The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-13
By Decisive Majority Both Bodies Submit
the 0ne-DolIar Proposition to the Com
pany for Acceptance or Rejection.
The Councilmen Spend Several Hours
on the Street-Railway Ordinances.
the City, and Conductors Are Ordered
for Four Principal Lines.

In listening 10 the two reports from Its commit
tee on light, to whom the price fixed By Council
for st-est-lamps and gas by meter measurement
had been referred. When the reports were read
one seemed inclined to do any talking in
support of either the views of the majority or
minority. Speeches would have been of no use.
as the votes showed that those favoring non con-
currence IN the Councils action had more than
two-thirds of the board If the electc light
phase of the matter had been more definitely
presented. it is possible an interesting discussion
would have attended it, as some of the members
voting for 81 gas will commit themselves to the
other light whenever it comes up for considera-
ton The friends of the electric system and q
low rate for gas we're entirely too strong for
those favorinG the price adopted by Council.
The report of the majority of the committee.
Aldermen Taylor and Rail. was prefaced with
tabulated statement of the cost to the city of
gas for street lamps and by meter measurement
for each month of 1887 The cost varied little
from month to month. and in number of lamps
used were throughout the year about tho same,
the highest being the maximum of the contract.
2.566. ami the lowest ,544 at any one tine. 1t
total cost for the lamps was So 918 80 and OF
gas by meter S4,27502, making in all
$40. 1913 81 expended for city lighting The re-
port then set out that street lights for the high
Councils price at $l8 IS pest, cost $40 ABB SO,
a reduction the cost of last year of $l6.479 o.
By meter. the city's light for other purL at
ST. Is per 600 cubic feet, would s. 96S. 76
reduction of ST. 306 &c This will give total
reduction of $l7.735. SO. At SIS per post
the cost for the same number of lamps would be
$39. sol IL, and the gas by meter at 81 per 200
cubic feet 81, 375 Oh; total. $4l. 1926. II. which
would be total reduction of $40, 48l. 50 on the
prices recently fled by Council. So, 887 70 being
lamps and 1898. rs on meter measurement.
The Council rate would save 25 27-100 per cent.
on the cost of last year. while the SIS DER post
and 81 per 1000 cubic feet recommended ythe
majority Of the aldermens committee would
save 40 81 100 per cent, or $28. 267 az.
In support of these calculations the report
continued: 1--WE authorized to say, for
certain RESPONSIBLE electric-liehr company, that
1t will light our city. using $50 lights. at 800
each per year. amounting to $40. 900. This is
less than the Council proposes to light the city
by means of artificial gas, which is SAG, 438 81.
We believe, however, that no contract can be
made for less than three years, and at present
we do not feel justified in making
contract with anyone for more than
above information was obtained another com
pany tells us that it will require 500 electric
lights to properly light the city of Indianapolis,
and inasmuch as that would necess1tate more
expense than the present mode of lighting and
especially for the present year. deem it pru-
dens to make no recommendation on this Dlan at
present Yet we believe electric light will in
the near future be the true method for street,
lighting.
From a reliable source we find that London
gas company made the following statement One
ton of good gas-coal yielded. gas. II. 900 cubic
feet; ammonia water, 100 pounds: tar, 10 pounds,
and coke. 1,195 pounds. These products at thst
lowest prices would bring, gas, II 600 cubic
at &c. So so; tar, ITO pounds, 1c 81 20; coke,
]. 195 pounds, at 10c per bushel. 81 80; total,
1928 90 Not counting the gas, each ton of coal
costing 49, Ia high price) yields $40, difference
S.. 40 margin most certainly sufficient to pay
all expenses and give handsome profit. so tins
gas company could afford to let all their
gas waste into the air and then make money. In
other words, every foot of gas is clean profit
Now. counting the gas. the total products from
ton of good gas coal will sell for $28 20. Dis
count this calculation. which is based upon an
actual report from London gas company 30
per cent, and we have $l4 10; coal at So per
ton. difference Sill 10, the profit on each ton of
coal
I'VE are informed by one who is an uthority
that in city the gas in the holder cost during
the years from 1881 to 1883, inclusive 45 to 40
cents per 1000 cubic feet and that the cost Of
the same for distribution was ten cents.
Surprising that these figures. say so cents, are
correct the company would receive at 81 rate
Go % per cent from the above facts do
therefore recommend 81 per 1000 cubic feet of
gas and SIS Der post. Now, the above has been
considered by MS as agents of the people. We
have endeavored to place ourselves in the posi-
tion of employees TO Employers; in fact. we have
attempted without prejudice to do what we
thought to be for the best interests of the city
and its citlzeps."
ACCOMPANYING the report were amendments
to the CONTRACT approved by Council. striking
out ST. 25 for 1000 cubic feet and inserting ST.,
and for SIS rs substituting SIS post. 1t was
also recommended that the following be inserted
In place OF the amendment offered by Council
man Thalman to the report of the Council COM
mirtee, and which that body adopted: provided,
That the city OF INDIANAPOLIS hereby expressly
reserves the right at any time after March /,
1889, release from this contract and light
any number of street lights in any manner
by any mode said city may elect by giving at
least weeks notice thereof 10 the said Indi-
annapolis Gas-lieht and Coke Company
Alderman Smiths minority report recon-
mended simply concurrence In the action of
Council. Alderman Connect thought that suf-
hcient information had not been received for
inteillgent action, and moved that the reports
be sent back TO the committee. Alderman Rail
did not favor such a course as the mulittee
could do no more. but Alderman Reinecke sug-
gested the motion might be settled by a con-
ference committee. President Wright remarked
that a committee of that kind would be
as yet taken no action. After the
amendments submitted were adopted by the
boardl and Council refused to concur in them
then would be the time for a conference COM
mittee. Alderman Relneeke then moved to lay
the minority report the table, which was
done by Aldermen Clark. Laut, Reinecke. Rey-
nolds. Taylor and Wright supporting the
motion, while Aldermen Connett, Smith and
1ousev voted against it. The majority report
was then approved aud the am sudments adopted
in order by the same votes.
said he was at first in favor of 81 gas bat after
he found that could not be obtained he proposed
TO take the next lowest price that cou1ds be had.
Alderman Wright voted for 81 gas because he
thought that price would still give the company
an excessive profit He believed that gas would
eventually be obtained st much lower rate,
and would favor price beyond ST.
The boards actions was at once transmitted
to Council.
The board coneurred in the action of Council
the hosnital board to expend not
more than SO, 600 IN repairing that institution.
erecting quarantine hospital and purchasing
an ambulance.
The free use of Tomlinson Hall was granted
to the Ministers Association, for the use of the
evangelist Mills. and TO the SISTERS of ST Vim
cents Hospita1 for fair purposes. Council gave
only the latter the Of the hall without
charge, but TO treat both applicants impartial
~ the board struck out Of the action OF Council
the $50 daily rent required of the ministers.
Council afterwards acceded to this arrange
ment, but IL is dor b,fuluf such privileges viii
be hereafter granted to any one
Meeting the Councilmen.