Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-01-10

dence of w. III. Potter, and for which
our reporter intends to return his
thanks if it should do what is expect
ed of it; one at corner of Fourth and
Lockwood streets, and one at corner
of fifth and Chisholm streets. 1t is
also thought that lamp will be erect
ed for the purpose of demolishing the
darkness in the vicinity of the house
formerly occupied by Mr.. Hitchcock.
This would make sixteen lights, fif-
teen of which are determined upon.
Now let us see what the expense
will be. Fifteen lamps at $65 per
lamp will amount to 1915 per year
for the lamps and their maintenance.
Then comes the carbons. What will
they cost? This is question that
we can not answer exactly. AT
the Council meeting it was stated that
it cost private persons who had cleo
trio lamps in their business places
about s25 per year for carbons for
each lamp. These parties use their
lights about 313 nights in the year
not using them on Sunday night. The
city expects to have its lamps in OPP
Grafton about 245 nights in the year
there being no necessity for the
lights on moonlight nights. The city
lamps will burn about an hour longer
each night than those in the business
places, as they will be in operation
until, at least, IL o'clock at night.
The lamps mostly used at the bust
ness places are single lamps, that is,
they have but one set of carbons, and
the street lamps are, so we under
stand, to be double lamps and have
two sets of carbons. The carbons
used under "the Brush system are
before being used, foot long, and
are electro-plated with a thin cover
ing of copper; they last about eight
hours, during which time about four
inches of the negative and 8! inches
of the positive carbons are consum-
ed" With double lamp it is stated
that the carbons can be burned short
er than in single lamp. In the
double lamps, when one set of car
bons is consumed, the other pair au-
tomatically starts into action. The
lights will burn about six hours per
night in the winter time, and about
four hours per night during the sum-
mer season. 1t therefore seems evil
dent that they will average more than
one carbon per lamp per night, and
it also seems evident that they will
not consume, on an average, more
than one and a half carbons per lamp
per night.
The carbons cost six and one-quarter
cents piece. Allowing one and
half carbons per lamp, this would
make the cost of all the carbons for
one year amount to about 1914, and
the total cost of the fifteen lamps, in
Guiding everything, would be $1,319.
If two carbons per lamp are con-
sumed each night, the cost of the
electric lights to the city would be
81, 434. If the carbons do not cost
the city more than as was stated
at the Council meeting cost the bust
ness men, that is $25 per lamp per
year, then the cost of each lamp
would be 800. AS the city lamps will
burn less hours during the year than
do the lamps in the business houses,
the expense ought not to cost over
SS7 per lamp per year. IF the lamps
do not everage over one carbon per
night, the total cost per lamp will
be $50 per year.
AS regards the present kerosene
street lamps, it is stated by those who
are good authority, that they cost over
800 per year.
We believe the Council has secured
as good bargain for the taxpayers
as they could. The lights are fur
nished the city ten dollars per light
cheaper than is furnished to private
persons.