The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-27
FAVORING ELECTRIC LIGHTS
Bids fora One, Two or Three Year Con-
tract Provided by the Aldermen.
Council Will Probably Concur in That Action
The Street Railway Ordinance Referred
toJudiciary aud Railroad Committees.

1t begins to appear as if some project for
lighting the city with electricity will soon be
perfected The members of the Common Coun-
Gil and the Board of Aldermen have been living
the subject very close attention during the last
week. and they seem to be unanimous in the be-
lief that great saving to the city can be made by
the introduction of the new light. Representa-
tives of electric light companies are also survey
ing the field, and the indications that there is
going to be no lack of competition for the put
ting in of plant The various companies will
of course submit different plans for the illumi-
nation. and the members of the Council and
board, recognizing that they will have an i'm
portant duty to perform in determining upon
the best method, giving the matter close
consideration.
Nearly all the members of the Council think
their action on the question at the meeting a
week ago was not such az the exieency demanded.
and they therefore expected the Board of Alder
men to amend the initiatory steps looking to the
electric system. It is said by some that author
zing the city engineer to advertise for bids for
electric lighting for one year only a mis-
take. Representatives from several companies
think they cannot afford go to the expense of
putting in a plant unless they have some assur-
ance that they would be patronized for a longer
time. and even if they did consent to accept
one-year contract they could not be
pected to bid as low as they would
if longer time required. Quite number
of the members of the Council favored the call
ing of meeting last night to reconsider their.
action in this respect but the majority pre-
ferred to wait until the Aldermen had passed
on the question.
When the board met last night many MEM
bers of the Council and reoresen tatives of sew
eral electric-light companies were present.
han fha nlf1fio aIa hvf he an
thorizing the Indianapolis Gas Company to cease
lighting the Streets MaN /, and directing the
city engineer to advertise for bids for lighting
the city with electricity for one year was read,
Alderman Taylor offered as substitute the fol-
lowing:
Resolved, by the Common Council and Board of Al
civil engineer be and is hereby directed to nmedi
atey advertise for bids for lighting the streets by
years; bidders state the number of lights, aud if
are light is to be used, not more than three hundred
candle power of the lights proposed the number of
hours of light furnished to be fixed by schedule
designated by the city civil engineer.
Resolved, That the indianapolis Gas-light and
Coke Company be and is hereby notified and directed
when notified SO to do by the Mayor which notice
shall give said company least fifteen days IL which
date fixed in said notice nothing shall be paid said
company by the city for burned in of the
street lamps and that the city clerk is hereby directed
to prepare and deliver Ito said company certified
copy of this resolution"
Mr.. Connect said he did not favor portion of
the resolution. He believed the gas company
should be made to furnish gas at the rates de-
sired by the Council or not at ALL and he there
fore proposed to amend the resolution by re-
curing the company to stop lighting the streets
April l. His amendment was tabled by the fol-
lowing vote
Yeas-Clark, Laut, Rail Reinecke. Reynolds.
Smith, Taylor, Tousey and Wright, g. Nays-con-
nett, 1.
Mr. REYNOLDS then moved to amend the reso-
luton by making the time for contract one year
instead of two or three years The amendment
met with little favor, and was tabled by the fol-
lowing vote:
Yeas-Olark Laut Rail- Reinecke. Taylor Tousey
and Wright z. Nays-C onnett, Smith and Rey-
nolds, 3.
80 The substitute resolution of Mr.. Taylor
then adopted by vote of to 1. Mr.. Connect be-
ing the only one who voted in the negative
City Engineer Sheerer contemplating the
action of the board in extending the time. has
nearly COMPLETED his schedule for the use of bid
ders. but bids will not be advertised for until
the action of the board has been concurred in by
the Council. 1t is probable that a special meet
ing will be called for one evening this week for
the purpose of concurring in the extension of
time. All the members OF both bodies
feel the necessity of disposing of the
questions soon possible. as the city viii.
have to continue to pay the old price for street
lighting long contract is not made
The engineer will estimate for the bidders the
number of hours artificial light will be required
during the year. and upon the time table he
proposes ask for estimates of the cost Of each
electric lamp, both for the arc and incannescent
light. If the action of the board is concurred
in by the Council he will issue schedule to
each company desiring TO compete for one, two
and three-year bids.
Some of the members of the Council fear that
trouble will be experienced in requiring COM
panies to put their wires under ground. There
seems to be general feeling that with such
increased number of wires it will not do to allow
them to be stretched poles. and while there
is already an ordinance existing giving
panies the right to put them below ground.
there is a supposition that the companies would
net like to go to the expense, unless they are al
lowed TO contemplate such action in their bids.
and that they will probably do.