The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-02-02

The Wiuoua, Mimi, RcpuJlican Of the 23d
nit, speaking Of the lighting Of the city the
preceding evening, says; "It's a success by
large majority"
THE CITY OF ELGIS.
Elgin has five years contract with pri-
vste company for lighting It's streets. The
company own the plant, consisting Of elec
trical machines, towers, engine, &c. The
citys contract calls for light at least 800
nights in the year. from d o'clock p. NJ. (at
this season Of the year to A, NJ, for which
the city pays an annual sum of SO, 500 for the
twenty. nine lights should Others be required
they are to BE- furnished at the rate of $500
per lamp per year. Private consumers are
charged Sl2 80 per month per lamp, the com
pany taking care of the lamps and furnishing
the carbOns.
While Mayor Allen aud the council were
assembled at the Noting House, on the eve
nIng Of their arrival at Elgln, Mayor Barclay
and a delegation of aldermen made frater.
nal call upon the visitors. Before the gath.
erlng broke up the Ottawa mayor returned
the thanks Of his company to the mayor and
aldermen OF Elgin, and 10 Mr. Bowen for
the courtesles shown and also to Mr. Chas.
VI Fox, the Van Depocic agent, who was a
complete gentleman and sought every OPP
pOrtunlty to give the visitors, both in Elgiu
and Chicago, all the information they de
sired. Since returning to Ottawa Mayor
Allen has addressed unofficial letters to
Messrs. Bowen and Fox, expressing the
thanks Of himself and associates for the uni
form courtesy shown on the occasion Of the
visit, and for the pleasures so freely bestowed
All who enjoyed Mr.. Fox's hospitality will
ever remember him as one they will be
pleased TO meet again
THE TOWER SYSTEM.
"What do you think Of the tower system ~
is question frequently asked. The opinion
seemed to be general among those who were
at Elgin that for lighting the suburbs and
resident portions OF the city the towers were
the best, and required a less number OF
lights than il they were brought down to the
streets. The light, as stated, is difusci
thoroughly, while the light from each tower
aids the other sections of the city. In the
BUSINESS portion, where the buildings ar,
tall and the light is required directly ant
strongly upon the streets, the lower light
seem TO be better. However, strong argu
ments may be advanced for and against thu
towers in any or all parts of the city.
NOTES.
| Elgin is a manufacturing town. First il
rank stands her watch factory, which EN-
ploys 1000 operatives, and to whom is pait
the sum Of 100000 per month, or a little owe
a million year Of these 1000 operative
| 400 are girls; one.third Of all are married
one fourth own their own homes; nearly al
are Americans, and many are counted amoui
the best citizens Of Elgin. The factory i
worth about s2,500,0OO.
! TIE condensing factory employs 25Opcra
tives; uses milk from 1900 cows
A boot and shoe factory employs 800 opera
tives; the Illinois Canning Factory, in il
season, from 400 10 900; Cooks Publishing
Company many more. Many other factorie
Of various kinds might he named that EN-
ploy in the aggregate several hundred work
men, all adding their wealth to the it'll,
city, that with population of about 1900
has nearly three times the amount of taXabl
property of the usual city OF the same popu
lation.
Nine cars of milk, each containing tw,
hundred and nifty y gallon cans, leave Elgi
every morning for Chicago.
| Four hundred houses were put up in Elgi
during the past year.
These facts and nany others show a spiri
OF enterprise that Ottawa might well tax
home to herself.