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JtifF- • rv •"T^ - ^ - c - - ? • . ' • /-:"--^d?*.. ;:-v iHjii, .r'.'.^iaW'ti/rfrn %m1uC mm ji..Vrnn3i-rf^ r/^V", V *, ;•- .. «<*, r> r.- .. *. ;•- -r<' •», , :v.-^Tl •*-•«! £* ' *v / ./, • iAfe W •>- . ... * * • • % '.#*> &r ,'>Vr • .*', t,x -*•' • .i-i.- * r ' - ,, •: ~ --=-• ••«" ' ' • * * "" ' • '• ' * "« V* .r . , ' ^ ~4r_ ' , - V,^ " i« -- . 7 j* - «Mkv vife'.-' **~ ' " • • > * • * » . V '• -$1 ' ' ^ ; , . - < . " * .* Ki- - • '- : • • • ,*r SL ^ • & '. ""1 ;: '• '•k. i -"Se. "• .ji >* ' CONSPICUOUS EXAMPLE is supplied by the city of Joliet, where water rates have been 'v increased 150 per cent In Ottawa the approximate advance is 50 per cent. In Mendota 50 per cent advance has been made. In Elgin there has been a sharp boost in the cost of water used in excess of 8000 cubic feet. In Chicago Heights the advance in rates will probably be 50 per cent. The Mayor of that city. is _ quoted-- a_s saying oveaftI- that rav"t>e.. tf• ae V "' *V".vv-V y •-'» •'••v _.> • 4 ' * t' •W cost to consumers will be less than in many other cities. Many other like examples might be applied. There is no complaint by the residents in these various places where the authorities have taken such action. The people recognize its necessity. < i In view of the fact that these advances, as said, range as high as 150 per cent and "that fftey have been accepted uncomplainingly, we have confidence that the justnesses the increases ofabout3Q per ceat we are asking authority to make will likewise be acknowledged. * f* "W ^ V,« •*r- •;a . * w/ ! In a previous advertisement we told you why we were compelled to ask for these higher rate*. The reasons cap. be summerized again here. . '*'m • ; Those of you who have lived in this town can re* /--•v.. We are selling our product at the same rate as that prevailing in 1914, whereas the cost of everything.that enters into its manufacture has mounted skyward. Some basic articles have advanced 300 per cent and are difficult to procure. The cost of operation in 1920 will be $700,000 in excess of 1919 in which year they exceeded the costs of 1918 by $500,000. -r:; member when the rate for electric light was 20 cents a hour. You can recall also that gas was much more ez than now. In all that time our policy has been to reduce rates. On three occasions only have we deviated from this by ing slightly rates for certain special service affecting but customers. More than 99 per cent of our customers are pay*:, ins for electric liffht half as much as it cost a score of yearfc _s . • v-'" V'\JW • ' £ V ' . ' Y r ago, and a great deal less for gas. Every community we serve is concerned in the Company's growth and in the efficient performance of its duty, but we have reached a fork in the road not of our own making. As much as we might wish to leave our rate re- To achieve this we must have the ad- . V.' "Mr'tu:' ..*.4;, of Northern Illinois , - ' - \i-<* * ' • I K 'I rkTiSi" -...• C