Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1890-09-28
LIGHT ON ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
A Statement of Facts Officially Made
by the Company.

|
A Statement of Facts Officially Made
by the Company.
EDITORS HERALD: So many mis-state-
ments have been made in connection
with the matter of the electric lighting
of this city, that we beg to submit the
following facts, leaving it to an intelli-
gent public to draw its own conclu-
We have been lighting the city for the
past eight years. Each lamp now in
use has been placed in its present posi-
ton upon petition of citizens. There
fore the present system of lighting has
not been formulated by the electric
company nor by the council, but it is a
creation OF the people themselves.
1t would appear, therefore, that no
change or changes should be made in
the manner of lighting, except upon re-
quest OF the people.
The manner in which this city is
lighted today should be the pride of
every citizen. Nowhere in the world is
a better service given. People who
have travelled extensively say that Los
Angeles is the best lighted city in the
United States.
An evidence that the people are en-
tirely satisfied with the present. system
is found in the petition to that effect,
signed by over 1000 of our prominent
citizens, and presented to the council at
it's last meeting.
In San Francisco SO and in Los Angeles
Sc per cent. of the electric lighting is
furnished from $50 foot masts
In San Francisco 1000 and 1000 and in
Los Angeles 5000 and 1000 candle power
lamps are used.
By the terms of the present contract,
the city has the right to order the loca-
ton or height of any mast or the loca-
ton or candle power of any lamp
changed, such change to be made with
out cost to the city.
The statement has been made that
twenty cities now supply their own
street lamps at a cost of $50 per year for
each 1000 candle power lamp. Twenty
is very insignificant portion of the total
cities in this country. But there are not
twenty cities nor even one city which
maintains a 1000 candle power lamp,
use in this city, at a cost as low as $50
per year.
The fact that many cities obtain nat
for next to nothing shows how unfair it
would be to quote them as criterions of
the cost of electric lighting here. No.
where in the United States are fuel and
labor dearer than here.
The utter absurdity of contending
that 1000 candle power lamp could be
furnished for $50 per year in this city is
shown by the following indisputable
figures:
The average power required to gener-
ate 1000 candle power lamp is one
horse power developed at the engine.
A good engine will run on an average
consumption of five pounds of good coal
per horse power per hour. Under the
present schedule the lamps are lighted
about 1920 hours per year. Add about
one-half hour per day, or 200 hours per
year, for getting up and letting down
steam, making a total Of 2, 400 hours.
Good steam coal costs 81 per ton deliv-
cred. Making the calculation it will be
found that the fuel alone amounts to
$66 per lamp per year. Now add water,
high grade oils, waste, carbons, breakage
of globes, repairs to machinery, lamps
and circuits, depreciation of plant, sal
aries of superintendent, engineers, fire.
men, dynamo tenders, inspector, lamp
trimmers, linemen, horse keep, ETC.,
etc., and $50 will be a small part Of the
total.
If any private corporation supplies the
| light, taxes and 81 200 per year license
would have to be added to the above
San Francisco, with an area of forty
two square miles, pays about $257 600
per year for lighting its streets, or at the
rate of SO, 119 per square mile per year.
Los Angeles, with an area of thirty
six square miles, pays 1858, $40 per year,
or at the rate of 81 ,626 per square mile
per year.
And who will say that San Francisco
is as we'll lighted as Los Angeles?
To the first instant we had invested in
our plant $250, $40, and had paid to our
stockholders, during the seven and one
hall years of our incorporation, $2l 1853
in dividends, or at the rate of about 2 per
cent per annum on the average invest
ment.
The statement that follows shows the
price paid per lamp per year by twenty
five well known cities.
In making comparisons the compare
tive cost of fuel and labor should be
given due consideration. Also the mum
Der OF lights in use. In electric lighting,
as in every other manufacturing bust
ness, the amount of business done is a
most important factor in the cost Of
production. While the present contract
price in Los Angeles is 1922 per 1900
candle power lamp, per year, the lamps
furnished the city free bring down the
price to $2l0 per year. We intend to
name much lower price in our next
bid.
Name of city. No. lamps. Price
Albany, N. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 4sO $1S2.5C
| Baltimore, Md. ........ -. COZ 1880
| Boston, Mass. ....,....... ...... 800 144.OC