The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-05
TURN ON THE GASI
Mayor Ely on the Cost Of
Street Lamps.
THIS YEARS ESTIMATE.
A Reduction Of $4,000 on
Last Years Bill.

The cost Of lighting tho city has been for many
years sore subJecI to the taxpayers OF New York.
~ was only short time ago that the HERALD had 10
mako persistent war against the rapacious gas CON-
panies, who had entered, into = combination TO I'M
pose an extortonats price upon the city treasury Tor
Lighting the city lamps. Public opinion, expressed
by the HERALD and sustained by the city Gas Com
mission, forced the companies to come down in 1877
from $50 per lamp 70 $40 90 and for 1875 beginning
with May I, the greater part OF tho city--all below
Thirty -iourth strect-ls TO be lighted At $12 per
lamp, which tho gas companies claim is below the
lua cost. Mayor Ely beng tho President Of the Gas
Commission OF which Commissioner Campbell and
Comptroller Kelly tho other two Members was
called upon yesterday with q view to ascertaning
whether "bot,om'' had already boon reached or
whether further saving to tho city might sIi be
effected.
WHAT MAYOR SAYS.
''In 1876" tho Mayor said, 1924 per lamp paid,
but In tho latter OF that year and shortly before
came into oflco found that the gas companies had
entered into u combination the price 10 $50
por lamp, or alty per cent was present when the
proposals opened, aud II was determined not to
submit to this combination My arst message to tho
Board OF Aldermen contained emphatic alus,on to
the subject and with the aid OF public opinion as
pressed by the HERALD and other papers, sue
cccded In breaking up tho combination. II was then
seen that tho very companies who had combined 10
demand $50 per lamp Tor 1877 would now accept
el9 90 thus securing largo saving to tho CITY, But
order to make the city additionally against
tho recurrence Of such combinations gave the
nicipal Company tho privilege of laying down mains
upon tho condition that they never charge over
$50 per lamp. To Offset tho Harlem company. which
had practically a monopoly in It's district and to
create competition, wc gave contract for certain
number Of lamps to tho Naphtha Company, to DO
lighted "a Waaa nj ob-
stace to overcome order defeat futurc combna.
hons The law compelled mako contracts tor
tho calendar year, ana toward tho end OF tho year
was difficult 10 elect change from company to
another ON account OF the frozen condition OF tho
halns. law was therefore passed last week allow
Ing us to contract rom May 70 May, and under the
contracts recently made Tor the your beginning May
l. 1878, ending April 49, 1870. greater part OF
The city viii be lighted ut <l2 per lamp, third
Of The price demanded by the gas companies In Do
cember, 1871 Tue difference III these prices only
shows now greut burden tho continuation ii IL had
been allowed have It's way, would have upon
Tho CITY,"
A PLEASANT PROSPECT.
nc Mayor was asked II he believed that bottom
mad been reached IN The present prices He replied
In the negative. 81 nave gwen considerable study
Tho subject und to tho lighting oil other tins
country ami III Europe" no replied. 'and And that
an adjustment might bo made with gas COM anics
oy which the Guy could be lighted Tor nothing Tue
city OF Paris dcrives-a revenue OF abou. $1,000 900
from tho various gus companies, which more than
covers the expense OF lighting Paris 1 have sent
over 10 PARIS for further details upon tho subject
and expect shortly 10 be in toll possession ali the
facts. AT present tho gas pay license
their franchise but from conversation Nth CERTAIN
officers oil the gas companies tho
conclusion that oy making long CONTRACT with them
anu allowing them without material Increase, to
Charge TO private consumers their present rate OF
81 81 per 900 fect tncy would be willing light
city lamps Tor nothing In return thcy would DO rid
oil ruinou5 competition sucn exists at present.
Mayor Ely SAID thut The officers OF the gas panes
themselves admitted that Sl2 per lamp DID not
tho actual cost, which less than Slj. In
crencc 10 the many complaints made against naphtha
by Harlem residents tue Mayor replied that they
Harlem Gasiight Company. Anybody who desired
to test the quality Of naphtha need only 50 70 ST.
SeDhcn's Church, IN East street, whero
two naphha lamps stood beside two gas. lamps, and
In tho Mayors opinon, the hight was about equal
IHE COST OF FOR 1873
There still the extraordinary fact that In
the Iwouty fourth ward S5U rs TO be paid per lamp
lamp. Tho superintendent OF Lamps explaips TINS oy
the lGct that the town officers oil West Farms and
Morrisania which comprised those t~o wards boioro
annexation, made contracts with the gas panics
IN 1871 at those priccs Tor ten years, thas this
grossly cxtortlonatc price VIII have 10 DO paid by
CITY untl 1851, uniess some legal remedy should DO
found oi course IN suburban regions wncro private
consumers are Tow, The prices always higher
III densely crowded ctics but la those two wards
$50 would be very fair com yonston. Tho prices
paid this year will be ST., per lamp, to the New York
and Manattan, which the enuro below
Thrty-iourth street; $40 50, to tho Metropolitan,
which covers from Thirty -oath street TO seventy
ninth street. ana embraces good deal oil vacant ter
ritory; s16 o. 10 tue Mutual; 81, 10 The Harlem,
winch supplies 81 Nicholas avenue, tho Boulevards,
&c s33, 20 tn. Yonkcrs when runs u main rhrougn
Rivcrdaie Tor supplying seventy two lamps and $40
10 the New York and New Jersey Company, when Is
10 put up 500 naphtha lamps In tho Harlem district
The entire cost OF lighting tho city ~ 1873 win DO
$4,000, While u was S45SO00 last year, showing
SAVING vi $liA0O0
THE CITY BADLY LIGHTED.
While the city Ut present may DC cheaply
lighted than over before during the $50 paid
per lanp) II must be admitted that many PORTIONS vi
New YORK are badly lighted. Take Broadway Tor In
stance al night u presents doleiuy dark appear
ancc, aud the Superintendent oi Lamps Iulnks tho
number OF lamps on broadway Is PROBABLY tho same
MS IL was twenty-five years ago. Fnh avenue is TAR
from being well lighted and tho Superintendent ad-
mis- that It wants an additional lamp 10 every block
Washington square has boen badly lighted ali
through the winter as TO DO almost wrapped entire
darxDess, the Park Department having removed half
the necessary lamps Ii Is hoped that tho Gas Com
mission, headed by Mayor Ely. after having effected
valuable saving 10 the ciiy Will also that
lamps are placed where necessary. and the hight
always comes up TO candIo power as required
by law In many places the lamps give forth such u
sickiy, feeble glmmcr as to u casual oD-
server that the Law IN tuis respect Is strictly
forced bv ipc proper officials oil tho Department OF
Public WORKS.