St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-12-20
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Some Obligations Resting on Citizs


lage meeting is called for next Thurs
day evening, Dec. 81, "tO see if the
village will accept and ratify it's con-
tract, made through the trustees OF
said village, with the Thomson Hous-
ton company for lighting the streets oi
said village with electricity" 1t will
be well for the citizens of the place to
divest themselves of both prejudice
and sentiment and look this matter
sQuarely in the face and endeavor by
candor and the use of their best Judg-
ment to arrive at an intelligent and
wise conclusion.
Laying aside for the moment the OBJ
vous fact that undue influence was
brought to bear upon the trustees by
the Thomson Houston company in that
the latter agree to pay $500 a year
for power in which two or more of said
trustees are owners, which power
could have been obtained elsewhere
for $500 or less dismissing for the
present this apparent '.job" which of
necessity disqualifies the trustees from
acting in this matter for the village
disinterestedly, and assuming for the
present that this trade entered into in
behalf of the village is fair and square,
how does the matter stand The trus-
tees propose by their own showing to
plunge the village into an expense af
ter the first year of not less than $500
and many think it will be nearer
$4,000, for lighting the streets alone
No candid and intelligent person be-
lieves the village can be properly light
ed with less than 40 lights and many
put the number at so lights. By IL
very unusual mode of estimating eX-
penses, the Thomson Houston compa-
ny propose to put in plant, erect
poles, string wires, etc, for 30 lights at
$65 light but after all this expense
of the plant is completed, if additional
lights are wanted,-a of course there
will be,-they will charge $40 a light
Are the taxpayers of this village
aware that a better light than the
obtained at Il much less price? There
is good evidence that such is the case.
There are arc lights now produced that
do not "ficker," that require much
less power than the Thomson Houston
system, and are furnished much cheap
er. 1t is said on good authority that a
reliable company will contract to put
in an electric plant, including poles,
wire, dynamos, and everything ready
to attach power to, for $4,000. This
system requires only 60 horse power
for 100 arc lights, which would give so
| lights for the streets of the village and
so to rent. The power at Carrlck's,
near the railroad station, would not
cost over $4OO and probably not over
$500. If the so extra arc lights can be
rented for $50 light $3.50 less than
the Thomson Houston folks ask) it
would bring an income of S25OO annu
ally. How would it do for the village
to invest $4,000 with good prospect of
getting an income of 30 or more per
cent from the investment and securing
it's streets lighted for nothing9 Or
even if the income was much less
per cent, would it not he better than
$1,000 year expense with no income
So far as the public know there has
been no investigation of other systems
of lighting, but a seeming determine
ton to foist upon the taxpayers this
system regardless. If there is another
kind of arc light that burns steadily
and is less expensive, these are two
considerations of great Importance.
Isn't this matter worth investigating
In this connection we are permitted to
copy extracts from a private letter re-
ceived by gentleman in this town
written by friend in another state.
He writes:
81 read i'm the last Caledonian that
you are having fight over the electric
light question with the Thomson
Houston company. | trust your town
will not ratify the action of your trus-
tees The Il. & H. Co. is thoroughly
unscrupulOus in its efforts to get into q
place and its agents do not hesitate tc
The
electric light committee i'm -, (the
town where the writer lives,) could
give you points in this respect
After Il careful examination of several
our town has put in another sys
TEN, which is so good that the Il
& Ii. offered them $6O,0nO for it, bu
without avail. The II. & III. at --
(another town near by,) after agreeing
to furnish 1900 candle-power lights
have been let off with lights of 70(
candle power, and poor at that. Be
ware of them. | say it honestly"
The above voluntary testimony from
an intelligent man, total stra niger
who was never in this town and wht
has no possible interest in misfepre
senting the matter, is worthy of con
sideration by thoughtful citizens. Al
F was said at the beginning of this arti
Gle, sentiment and prejudice should
not enter into it's discussion. The vi
tai interests of this town are at stake
, The citizens cannot afford to longe
permit it's best good to be ignored
We have a goOdly town, and one whose
, educational, religious and social ad
vantages will attract residents bu
unless this spirit of extravaganza
wastefulness and jobbery can be check
ed, it will, like the Old Man of the Sea
strangle it's very life.