The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-05
The Electric-Light Question.

The subject OF electric light for the city came
up for consideration by the special committee,
Of which Councilman Casper is chairman, sub
hitting . report It embraced q side report
from the visiting committee composed Of City
Attorney Taylor. City Engineer Shesrer, Alder
man Reynolds and Councilman Kelly. The re-
port was a detailed account of what the COM
mittee saw during its Eastern trip. Utica was
the only city visited which was entirely lighted
by electricity. There the Fort Wayne
Jenny system was in use very satisfactorily.
The city was lighted with 80 lights,
on q three-ysar contract for SO. 900 per annum
In New York they saw all the lights used in
close proximity, and were favorably impressed
with all of them. The city was one of the easiest
In the country to light with electricity, on &c
count of its short squares, and yet only a small
portion OF it was so lighted. At Cleveland they
saw the Brush system in use; at Lynn, Mass,
the Thompson Hinton, and were we'll
pleased with both. In summarizing the re-
suit Of Investigations the sub-committe reported:
First-We have observed that where the lamps
placed poles they did not light the streets
well where they suspended the
streets and therefore recommend that in any con.
tract made il be done O basis of suspended lights.
secondIWe find that the use of mast arms |. the
preferable way of suspendng the ights-frst, be-
|. relieves the streets of extra pole the
cable system; second it does away with the liability
third because the lamp be trimmed at the side of
streets out of the way of vehicles and be more
easily trimmed and cleaned.
Third-That IN none of the cities we visited do we
find any attempt 10 light the alleys with electricity.
Fourth-in our opinion, the most economical plan
of lighting would be to adopt the 2,5O0hour sched-
ule. which includes. also, such nights when the
moon is obscured by fog clouds, thus running light
for every night in the year. on practically moon
light schedule price.
Fffth-Owins to the length of ithe squares in this
city and the fact that many of the streets heavily
shaded with foliage, of the opinion that
light should in all of long and shaded squares be
placed at each street intersection.
The general COMMITTEES reported that il would
require at least six hundred lights of 1900 can
dle-power to light the city. and using this as
basis Of the cost to the city Of lighting it under
the various bids received, the proposition Of each
company was as follows:
Jenny Company -.------.---...-..-----..- $4,000
Thompson-Huston Company $4,000
In conclusion the committee said: ''Your
committee reports that il has information which
leads it to believe that lower bids than those
here reported on can be had from the CON-
panies above named. or at least from some of
them, and therefore these said bids are returned
to your honorable bodies without any recon-
nendation as 70 which II any bid should be
accepted"
Following the report Councilman Casper pre-
sentsd the following:
Moved That all bids for electric lights be rejected
and that the city civil engineer be- and hereby is di
reced to advertise for bids for lighting the city by
electricity the specifications to be modified as TO
give to the city the first option of purchasing the
entire plant at any time within three years. bids to
be opened at the next regular meeting of the Council
The report of the committee very thor
oughly discussed. Councilman Darnell thought
that the committee after putting the city to so
much expense should have submitted differ
ent sort Of q report Councilman Casper.
speaking for the committee said IL had done
what 1t believed would be to the greatest interest
OF the citizens II had been informed that at
least two Of the companies would submit lower
bids. and that being the case the commit tee did
not feel justified in awarding the contract to
any one. Councilman Kelly, also member OF
the committee, said he did not think the COM
mittee should be censured While IL had put
the city to some expense. it would in the end
save them several thousand dollars
Councilman McClelland moved that the
Thompson Huston company be awarded the
contract for Lighting the city. He stated that
he had visited Terre Haute and was satisfied
that the Tnompson-Hustou system good
one. Councilman Casper moved to lay the mo-
ton on the table and in doing so said be thought
i was very important that new bids should DO
advertised for. The city attorney had
held that the Jenny company was
the only company that in bidding
complied with the notifications and specfca-
tions. The Brush and Jenney companies, he
notifications, giving them the privilege Of sell
ing their plant at any time. but still giving the
city the first option on ii for period of three
yeara The bids were in the room, and the
Council could hear them II & desired. Council