The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-25
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
THE Gas QUESTION.

Jefferson GRs COmpany-PrOpOstt1ON
of the Gas Company counter Prop0-
sitiOn Of Mr.. TbOs. Pickles.
| The proposition Of the New Orleans Gas Com
pany to illuminate the city under new con-
as follows:
They will continue to supply gas at the follow.
ing rates: Street lamps. 2-foot burners, ct SAT g.
and 3.foot burners At 800 30 per annum: market
lamps, q foot burners, at $40 49, and 3-foot burn
ers at ---; levee lamps, 4-foot burners, at
$40 So.
These levee and market lamps are lighted al
night regardless of moonlight. The prices now
paid by the city are for 2-foot street lamps
$40 II; 2-foot market lamps t33 AZ and 4-foot
levee lamps s45 rs.
The total cost to the city for illumination in
1877 was sl07. 900. exclusive Of the cost for pub
Lilo buildings, which is measured by metres.
The estimated cost for 1878, under the new
proposition, is 100000. aud the company further
propose to make discount in favor of the city of
ten per cent on this amount II they be paid
monthly in cash.
The terms Of the gas company are, however,
NOT RECEIVED WITH FAVOR
at the City Hall and the probability il that q
new contract will not be entered into with the
gas company, but that coal oil will be used
instead of gas for some time to come.
The main grounds on which the proposition Of
the gas company is declined lie that the prices
are exorbitant. and besides that with the new
system of coal oil lamps the streets of the city
can be illuminated at q cheaper rate and nearly
IT not quite as well as with two foot gas burners
II 10 computed that our street lamps are light
ed during $500 hours of the year, which for
two foot burner would make 5000 feet per annum,
and which would at % per 1000 feet (ln Chicago
it costs only 81 50) amount 10 SIG 80 for the lamp.
Add to this per cent on f45 the original outlay
of the gas company for the lanterns and lamp.
more, and total of $40 95 for each lamp. Ad-
mitting further that it costs the company s5 a
year to light the lamp, we have grand total of
s24 95 Ii should be observed, however, that IS
to light . lamp is q very large allowance, espe-
oisIly when it lie considered that there are over
5000 lamps In the CITY,
II will also be noticed that Notwithstanding the
allowances referred to, the gas company asks
gao II for each lamp, with 2-ioot burner, or
81 ~ more than the liberal computation made By
the city authorities.
COUNTER PROPOSITION.
At the request OF Administrator Diamond, MIR. |
Tnos. Pickles, the coal oil street lamp contractor
has made counter proposition TO the city. MIR.
Pickles makes three different proposals to light
the CITY with coal oil of flashing point varying
from $50 to 175 degrees.
The first is for q contract ior one year, during |
which he offers to lisht the city nightly, regard
less OF moonlight nights, at the rate of SIG 50 per
lamp provided the city shall furnish the lamps |
and posts, lanterns, ladders and other parspher-
malta: or it should be Understood that the gas |
lamp posts belong to the gas company. The SEQ.
opd proposal is for Lighting the city for three
years at the same rate, the city to furnish the
posts and lanterns, and the contractor to furnish
else The third proposal IL for five
years, also at the rate Of sl5 go for each lamp,
The city to furnish the posts and frames, aud the
contractor to furnish everything else. Mr.. |
Pickles estimates that the cost to The city, under
he fve-year plan, for posts and frames, will |
amount to not more than $25, 600.
There are 3340 street lamps in The
CITY, property costing annually ut
&29 II each. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., &97,427 80
n the upper districts (suppled by the
Jefferson Company there are 635 of
these street lamps at $50 each. .... 31,750 90
Making total of................$1 2e, LIT 80
or street lamps alone.
At the rate proposed by Mr.. Pickles these 1915
amps would cost s6l ,6l2 80 or less than one half
# the present cost.
We have been shown the burners which Mr.
'ickes says would be used in case Of the adoption
4 the coal oil lamp system. They are what
. called the mammoth burner" and are made
or pinch wicks or twice a. large as the or
mary street oil lamp burner.
THE CASE OF THE JEFFERSON COMPANY.
The Mayor is now looking into the case OF the
etferson Gas Light Company, which, under
olor of q charter granted to the company by the
Varmoth Legislature. claim to charge the city
30 for each street lamp during twenty five years,
be term OF their existence. The Mayor and
Their city officials are Of the opinion that this
ondition Of affairs should not last any longer.
10 claimed that even IL 1t we're possible to ad.
lit OF the soundness Of the charter OF this COM
any and OF the exclusive privileges granted in
!. they can certainly not compel the city cor
Grafton to light its streets at the rate of $50 per
y contract, especially when it is considered that
oal oil lamps can be obtained at SIS so per
mum.
The Mayor does not stop here; he proposes to
lrther
INVESTIGATE THE STATUS
the New Orleans Gas Company in it's legal
Stations to the city, and il their record is not as
ear IS 1t should be, he shall take measures to
emove its obscure points.
THE FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
The board of commissioners Of the Firemen's
haritable Association of the Sixth District have
idressed another petition to the City Council on
le subj ect of the extension of the fire alarm tele-
rsph into that wealthy and largely populated
ction Of the city.
Petitioners represent that their contract with ,
he city to extinguish fires in the Sixth District,
hich has two more years to run, calls for $l8,-
10 q year, payable monthly. They propose that if
le city will pay them their full yearly compensa-
on during the first six months Of each year, at
le rate Of $4,000 per month, they will make the |
eeded extension, put up rs or 80 automatic
arm boxes. and furnish all other appoin ments :
their district at their own expense, on condi-
on, however, that they shall have the control of
le machinery.
Although the proposition is deemed very fair I
lie, indeed one that should not be expected from
lis fire association, since it will entail an ex- !
.nditure upon them of nearly $4,000, the City !
administrators are unable to give it favorable !.
>nsderatlon at present The great objection in Z
le way, they say, is that by accepting it they 6
Guild render themselves liable to the charge Of r
aging the association by preference during six q
onths Of each year over all other contractors.
ct in view of the Importance and necessity of ex-
ndipg the telegraph into the Sixth District all 1
'ailable me ans will be resorted to in order that
Istce shall be done to that section of the city.
THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. A. ". Rountree, gentleman too well
,own in this community to need praise at our
lnds, paid visit to the Mayor yesterday
pecally for the purpose OF obtaining informa-
hn |