1919 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Applicant's present discount period extends to the 28th of the month, and it seeks to have this period terminated on the 10th day. The primary reason for allowing a discount for prompt payment is not to obtain additional revenue through late payments, but to encourage early payments with resulting advantage to the utility. The general practice is to terminate the period for discount on the 10th of the month following the period for which the bill is rendered. Application granted. [W. P.-102] IN RE INVESTIGATION OF THE LEVELS MAINTAINED BY THE DAM OWNED BY CONRAD ADAMS AND OSCAR YAGER AT BLACK HAWK IN THE TOWN OF TROY, SAUK COUNTY Decided December 6, 1919 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Complaint alleges that the dam owned by respondents at Black Hawk is being maintained at an unlawful height whereby damage is occa sioned to riparian lands above the dam. Honey Creek is raised in the headrace by means of an earthen embankment built along the west bank of the stream for a considerable distance above the mill, and during times of flood the surplus water cuts through the earthen embankment. Complainants allege that in repairing the embankment respondents have increased its height so as to hold the water to a higher level. The normal elevation of the water in the mill pond is 87.32 feet. This level will not cause the water to overflow the bank above the dam, and the evidence indicates that the water has been held at that elevation for many years. ORDER authorizes respondents so to operate the dam that the level of the water in the pond shall not exceed 87.32 feet when referred to Commission's Bench Mark No. 99. [R.-2503] PETITION OF THE MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC RAILWAY AND LIGHT COMPANY AND MILWAUKEE LIGHT, HEAT AND TRACTION COMPANY FOR AN ORDER PRESCRIBING RATES OF FARES AND LIMITS OF ZONES, AND A MODIFICATION OF ORDERS AFFECTING SERVICE, BEING RAILROAD COMMISSION FILE NO. R.-1909 IN RE APPLICATION OF THE MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC RAILWAY AND LIGHT COMPANY FOR SUCH REVISION OF RATES OF FARES, ZONE LIMITS AND SERVICE STANDARDS UPON ITS ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM OPERATED IN THE MILWAU KEE SINGLE-FARE AREA AND ADJACENT SUBURBAN ZONES AS WILL ENABLE SUCH COMPANY TO EARN A REASONABLE RETURN UPON THE PROPERTY EMPLOYED IN THE OPERATION OF SUCH SYSTEM, BEING RAILROAD COMMISSION FILE NO. R.-2503 IN RE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CONCILIATION OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN RELATING TO FAIR, EQUITABLE AND JUST WAGES OF EMPLOYES OF THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OF THE MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC RAILWAY AND LIGHT COMPANY, BEING RAILROAD COMMISSION FILE NO. R.-2519 IN RE INVESTIGATION, ON MOTION OF THE COMMISSION, OF THE NECESSITY FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE DOUBLETRANSFER PRIVILEGES IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, BEING RAILROAD COMMISSION FILE NO. R.-2445 Decided December 6, 1919 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION The decision of October 30, 1919, provided for the issuance of double transfers in the single-fare area, with such restrictions as might be necessary to be approved by the Commission. The company submitted a plan for a directional transfer system with a plan for rerouting the National-Fond du du Lac and the Oakland-Delaware lines, which rerouting was tentatively approved. The scheme was put into effect about November 24, 1919, and Bayview patrons of the Delawareavenue line now protest against the new routing. It is claimed in part that the change in routing from Clinton to Reed street is less convenient, and results in slower service, due to the congestion on Reed street; that the rerouting has led to the use of the Howell-avenue cars by those who had more conveniently been served by the Delaware-avenue cars; and that due to the congestion on Third avenue, the service on the Delaware line has been generally disrupted. The change in old established routing should be undertaken only after careful study and thorough working out of schedules, and with some certainty that the public convenience will be subserved. While the breaking up of the "U"-shaped National-Fond du Lac line did not appear likely to cause public inconvenience, actual trial has shown that the resulting inconvenience to the public more than offsets added convenience to some patrons. To those in the Bayview district and neighborhood a rerouting of cars over Clinton street will be most convenient. This can be accomplished only by a restoration of the National-Fond du Lac and the Oakland-Delaware lines as in effect before November 24, 1919. ORDER accordingly, the restoration of the old service to be made by December 10, 1919. |