Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-10-15
Electric Commercial Lights.

Razor Y171(J2CGCOr
At the last meeting of our City Council, the
Thompson Houston Electric Co., through its
agent, Mr.. McNett made the following pro-
position to the city, viz. To install q COM
plete commercial plant for electric lighting, of
"a arc-lights of 1 200 C. p. each, and to turn
over to the city $4,000 worth of contracts for
commercial lighting, which are to run for one
year from date of starting the lights. When
the council selected the so HIP. engine to
run its street lights, it was with the distinct
knowledge that it was purchasing an engi ne
of more than double the capacity needed for
that purpose-for the street lights need only
% H.-P-and furthermore, it was distinctly
understood, this surplus power should be used
in running commercial plant in order that
tho cost of street lighting, might be reduced
to minimum ssum, if not saved altogether.
If this can lie done, it is plainly the duty
of the council to accept Mr.. McNett's offer
and to accept it on the terms indicated, name
ly, 'safter sixty days satisfactory trial" But
there are interested croakers who say the light
is entirely too expensive and will be dropped
from use on that account, by those who con-
tract for it, for the first year. 1t would be
hard to believe our people are entirely unlike
those of other and less enterprising towns,
and surely such a procedure would be contra
ry to experience in towns where commercial
electric lights are used. Why should they not
continue? Take, for instance, a store like N.
Wayt & Bros, which to light properly with gas
So of Ia
power, running an average of five hours per
nighttime year round-the same number of
hours the electric lights would run: As the
electric lights would burn every night in the
month, to put the gas lighting on the same basis
would require 1900 Gu. #. for 80 nights,
which at $2.O per 1000 it,, would cost Wayt
& Bro. $1440 per month, and even if gas was
reduced to $1.25 per 1000 it,, the same light
ing would still cost them SO. 90 per month But
the city would propose to charge them only
1888 per month and furnish them 1,200
candle power arc lamp or 6 incandescent
lamps of l6 candle power each. giving them
the same number of small lights as would be
required for gas lighting. To small consumers
of gas, the city could furnish 8 incandescent
lamps in one store and more in the 0dj0in-
ing store and thus satisfy the demands of both
for the sum of $3.50 per month. Thus from
the revenue of $4,000 !per annum, ..derived
from the commercial plant, the city could OLE
rate both that plant and the plant for street
lights also, and thereby save the city the en-
tire cost of street lighting, to say nothing of
doing it better than it was ever done before.
Have we any reason to believe both plants
can be run for about So. 600 per annum By
referring to the letter of the city engineer of
Danville, Va.-who operates both the gas and
electric light plants there-from which YOU
made an extract in your last issue, it Will be
seen it can be done. Then, if this be true, the
city council will be derelict in its duty if 1t
fails to establish the commercial plant, The
fact is, Mr.. Editor, the world is moving on
and it is too late to cry out now, "albandon
LIE stea"shlp anu Jake the salhng vessel, for
sake the express train and return to the road
wagon, or turn your back on the telegram as
toy, and take the post-boy on his mblepn T
hope the council will give the matter due
consiaera'ion' ana nave no doubt it will do
its duty and accept Mr. McNett's prot nos,tion
or something better. TAXI AVER.