[U.-1846] IN RE APPLICATION OF THE PRAIRIE FARM ELECTRIC COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES Decided February 28, 1920 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Applicant, Prairie Farm Electric Company, seeks to make effective the following rates: Commercial lighting, energy charge, 15 cents per kilowatt-hour; minimum charge, business service, $1.50 per month, residence, $1.25; street lighting, each lamp, $1.50 per month. Applicant furnishes service to about 400 consumers. Its equipment consists of a 35-kilowatt direct-current generator, a water wheel rated 65 horsepower, and a 20-horsepower kerosene engine used as an auxiliary at times when there is not sufficient water power. For the year ended December 31, 1919, applicant incurred a deficit of $589.12 before making any provision for return, and while $347.38, the amount set aside for depreciation, is somewhat greater than necessary, an increase in rates is clearly necessary. Application granted. [U.-1811] IN RE APPLICATION OF THE LUXEMBURG TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE RATES FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE TO ITS OWN SUBSCRIBERS IN RE APPLICATION OF THE LUXEMBURG TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE RATES FOR SWITCHING SERVICE TO THE CASCO-LUXEMBURG TELEPHONE COMPANY AND TO THE MONTPELIER TELEPHONE COMPANY IN RE INVESTIGATION, ON MOTION OF THE COMMISSION, OF THE RATES, TOLLS, AND CHARGES FOR SWITCHING AND TOLL SERVICE OF THE CASCO-BRUSSELS TELEPHONE COMPANY, THE CASCO-LUXEMBURG TELEPHONE COMPANY, AND THE LUXEMBURG TELEPHONE COMPANY Decided March 1, 1920 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Applicant, Luxemburg Telephone Company, serving 370 subscribers from its exchange in the village of Luxemburg, seeks to increase its present rates, which are: $2 per month for single-party business, $1.121⁄2 per month for party lines, business or residence; rural business service, $1.50 per month, and rural residence, $1. Valuation. The book value of the property as of December 31, 1918, was $5,475.70, but an estimate of value based on unit costs taken from the valuation of similar plants approximates $11,000. The low book value is due to the fact that the plant was entered at the original cost and the extensions were built up out of earnings and charged to operation, which has resulted, also, in operating expenses as reported for the past six years being excessive and much more than the average for similar companies. Revenue Requirements. In view of the fact that neither the capital account nor the operating account of the applicant appear to represent the results of proper accounting procedure, and since the size of the exchange is not such as to warrant the employment of capable accounting help, rates should be established on the basis of averages of other similar exchanges. This method gives a valuation of $11,000, and operating expenses at $10.17 per telephone, or $2,492 for applicant's own subscribers, and $3 for switched subscribers, or a total of $375. Increases in operators' salaries, due to the minimumwage order of the Industrial Commission, will amount to about $643, and other increases in costs over 1918 will amount to about $250. These expenses, with interest and depreciation figured at 14 per cent on the valuation, and taxes estimated at 22 per cent of the gross revenue, would make the total revenue demand $5,051, of which $350 will be met by toll revenues. The remainder will be met by the schedule authorized. Switching Rates. The total amount asked for switching service is but $3.25 per telephone, which would leave only 25 cents to cover all expense other than for operation incident to giving switching service. While a larger rate might be justifiable, for the present the proposed rate will be authorized, and in case the applicant furnishes further data in the future, the question as to a larger rate may be reopened. ORDER authorizes the following schedule of net monthly rates: For business service, one-party $2.50, two-party $1.75, four-party $1.50, extension 60 cents; for residence service, one-party $1.75, two-party $1.50, four-party $1.35, extensions 50 cents; for rural service, business $1.50, residence $1.25, switching $3.25 per annum; gross rates 25 cents higher being authorized in each case except for extensions and switching. [R.