Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-04
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
An INITIAL DISCUSSION OF TEE subject AT
THE CITY HALL. LAST NIGHT.

THE CITY HALL, LAST NIGHT.
JOIN. Meeting Between the Committee on Lights
and the Gas TrasIs;s-Data Adducsd by Sscrs-
ary Rranzhsim-Acton Of the Meeting.
The Council Committee on Lights
and the Gas Trustees met In joint >es-
sion. last evening, at the gas office, in
the City Hall, to discuss the important
matter OF lighting the city with cleo
tricity. The meeting was held by rea-
son of the adoption, at the last session
of Council, Of resolution calling upon
the two bodies above named for infor-
nation as To the progress OF the
electric lighting plans, and also to con
slider the following communication,
from the Wheeling Electrical Company,
read at the last session of Council, and
by il referred to the Committee on
Lights and the Gas Trustees jointly
WHEELING. W. Va, November p.
GENTLEMEN Should the city desire, we
would be pleased 10 enter into an agreement
for lighting the streets by electricity, and
as our new station is now being erected,
the matter could be more Gdvantageously
arranged at this time.
A superficial study would lead some to
conclude that the city could produce her
own light al less cost than by purchase, but
i thorough investigation will, we think,
lead TO different conclusion, the apparent
cost being by no means the actual, and we
are prepared to lay the facts before your
honorable body or proper committee.
Respectfully submitted,
TIE WHEELING ELECTRICAL Co,
J. II. HOBBS. President.
There were present MesSrs. Dunleyy
and Schultzc. OF the Gas Trustees,
Councilmen Pollock, Farrell, Robinson,
Tracy, Schrabe and kenney, Secretary
A. \. Franzheim, of the Board of TruS-
tees and Committee Clerk Eugene
Hanke, aud Secretary Garden, Of the
Wheeling Electrical Company.
Preliminary to calling the committee
To order Chairman Hamilton moved
that Mr.. Farrell take the chair, and as
signed as reason his determination to
permanently resign the Craftsmanship
OF the committee, Is he had but few
weeks longer TO serve, and he thought
some other member ought to be at the
head of the body. The resignation was
accepted, and Mr.. Kenney was chosen
to succeed him.
Clerk Hanke then read the resolution
passed by Council, requiring the Gas
Trustees to report progress ON the
electric plant. and also the communlca-
ton from the Wheeling Electrical Com
pany, printed above.
Mr.. Garden was then invited to adj
dress the joint meeting, and did so,
briefly saying that the first thing TO be
done was TO obtain from the city data
rs to the number Of lights desired, &c.
That being done, the Company he
would be prepared to
quote data.
Mr.. Tracy thought the first thing to
be- done was to have subcommittee go
over the city and ascertain about what
number of lights was needed, and where
they should be placed. With such re-
port before it. the committee would be
in position to state about what 1t
wanted.
Mr.. Farrell thought the Secretary of
the Gas Works ought to be heard from,
and i'm reply Mr.. Franzheim said he had
gone over the map Of the city, and had
located 399 lights. OF course, there
would have to be changes, but he
though that something approXimating
that number would be required to light
the city thoroughly and evenly. His
idea had been to give all parts Of the
city good light.
Mr.. Farrell-That is what | am in
favor of. don't want to see the cen
tire Of the city Illuminated and the out
skirts let 90, rs at present.
Mr.. Garden was asked il he could give
an estimate on 400 lights. aud he said
he could. roughly. but to give definite
estimate the location OF every light ought
to be known as the question OF wire was
a very big item, and the absence of
proper data might make L difference OF
>l5, OOO in the estimate.
After some further talk Mr.. Tracy
insisted on his motion, which called up
Mr.. Farrell. He said to adopt the reSo-
luton would send the matter back to
Council, and that body had asked to re-
port progress. The only way to do
that was to see what data was on hand.
Mr.. Dunlevy said he wanted to see a
complete plant put mp. doing away with
oil and gas lamps. and Others aSSented
to this.
The chair called on Secretary Franz
helm for data in his possession, and in
reply Mr.. Franzheim said he had writ
ten about thirty or forty letters TO cleo
trio light people. and had received
number OF replies. His Interrogation
was, in substance. what would plant
for 400 lamps of 1000 candle power each
cost exclusive of line, that being left
out because no one could tell the extent
of line required. The Secretary then
read a number of letters from electric.
light manufacturers. TO which the gen
tlcmen present paid the closest at
tention, Secretary Garden. OF the
Wheeling Electrical Company, taking
notes. The Secretary also read the re-
ports OF Supt Hinkle, of the Little
Rock. Ark, street lighting plant, the
substance of which has already appeared
in this paper. The report OF the cost OF
operating the Nenia, O., plant. show
ing a total operating expense for the
wear of i. $50. -, for 50 lamps, running
200 hours per year. For all night, the
cost would be about -, 100. The Nenia
plant has been in operation for eight
wears. In addition to these letters,
Mr.. Franzheim read long list Of cities
and towns using electric lights, the cost
per lamp running from $50 10 Sl32, with
the general average about sos. The
highest figure was from Topeka, Kan.
Steubenvile, o., pays S75 per lamp, and
Charleston, W. Va, So, for l,sOO can
die lamps, on the moon schedule.
The most valuable Of the letters read
by Mr.. Franzheim were as follows:
BALL ELECTRIC LIGHT Co,
4O4 WEST 23n ST., New YORK,
December l, 1880.
Hon. I. 4. FrmshsiR, Secretary Board 81
ca Trustees
DEAR SIR: Your favor of November %
duly received and contents fully noted, and
in accordance with same we herewith give
YOU an estimate OF what plant OF 100 LOO
9 d. are lights, with double or all-night
lamps (Which we suppose you will require)
will cost. ,
we will furnish YOU with 1910 1000 c. p.
Ball dynamos. with 400 double 1000 {. p.
arr lamps. with hand switch, automatic
safety cut on; and globe holder, all OF the
latest pattern and design, which we Will
adjust perfectly so Us 10 be ready Tor use,