The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-08
FIGURES BEFORE COUNCIL
Several Bidders Show What Asphalt
Payements and Electric Lights Cost.
Councilmen Who Want the Cow to Bswl at
tbs Post Office Door Make an Effort to
Throw Down the Bars.
BIDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.


The lobby was crowded usual at last nights
meeting of the Council Among those present
were Col W. W. Dudley. of the cable road COM
many. Mr.. shafsr, of; the Citizens Sirest-rAil-
way Company. and several gentlemen represent
ing slectric-lieht companies. The first business
was the opening of bids for the improvements of
Washington street Two companies only sub
naitfed proposals.
The wsrren-Scharf Asphalt Paving Company,
of New York. propose 20 grade and pave the
street In conformity with the specifications for
Trinidad asphalt as set forth in the special ordi
nance passed at the last meeting of the Council
for the following prices For grading and paw
ing the etreet, s14 per linsal front foot each
side Of the street to the center thereof, and for
the additional area in intersections outside the
curb line 80 cents per square foot For strait
fed limestone, or Berea curbing. IS cents per
linsal foot, and for circular curling on strest
corners the same price per lineal foot In lieu
of the Trinidad asphalt the company agree to
pave the street with the cheaper grade men
toned 10 the amendment to the improvement
ordinance at sl1 per linesl foot.
The Natioual vulcanite Company also sub
mitted bid. proposing to pave the street with
each inea foot front to the center of the str eet
ell so. For each lneal foot of curbstone
each side of the street, so cents Repairs as
provided for in the specifications, on basis Of
g per square yard.
The bids were referred to the committee on
contracts, together with the city attorney and
city civil engineer
The opening of bids for the lighting Of the
city by electricity was the feature Of the session.
Three companies presented propositions
The Indianapolis Brush Electric-lieht and
Power Company proposed to constructs. equip
and maintain a good substantial electric install
lation complete and ready for operation. and
when the plant was completed to operate for a
trial period OF sixty days. IL proposed. first. to
furnish the lights what is known the
'srnoon- light schedule of 500 hours including
also. such light when the moon 10 obscured by
fog or clouds. at the rate OF 3410 cents rer
are actually burned; second. to furnish lights
for time schedule of 2.740 hours at the rate Of
81 cents per hour for the number
OF hours that lights are actually burned;
third, 20 furnish lights for all night
lighting for every night in the year. or $3.50
hours, at the rate Of lilo cents per hour for
the number Of hours that lights are actually
burned It proposes to operate the plaat by
means Of suspending wires by poles substan-
company are now suspended in the city. The
company expressed the opinion that it would
probable be necessary Co place one electric light
at every intersection Of streets for about 400
section Of streets throughout the remainder of
the area TO be lighted. The company estimates
that 1t will require $50 lamps TO light the city.
Forlighting the alleys the company propose to
use in such locations as might be dssigusted BY
the city engineer. incandescent electric
lights Of less than sixty-five
candlspower, suspended on brackets
s ana pr1,sesea rom the "e e;r ~,sn proper
rate of II cent per hour for the actual number
OF hours the lamps used The lamps of the
company are TO be OF two thousandcandle-
power. are lights, of the double carbon pattern,
and will DO provided with round clear glass
elobsa In case the company 10 awarded the
contract IL guarantees 70 furnish . bond with
satisfsctory sureties protecting the city from
liability on account of infringement OF patent,
and also from all damages and costs of suits
that may arise from such sources. According
10 the estimate Of the number Of lights required
TO properly light the city the annual cost 70 the
city for the lighting Of the $50 lamps will DO az
follows For time schedule Of $500 hours, s95
per year for each lamp, . total cost per
mum of So, $50 for ali the lamps.
For time schedule Of 2, 40 hours. $10l.c per
yesr for each lamp. or total per annum Of
s55. 100 for ell the Tampa
For all-night lighting, every night in the year.
sll62S for each lamp, or s63, 1853 for al
lamps per year. :.
The bid was made for the lighting Of the city
according to the three year specifications, and it
is agreed that tho city may purchase the plant
at the end Of that time at price TO be agreed
upon by three persons. one OF whom TO be
selected BY the company, one BY the city and
the third by the two men thus selected. A GER
tilted check for 5000. upon the Indiana Nation
al Bank, accompanied the bid as Q guarantee Of
the company's good faith
The Fort Wayne Jenny Electr ic-lig@h Com
A. -. A..
the present gas company would requir abous
40 arc lamps, and about 100 incahdescsnt lamps
TO hight alleys Il proposes the following For
schedule of $500 hours, $4,000 per year; Of
2,740 hours. $4,000 per year; Of $3.50 hours.
$50, 900 per year. Term of contract, three years.
The company also offers . second proposal. by
which IL agrees to light the entire city, including
outskirts, where star towers will be erected, at
hours. $54 600 per year: Of 2 740 hours. $57. 500
per year; of 9, $50 hours, s67. 500 per year. The
company agrees to sell its plant at the end of
three years for s75, 000 A euarantee-check for
90 600 also accompanies this bid.
The third bid was the Thompson Houston
Electric Company, OF Chicago. 1t proposes 20
furnish 2,000-candle-p power arc lamps at sS7 per
year per light. the contract to be given for three
years. or furnish 1000 candle arc lights
schedule OF 2,740 hours per year, for $50 per
lights for all night lighting every night in tho
year. S95 per year per light. For lighting the
alleys the company proposes to furnish sixty
five incandescent lights for each alley now
lighted by gas. at $40 per lamp per year. Il
agrees to have the plant in operation in six
months after the contract is made, and pre-
sented certified eood-faith check for s.. 900.
In conclusion the company makes the following
propositions: Ii viii pay all the expenses of
running plants for three years, the city paying
the sum Of $4,000 per year. and 70 furnish land
upon which TO erect the plant. and the city then
TO become owner Of It free OF charge; or, the
city to pay the company So, 900 per year for
four years, and then receive the plant free of
charge, on the above Specifications.
On motion Of Councilman Casper il was de-
cided that special committee. composed of
three members from the Council ana three
from the board. should be appointed TO which
the bids for electric lighting should be referred
The Mayor appointed as the Council members
of the committee Messrs. Casper, Thalman and
Kelley.
The advissbilty Of appointing committee to
visit cities using the systems proposed in the
bids, for the purpose of investigating their
merits created considerable discussion. Quite
number Of the councilmen opposed the appoint
mens Of any such committed Councimaa
Pearson thought IL would be unwise TO close .
contract without investigating the merits OF the
eomrany To not appoint the COMMITTEES, he
thought, would be TO delay action The matter
finally settled by the appointment OF, as
such committee, the city attorney. city engineer