-2565] E. C. FREEMAN ET AL. VS. EASTERN WISCONSIN ELECTRIC COMPANY Decided March 1, 1920 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Complaint alleges, (1) that street cars operated by respondent between North Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac do not maintain their schedule, and thereby cause delay and great inconvenience to patrons; (2) that cars are not heated and are otherwise unfit for the public use; (3) that there is great danger to passengers because of cars stalling on railroad crossings, and (4) that there is discrimination against patrons riding between North Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac in the matter of purchasing tickets in quantities at reduced rates, only patrons within the city being accorded this opportunity. In a previous decision, the Commission authorized the company to install a special ticket rate of $1 for 12 tickets good for passage between Fond du Lac and North Fond du Lac if presented between 6 and 7 A.M. and 5 and 6:15 P.M. daily except Sunday. Because of the fact that a great many trainmen and others living in Fond du Lac and employed in North Fond du Lac, or vice versa, who make substantially the same use of the service as the shop men who benefit by the reduced rate, and as the sale of tickets increases the riding habit, the privilege should be extended to patrons at all hours. ORDER accordingly, jurisdiction retained regarding the first threenamed complaints. [U.-1769] CITY OF OCONTO VS. OCONTO CITY WATER SUPPLY COMPANY OCONTO CITY WATER SUPPLY COMPANY VS. CITY OF OCONTO Decided March 1, 1920 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Complainant, City of Oconto, seeks an order requiring respondent, Oconto City Water Supply Company, to connect its mains with the fire-protection system of the Holt Lumber Company, and to extend its system along Superior street for the purpose of fire protection in that region, and to construct a separate extension to certain fire hydrants for the protection of the plant of the Holt Hardwood Company. The complainant sets forth that it has passed ordinances ordering the respondent to make these extensions, and the respondent complains that the ordinances are unreasonable. Holt Lumber Company Connection. The requirement first set forth is eliminated from consideration by respondent's statement in the record that it is prepared to make this connection if it can be assured of a return commensurate with the outlay involved. Holt Hardwood Company Extension. The mains to the Holt Hardwood Company's plant, as proposed, would be extended west from Cook street over private property, for which complainant has secured written easements for the use of respondent. This extension would involve a large expenditure which should not be ordered without assurance that the mains would not be disturbed by excavations for new buildings or other projects. This route, however, is over a strip of land which has been laid out as a street but never opened, and since it is understood that the city is prepared to open this street, such action should be a condition precedent to an order requiring the laying of these mains. For that reason jurisdiction as to this matter will be retained. Superior-street Extension. The territory to be served by the proposed extension in Superior street is sparsely settled, and the use which could be made of the water supply would not be sufficient to justify the financial outlay, and for that reason the ordinance requiring this extension is unreasonable. ORDER requires the connection of the water supply to the system of the Holt Lumber Company, the cost and compensation to be paid by the city of Oconto to be determined and fixed by a future order. [R.-2525] CITY OF MARINETTE VS. CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY COMPANY, AND WALKER D. HINES, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF RAILROADS Decided March 1, 1920 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Petition alleges that the highway grade-crossing at Hall avenue on respondent company's line in the city of Marinette is dangerous to public travel, and that additional protection is necessary. Hall avenue runs approximately east and west and is a part of State Trunk Highway No. 64. It is one of the main arteries of travel into Marinette, and is macadamized. From the east approach the view of trains in both directions is comparatively unobstructed. From the west approach the view to the northwest is obstructed by buildings, except beyond a point about 300 feet from the crossing. To the southeast the view is unobstructed except when cars are allowed to stand on the side tracks, but the angle of crossing is so acute that a traveler must look back to see a train approaching from the rear. Three regular trains are operated by respondent over this crossing daily, except Sunday, and two trains in each direction are operated on Sundays. One train in each direction daily and one on Sunday is also operated over this crossing by the Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad. Hall avenue, being within the yard limits, all trains are presumably operated under control, the maximum speed being but 10 or 12 miles per hour. During switching movements which are made with reference to the switch a short distance southeast, because of the convenience of the location, the brakeman stands in the highway for the purpose of signaling the engineer and is, therefore, in a position to warn travelers on the highway. The physical conditions at the crossing and the highway traffic are such that, with frequent and fast train operation, additional protection would clearly be necessary, but in view of the character of the train movements, this crossing is not unusually dangerous. Petition denied. |