Wichita eagle., 1889-01-17
CITY COUNCIL.
SPECIAL MEETING = REPORT OF
LIGHT COMMITTEE.
More Vapor Lights Ordered-All Kinds
Of Lights to be Shifted Around
Sewer Bonds Talked About.

|
the report of the special committee on To-
cation of gas and electric lights.
As soon as the object of the meeting had
been stated, Mr.. Healey called attention to
a rumor, that the sewer contractors were
thinking of temporarily reducing the num-
Der of men working on the sewer unless
the bonds for that work were turned over
to them, so that they might dispose OF the
same. There was some question about
such a move. AS the bonds will sell at a
premium, some members thought the city
! should dispose of the bonds and get the
benefit of the premium, rather than to
| give the contractors a chance to "specu-
late'' on the bonds. Mayor Allen suggest
| ed, that il would be advisable to advertise
for bids Tor these bonds, to be delivered
when issued, so that the amount of the
premium may be ascertained. The city
clerk said he could state no definite time
as to when the bonds can be issued, as it
could not be done until thirty days after
every property owner had been notified.
He did not think any could be issued ear
lier than April 1st. Mr.. Pratt expressed the
| opinion, that this premium, might amount
to some 1000 or $4,000, possibly more,
and be did not think the city ought to
throw this away
Mr. Buckeridge said he had good rea-
sons to believe that thecontractors had not
been putting on any extra workmen, and
he couldn't see any reason why the con-
tractors were constantly bringing things
up which tend to increase the expense to
| the city.
Mr.. Healy thought the contractors had
worked as rapidly as the city engineer
could permit them. The engineer, in turn.
had progressed as rapidly as the right of
way committee had opened the way. All
matters pertaining to right of way were
referred to tho right of way committee,
! with power to act.
| Mr.. English asked that the street COM
missioner be instructed to finish the grad
| ing, not completed, on South Lawrence
avenue Immediately south Of the Wichita
I &, Western railway. Ordered.
Then came the long delayed and much
''cussed and discussed" report of the spe-
cial committee appointed some months
ago for the purpose of removing. relocat-
ing and shifting around pretty thoroughly
the electric, gas and vapor lights about
the city. After great deal of rambling
talk this matter was relegated to the rear
by the council referring the subdivisions OF
the report, pertaining to the several wards,
to the members from each respective ward,
with instructions for them to relocate
the lights in their wards, This leaves the
matter about where it was before. His
honor, Mayor Allen, at several different
stages of the discussion, which partOok of
free for alp character, suggested that
2 r,,il y,1fn Nfofi
thus go on with the farce" He made a
close guess in the premises. Many of the
proposed removals were such as to provoke
great deal of excitement on the part of
the members from the wards thus affected.
When the Second ward was reached Mr.
Buckeridge jumped to his feet and twitch-
ed and fidjetted around nervously until its
reading had been finished and he got his
hands on the report, when he proceeded to
pick it to pieces" so far as his ward was
concerned.
Before adjourning,n said the mayor, 81
desire to call the attention of the council
to matter which they may consider"
lie then referred to the large number of
electric wires in use for different purposes
and their rapid increase and crowded con-
dition and said that something would have
to be done very soon to prevent contact be-
tween the several wires and between the
wires and infamable material.
On motion of Mr. English, the chief of
the fire department was instructed to see
that such contact should DE avoided by
proper Insulation.
Mr.. Pratt said it might be little early
to talk about it, but the time is coming
when all of the wires in this city will be
compelled tc go underground.
Mr., Healy suggested that then would be
a good time to take up the question of
electric lighting in the future.
Mr. Buckeridge informed the council
that Mr.. Conaway, as the representative
of the Wichita Gas and Electric company,
which furnishes the Thompson-Ho
electric lights, was present and would like
to say d few words to the council.
Mr. Conaway recited at length the cir !
cumstances of the present company's hav-
ing bought their plant with the under |
standing that the city was to pay the sum
of S. 33% per month per light, and after
having presented and had paid, for over a |
year, their bills on that basis it was dis |
covered that there was in existence an |
agreement by which this company was to |
furnish lights at S694 per month An |
agreement between the company and the |
city was made some time ago by which the |
was settled with at the price of |
IS 331% per month Ia order to under
stand how this difference in prices hap /
pens it should be explained that in agree
ing on the contract il was understood that |
the lights should cost 800 per year each in
1856, but in writing the contract for the
twelve then ordered the total cost for
these twelve was written zone thousand /
dollars instead of twelve hundred dol
lars per aunum. This was a mistake on
the part of one of the old company who
drew up the instrument. This mistake
was only discovered last year by accident
on the part of the clerk.
Mayor Allen stated that when any ac-
ton be taken in regard to the electric
light matters the city attorney should
be present Further consideration was de-
ferred
There were signs of an adjournment,
when the electric light subject broke out
3lrlsh by motion from Mr.. johnson of
the Third ward, who said that on account
of.the excessive and all pervading modesty
Of the two gentlemen from the Second
ward, Messrs. Backeridge and Downing,
lie would move that their ward be given
twenty-five more yapor lights Mr. Down
ing drew his feet down from his table long
enough TO second the motion. The mayor
that no more lights be voted I'M
Ill those already in had been relocated. but
t was no use.
The lights had begun TO fare up.
Mr.. Goldberg, of the Napor Light, was