Daily Republican., 1882-12-16
ThS lamp COnGrMos.

The City Conncil only made use Q
its reserved rights on Thursday even
ing In awarding the contract for light
ing the street lamps-those that are Ii
with gasoline-to the Pennsylvania
Globe Gas Light Company thougl
that company was the highest bidder
1t does not always follow that bccaus,
nm individual, Grm or company bid
lower than another, that the lowes
should be awarded the contract. In
many instances the highest bidder Ii
the cheapest on the long run, when
everything is taken into consideration.
Amongst street graders it would be
cheaper to give some ten cents cubic
yard more for excavating than others
and If plumbing were let out BY con-
tract there are some who should not be
employed at any price The same
reasons hold good In other contracts.
We have paid bus little attention to the
contest for the lighting of the gasoline
lamps of our city supposinG all along
that the committee of Council having
the matter in charge was fully compe-
tent to deal in q satisfactory manner
with that subject. We have no reason
Tor changing our mind yet and there
fore We shall not enter into a whole
sale denunciation of the committee for
awarding the contract for lighting the
gasoline lamps for three years to the
highest instead Of the lowest bidder.
The Psnnsylvania Globe Gas Light
Company had been tried and had given
general satisfaction though there were
complaints as there would have been
against any company no matter how
good or responsible. The question was
whether the City Council should swap
of this tried company for an untried
one, for the sake Of saving 5000 q year
70 the city. Mr.. Grubb, the chairman
Of the committee, and another member
OF the same, in order to act squarely in |
she matter it seems went to Baltimore
70 SEQ how this Automatic Company |
performed its work. it having the con-
tract for light that city.
They took . ride all around tho city
In company with some of the BAlti-
more officials, and the report they
brought back was not favorable Que
They also went TO Philadelphia and
examined into the manner In which
the Pennsylvania Globe Gas Light
Company did its work, and the report
was much more favorable than from
She other. 1t then revolved itself into
AquestiUn of whether the apparently
dearest was not the cheapest in the long
ran for Wilmington. The question re
vOlve1 itself in this way Which WAS
the best for Wilmington lamp at $2l
year and good light, or $18 year and
not such good lights. Between the two +
we cannot see that the City Council has {
made such q great mistake-indeed we
cannot see that q mistake has been s
made ct all. In the face of all the s
facts in the case we do not think there p
was any real cause for Mr.. Nicola to o
boil over with Indignation and attempt Il
to make the City Council appear con- '
a, ,p,, in the eyes of the citizens. o
No doubt he felt padly,-most persons c.
do when they miss q CONTRACT Of that d
aOEt, especially when they hapt en- to be =
the lowest bidder, Fortunately, the, .s
Of Mr.. Nicola from Will Il
mington forever has not shook the city "
from centre to circumference. In the
words of the great Webster "we still a
i've" The bursting of the gathered Il
gloom Of indignation did not put out ci
'he lights of the Pennsylvania Globe W
las Light Company. We still have et
light. How thankful we should be 81
hat q compressure of Mr.. Nicolas tt
brakes did not leave US in tt
'ternal darkness. His uncalled for "
,bulitions of denunciatiens neither th
make nor Unmake memb bers OF Council. nj
dr. Conrad and Mr.. Quinn, Mr.. Bailey sc
md Mr. Baugh, Mr.. Blake and Mr. Is
barrett. Mr.. Painter and Mr.. Beecher nj
will all survive the praise as well az Sc
he slander OF Mr.. Nicola. Only lei til
he members of the City Council now, al
ne and sll, join in compelling the
Globe Gas Light Com.
any TO give increased and better ser.
ice than in the past and then the sir 81
Dr. not giving the contract to cheav La
company at the risk of worse So yeL
Til be forgiven and forgotten ,EiHe 81
rho love light better than darb nos. oS all it