The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-28
CUTTING OFF yAPOR LIGHTS
The Aldermen Will oppose Continue
ton of a Contract for Their Use.
They Request the Contracting Company to
Report Why 1t Has Not 0beyed Orders
APrOposition of Ministers Is Rejected.

The meeting of the5Board of Aldermen. last
night, though brief. was long enough to put
ch eek on an extension of yapor lights under the
present limited contract The Council, at it's
last meeting, ordered parts of several streets to
be lighted by this means. The committee on
light in that body recommended the adoption of
resolutions to that effect. but the aldermen not
only refused to concur, but supplemented their
action by adopting motion which raises an
issue with the company working under
the contract. An ordinance was passed
July Is, 1885. providing that not
less than fifty nor more than
125 of these lights should be placed in various
parts of the city. Every councilman of the
outlying wards wanted them. and the maximum
number soon IN position. The next year,
Aug g. another ordinance passed pro-
viding for 125 additional lights, making $50 in
all. Councilman were not slow, in the interests
of their constituents in having the extra lamps
put in their several wards. bat of the resolu-
tions ordered the placing of fourteen in locality
across the river The contracting company re-
fused to comply, so far as these fourteen
lights were concerned and provided 236 instead
of $50 lamps. The recent resolution of Council
covered the pl acing of the fourteen lights but
ordered them for another part of the city. Ad-
lamps in of this number. and by the
aldermen two questions were brought up. one
that the company had failed to comply in pac-
ing the fourteen lamps as directed, more than
year ago. and the other that there was ordi-
nance allowing more than $50 lights of the kind
1t was urged that vapor lights would be
costly investment in view of what the natural
gas companies would propose as to street light
ing. The vapor light contract under each ordi-
nance is limited to three years. and in July
fifty lights will be cut off by expiration of time.
After that at short intervals other lamps will be
taken out that account. AS many of
these in the district occupied by
the Broad Ripple Natural-gas Company
it is already looking after the priv ilege OF light
ing the streets. 1t is understood that its propo-
sition will be made lower per post than the $lS
paid yearly for each vapor light. The
motion offered by Alderman CONTEXT last night
aud adopted by the board was to the effect that
no vapor lamps be ordered until those ordered
by the Council in December, 1886. have been
erected. motion also prevailed calling upon
the Sun Vapor-hght Company to inform the
Aldermen why the lamps for Wallace and
Everett streets have not been erected.
The of Tomnson Hall has been given to
charitable and other organizations either free
from rental charge or at reduced rates. Among
some councilmen and aldermen the idea pre-
walls that the of the building should not
only for the cost of janitor service. expenses
for fuel light and repairs, but give to the city
handsome profit Hence, when any request in
the interest of meetings. no matter
how worthy how closely connected
there is always a protest. but until last night
without effect, for the discussions have always
ended in granting what was desired Evange-
lstc meetings, to be conducted by the Rev.
Foy Mills, have been arranged by the Ministerial
Association and through the Rev DR.. Mcleod,
proposition made for the use of the hall
for twelve nights, at $40 per night. from March
% to 80, and April 3 to inclusive, and
the night of April 8. These meet
hall has not been engaged for any
purpose. When the propositions read
Alderman Connett said the line must be drawn
somewhere for these requests for the hall
duced rent. A schedule of rates had been
adopted and it should be strictly followed.
Alderman Tousey thought reducing the rent
for every organization that asked for it did no
good to the city. 1t cost great deal of money
to keep the ball clean and in order and that ex-
pense could be met only by adhering rigidIy to
the rates established.
Alderman ReynoldsIalso thought the line should
be drawn. but he did not think the right start
would be made in rejecting this proposition.
The hall. at reduced rates, had been granted to
MANY others, and now when these good people,
for the best of purposes, ask for favor the
board wants to sit down them 2e
Alderman Connect said that the hall had been
ia use long enough to go around once, and it
was just the opportunity to draw the line, for
the good people would raise less hue and cry
about it. The proposition was rejected by the
votes of Aldermen aConnett, Reinecke, Smith,
Taylor and Tousey. Aldermen Laut, Reynolds
Rail and Wright favored it. The rental COM
mittee OF the request being granted
that it did not think it necessary make any
recomm endatons in submitting the proposition
to the board.