The Portland daily press., 1886-10-18

--ASOeAiio
City Council was held Saturday evening for
the purpose of considering the lighting of the
city for next year.
In Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The Board came to order at the call of the
Mayor, Aldermen Beale and Marks being
absent
PETITIONS RECEIVED.
OF Charles d. Richards, for permission to
move wooden building from Pearl street
to Emerson street. Granted.
OF Margaret Scanlon for licenSe,tO keep an
employment office at Sc Oak street. Granted
subject to the City Marshals report.
vi Samuel Rounds to dig trench across
Commercial st. for the purpose of laying
steam pipe from Quinn's boiler shop to his
wood yard. Granted.
The petitions of the following persons to-
erect new wooden buildings at the places
named were referred. G.. M. Abbott Gray
and Clark streets; Enoch Richards, Beckett,
street; VIM. Macarthur, and Gould street.
THE CONGRESS RINK.
Groves and Conway petitioned for license
for Congress Skating Rink Alderman Rick
er moved that the petition be laid upon the
table until the next regular meeting. The
vote upon the motion was doubted, and a
yea and nay vote resulted as follows:
Yeas-Aldermen Kicker and Mcmahon
Nays-Aldermen Wilson. Sawyer and
Briggs.
Alderman Sawyer then moved that the IL
cense be granted and the motion was carried.
The hour for closing the rink was fixed at ten
o'clock.
STREET LIGHTING.
The Mayor stated that the main object of
the meeting was to hear the report of the
committee on street lamps to whom the mat
ter of lighting the streets was referred
Alderman Briggs read a long report pre-
pared by the committee. The report treated
the subject of lighting the streets in an ex-
haustive manner, comparing the available
methods.
On making a careful examination of the
power given by the original order of Septem-
Der 9Th, the committee decided that any con-
tract entered into by them could be set aside
by not receiving the approval of the City
Council and that there were in the city
only two"competent and responsible compan-
les, parties or persons, for lighting the
streets, parks and promenades of the city,"
viz: The Portland Gas Light Company and
the Consolidated Electric Light Company of
Maine The committee requested these
companies to submit proposals for lighting
the city. The following proposals were re-
ceived:
Proposal No. /, from the Electric Light
Company, to furnish $50 arc lights and 220
incandescent lights at the rate of $4,000
year. Additional arc lights are to be paid
for at the rate of $40 each and incandescent
lights at $1S each.
Proposal No. 2, from the Electric Light
Company. In reply to communication
from the chairman of the committee, the
company offered to furnish 800 incandescent
increase of small lights and decrease of arc
lights, the price for the larger lights would
be increased from $40 to $1S0.50 light per
annum
Proposal No. 8, from the Gas Light Com
pany, TO maintain.600 street lamps, using gas
where the mains run and oil elsewhere, at
the rate of $4,000 year, the lamps to burn
from dark until daylight, the gas burners to
consume five feet an hour.
The Gas Light Company also submitted a
communication in regard to the price of the
cluster lanterns used in Boston. The Ian
terms cost $50 each, and cost of gas would be
$50 year. The light given is equal to five
street lamps.
The present number of lights in use is 1856
arcs and 243 incandescent, the Electric Light
Company having during the past year put in
additional lights without extra charge to the
city.
After speaking of the different proposals,
contract with the Electric Light Company.
The report was accepted, and Alderman
Briggs introduced the following order:
That the committee on street lamps be
authorized to make and sign contract in
the city's name and behalf with the Con-
solidated Electric Light Company of Maine
for lighting the streets, parks and prom
enades of the city exclusive of the islands,
from November LIST, 1886, to March 31st,
1887, the end of the current fiscal year, the
basis p0nfrant n
and $50 incandescent lights, at the rate of
$25, 900 year.
Additional arc lights, if required, at the
rate OF $40 year for each light. and addi-
tlOnal 1ncandeScent lights at the rate of $1S
year for each light
Alderman Wilson wanted to lay the order
on the table until the next meeting, as
Alderman Beale would then be present to
make statement of his views ON the matter,
to which he had given some considerable
attention.
Alderman Briggs objected to delaying
action, and Alderman Sawyer reminded the
Board that this would leave the city with no
provision for lighting its streets during sew
eral days.
Alderman Kicker thought that on moon
light nights the lights are not necessary, and
some arrangement might be made whereby
they could be unlighted on those nights at a
reduction of cost to the city.
Alderman Mcmahon said that the lights
were often out. In reply Alderman Briggs
said that his records furnished by the night
police during part of the year and those
kept by the company showed that with very
few exceptions the lights were properly
burning.
Alderman Wilson mentioned a system of
lighting by combination of gas and cleo
tricity.
Alderman Briggs said that such system
would cost over $4,000 year and neither
company appeared anxious to enter into
it.
Alderman Sawyer favored giving the COM
mittee power to contract for 100 arc lights
and $50 incandescent lights for one year at
$25, 900 and offered an amendment to the Or
iginal order to the effect. The order as
amended was passed, Aldermen Kicker,
Sawyer and Briggs voting yes; Aldermen
Wilson and Mcmahon voting no.
Papers from the lower Board received con-
current action and the Board adjourned
In Common Council.
Absent-Messrs. Mccain, Adams, Parker,
A. G. Dewey.
Mr.. Roberts offered an order authorizing
the treasurer to give deed of land on the
easterly side of st. John street, containing
5000 square feet of land at six cents foot to
A. w. Higgins; also to give deed of land
ON easterly side of "B' street, containing
6,O76 square feet at eight cents foot to S. II
Jose. Both orders passed and were sent
up.
Papers from upper Board passed in con-
currence.
Adjourned.
Delegates Appointed.