The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-14
OBJECT TO THE NEW LIGHT
Meridian-Street Residents Think an
Electric System Will Injure Trees.
They Also Protest Against the Erection of
POles-Spicy Discussion in Council Over
Complaints and the Mayors Suggestion.

AT the meeting of Council last night five prop
ositions were received for the lease OF Sellers
farm. They ranged from $3.50 to s706 per an
mum and were referred to committee on con-
tracts. The Mayor read communication from
II. G. Carey protesting against the erection OF
electric light poles North Meridian street, and
said that he had received complaints from
number OF other citizens. He had personally
examined into the matter and found that the
company had put up twice or three times as
many poles as were necessary, and they are 80
thick. unsightly and so short that the wires
would iDjure the trees. He recommended that
the company be prohibited from putting the
electric lights upon that street.
Councilman Trusler said he was surprised at
the Mayor objectlng to the electric light. The
Mayor lives two blocks below John H. Holiday.
the boss of the city, and he surely bad not com
suited him or he would have found out thas the
people are demanding the electric light. The
Meridian street people are the heaviest tax-pay-
ers in the city. continued the councilman. and
ought to have the electric lights whether they
want them or not. He always knew that they
were not good light for residence streets where
there are shade trees, but, Mr.. Holiday. through
the News, had demanded that the city have cleo
trio lights and had worked an ordinance through
for 100 Of them on trial. and he and the residents
of Meridian street ought to have fair trial OF
them, and if they did not like them their expert
ence would be worth something 70 the city.
The committee on light had selected Meridian
street as the best residence street on which to
make a trial of the system. Councilman Pear
c-Nnlyo boat fboe Affa md IL
man Swain said the poles were enormously
large and that there we're three poles
to where there was only one needed.
The Mayor. ia another speech. charged the
committee on lights with setting poles OF an
enormous size to spite the residents or the street.
and said that it is no joke to these citizens to
have their property defaced in that way. In
many cases the tops of the poles GO right into
the center of the tops Of the trees, making neces
sary the cutting of Of the tree-tops, and the
property owners had a right to kick.
Councilman Cummings said, Run the poles
MP the canal if nobody else wants them. Id
like to have them in nv ward. There is no one
who would kick them mp there
Councilman Hickin remarked, II am enable
to find out from the discussion whether electric
wires or tho News is to be strung upon these
poles"
swell. string bandanna handkerchiefs upon
them" interrupted Councilman Darnell, and the
suggestion was received with erunt from
Councilman Hicklin, and laugh from the other
members Of the board.
Councilman Pearson explained that the wires
are very heavy and insulated and need heavy
| poles. and must be close together to, sustain
their weight The wires would not
injure tho trees in the least. lie thought nor re-
| quire them TO be topped. The lights would be
| located at the street intersections and in the
middle of the streets. and he was in favor OF
| placing them on Meridian street. whether the
| nabobs OF the street want them or not. The
matter was referred to the COMMITTEES on light.
| The committee on contracts reported favor
ably upon nine minor contracts for paving and
the parties receiving them filed their bonds
which were approved. Appropriation ordinances,
| for the expenses of all the different depart
ments of the city, were taken mp and read three
| times and passed. An item OF one Of Thorn was
| an appropriation of &55 900 for the payment of
| the temporary loan made to the city in August
| and September Of this year. A resolution was
adopted lowing the Mayor and Clerk to have
| their names autographed upon the coupons OF
| the city bonds, as the labor OF writing them in
| is too great. Councilman Thalman stated that
| the banks buying the bonds had agreed that
| this might be done.
Councilman Thalman introduced an ordinance
| prohibiting the location and maintenance OF es-
| and tallow in the city. Referred. The street
| commissioner was ordered to ascertain the cost
| of a streetsweepine machine. for use on Wash
| ington street. motion by Councilman Pear
| son to suspend the rules and repeal the McNeal
J ordinance lost. A number Of complaints
| were received concerning the bad condition of
the streets In various parts of the city and we're
referred to the street commissioner. Council
then adjourned .ll-5