Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-02-01
LOCAL.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT SERVICE.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT SERVICE.
AN EFFORT MADE TO IA TE TT
BETTERED.
AGEMENT OF THE PLANT-PROPOSI
TIoN TO REMOVE THE sUPEKINTEN-
DENT-HE IS GIVEN A FURLOUGH TO
60 TO THE CoMPANY's FACTORY AND
PERFECT HIMSELF.
&C, &C., sc.
For soma time past the Electric light,
which was once the pride of the town, has
been anything else but that. The COM
plants have been serious and frequent both
about the street lights and the CONNER
cial service. This light is, as matter of
income, the best investment the city has
made. The income from the rent of
lights on the commercial line. So, 200, pays
the whole amount of running expenses Of
the whole plant-$2, 600. Notwithstanding
the numerous complaints, and the impor-
tance of preserving such source Of in-
come to the Treasury, there has been a
persistent inaction by the Council in the
matter. AT last, the following communi-
cation put an end to the belief that the
commercial line subscribers would any
longer pay their money for an inferior ser
vice
To tile Consnaittee on Street Lights of tile
City Of tStGt11to1
The undersigned, patrons of the CONNER
clal Circuit of Electric Light, hereby protest
against inferior service.% The light IS unreli-
able and we are subjected to inconvenience in
our busiest hours During the first year of
the service we submitted to inconvenience, as
1T Was believed that experience would enable
the managers to overcome the difficulties at
tending the Introduction of new SERVICE
but as it becomes no better. we consider our
selves released from yearly contract and
at liberty to discontinue the light. Yet, being
unwilling to embarrass your committee, we
Will accept any reasonable guarantee that the
service shall be improved.
Child & Shelton, Eakle, Splitter & Co.,
Hughes & Robinson, Chas. E. Haines, L. B.
Campbell, J. r. Craig, " hitmore & Liggett,
). Il. woodward, Chas A. lesser, A. E. Harms
berger, Thos Kivlighan, G. G. Wheat, C. T.
Hammond, P. T. Allen Wayt & Bro,
Ernest Nothnagel, Jno. Wallace, B. Beecher,
Jr,, J. G. Kruger, J. B. Guntner, and S. M.
Yost & Son.
GA this complaint the Council was sum.
moned at the request Of the Electric Light
Committee, and held called meeting Sat
urday night. Every member was present.
President Berkeley explained the object
OF the meeting. 1t was to consider the
condition of the electric light service.
There had been, he said, gross incompetent
cy or neglect by some one.
A CHAIRMAN THAT HAD BEEN MUCH
WORRIED.
Mr.. Bargamin, Chairman of the Eiec-
trio Light Committee, said he had known
for three or four nights that the light had
been bad, but could not find out who was
at fault. AS for himself, he would like
to be relieved Of the responsibility. He
would like the Superintendent of the plant
Mr.. O'Donnell to be here. He, (the Chair
MANI was nc expert. He knew nothing
/, about it except that some part of the ma
chinery had been burned and he had been
much worried about it.
A CHANGE NEEDED.
Mr.. Tams, another member of the Com.
mittee. made statement. He said that
Mr.. Men EFT of the Thompson-H ouston
Co., who superintendent the erection of
the plant, said it was not needed to be an
nyr,arf n hnu1 IN Tho diroo
tions were all there and there was nothing
to do but to follow them. But accidents
had come and experts had to be sent for.
A change was made in the superintendency
Of the plant in July last and Mr.. O'Don.
nell was elected. There had been many
complaints during the past Fall and Winter
and now comes this threat of the consum-
ers to quit. 1t all comes to this: that the
machinery is in charge of people who are
either Incapable Or don't care. 1t cannot be
that they don L Garrett for any man would care
whether ST. 900 worth of machinery IN bis
charge was hurt or not. There seemed
nothing to do except make a change-re-
move the entire force now in charge and
Wy OH "a POI v AVA oo ocJos IL VuO OApOlb
can run it, it will snow that the machinery
is not in fault; if he can't, it will show that
it is.
THE SUPERINTENDENT TO GO TO THE
CoMPANY's FACTORY AND LEARN.
Mir. Bargamin offered resolution pro-
vding that the present Superintendent be
allowed leave of absence for so days to
60 to the company's factory and perfect
himself. The trip to be made at his own
expense, his salary to be discontinued for
that time. and the city to hire an expert in
the meantime.
THE DYNAMO OVERLOADED.
MIR Tams further explained that tbs
dynamo in use was overloaded by about
three arc lights more than it could carry.
It would run As but is now carrying 49
The question is whether the City shall give
up $2l0 a year received for the arc lights
or spend $500 more i'll exchanging this dy
namo for a larger which would carry add
tlonal lights-that is, If the city can get
proper service at Its WorkS-if it can '6,the
larger dynamo would only mean more ma
chinery to be ruined.
CERTIFICATE.
Mr.. Bargamin had his resolution
changed so as to contemplate the Superin-
tendent receiving a certificate Of prof.
cheney at the company's factory after his
stay there, if they gave such.
Mr.. Weler--It was stated when Mr.
Al, Al, h. \
the company's factory to learn. Has be