The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-01-20
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT QUESTION

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT QUESTION.
A meeting Of the citizens of the city
Was held in Simmons Hall Saturday
evening, Jan. 18th, to discuss the ques-
ton of lighting the city. Hon. Fred.
Stemm was chosen chairman, and d.
A. Mahoney, secretary.
The chairman stated that the question
of lighting the city had been under con-
sideration by . committee of the
Common Council for some time, and
that said committee would make re-
port to the Council at the next meeting.
Mr.. Josiah Bond asked if the COM
mittee could not report at this meeting,
SO that the people could inteligently
discuss the question which they had
under consideration.
The chairman said it wouldsbe pre-
mature for the committee to report at
this time.
Hon. q. g. Simmons, being called up
on, gave his views at some length. He
said he would like to see the city lighted,
but was not in favor of electric light.
He had been a director in an electric
light company, but had sold out, be-
cause it was all assessments and no
dividends. He thought electric light a
luxury. No company using high
priced fuel can make a cheap light.
Speaking of Racine, Mr.. Simmons said
that neither of the plants at that city
had paid any dividends, and that the
light was unsatisfactory to the citizens.
He believed the time was close at hand
when gas for light and fuel could and
would be made for 10 cents, and dis
tributed to consumers for Is cents per
thousand. Natural gas was revolution
izing the manufacturing interests of the
country, and he believed that the ex-
periments now being made with water
gas would lead to still greater results.
He advised the committee to keep out
of entanglements with electric lightcom-
panies, and said that he was emphatic
ally opposed to any plant electric light,
fuel gas or otherwise which would in
volve the city in debt. He thought we
had better wait while.
The chairman said that last June a
petition from the Business Mems Club,
asking that immediate steps be taken
towards lighting the city, was received
by the Council, and that now their action
in this matter seemed to indicate that
they considered the Council lot OF
boys to play with; but, as Mayor, he
wished to be governed by the wishes OF
the majority Of the citizens. Hethoupht
the city ought to be lighted, and, after
considerable investigation. he was con-
WINGED that an electric light plant was
the beet. He said that he read an
article in the Scientific american several
years ago relating to experiments that
were then being made in water gas, and
that it had not yet proved success;
that the water gas spoken of lacked the
one element we needed, viz, illuminat.
ing power. He advocated the buying 81
plant by the city, and said that 70,
SIP 500 complete plant could be bought
which would furnish the city With sixty
lights and furnish fifty lights to com
mercial circle; that the cost of running
the plant, including the salary of ar
engineer, would be So, 800 per year; thai
it would cost S., 900 year to light the
city with kerosene.
Mr.. Simmons said he considered i
commendable on the part of the Mayol
to have investigated the cost and work
ings of an electric plant, but he con
sidered the estimate of running the same
too low. The machinery had to be rur
at high rate of speed, and in few
years the plant would have to be renew
ed. The parties who furnished the est
mates wanted to sell their plants, ane
figured the expenses of running tn,
same very low. Experience had proved
that it could not be run for the figures
given by the sellers.
Mr.. Josiah Bond said we ought t.
wait. He had faith that the ligh
and fuel of the future would be gas.
Mr.. c. H. Balm, being called for, sale
that he was in favor of reducing tn,
bonded debt of the city before we made
any large expenditures for light.
Mr.. James Cavanagh was called upo1
for his views. He said he was in favol
of lighting the city at the proper tim,
and in the proper manner, but though
we ought to wait while. Whenever al
emergency arose some man always
arose at the same time to meet tn,
emergency. Natural gas is revolutioniz
ing the manufacturing industries of tn,
country, and places having natural ga
can manufacture anything in iron ant
steel much cheaper than they can b,
manufactured where there is not natura
gas. Chicago and other manufacture,
centres, in order to be able to Compel,
with places having natural gas, will hav'
to provide substitute for natural gas
and he believed that the experiment.
now being made with water gas woult
be crowned with success, and that
would be the light and fuel of the future
He said that the experience of man,
whom he knew with electric light plant
| had been very unsatisfactory, and tina
he thought it would not be we'll. for th,
city to buy plant at the present time.
Mr.. Simmons moved the adoption q
the following
Resolued, That it be considered til,
sense Of this meeting that it would b,
inexpedient at the present time for th,
city to embark in the manufacture ant
distribution of electric light. =
The resolution was adopted by {
rising vote, whereupon the meeting ad
journed.
BRISTOL.
Mr.. VIM. Shepard, after a good visi
with the folks, has returned to hi
station aJ Elmira, Mo.
Mr.. Charley Joslyn has come home
to see his parents after long absence
Charley looks as bright as dollar JUS