Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1890-05-02
1T G0EST0 WASHINGTON.
THE CONTRACT FOR LIGHT
ING THE STREETS.
L. N. COX is By FAR THE LOWEST
BIDDER FOR 1T.
The AsheVille Light and Power
Company ana Foster h Nc.
Nicely Unsuccessful-TO
Burn All Night.

Five thousand dollars for sixty lights
per year is what the city is to pay for its
street lighting for the next two years be-
ginikhs with October next. Hereto.
fore forty-two lights have been used and
they have cost something like $4,000.
More than this they have been run on a
moon schedule. That is they have not
been turned on on nights when the moon
shone. With the new system they are to
run every night and all night.
The meeting OF the Board of Aldermen
last evening to open bids and award the
contract for the lighting of the streets by
electricity for the next two years did not
begin Until nearly ten o'clock. One of The
members was absent and the Board
waited his appearance. The first bid
opened was that of the Ashcvillc Light
and Power company. 1t offered to fur
nish any number of 1000 candle power
lights, to be located at the discretion of
the Board for $3.50 a month for each
light for a period of two years. The
Board were to be the judges of the eff
cheney of the service. The company also
agreed to submit to any equitable reduc-
tion in case the contract was not COM
piled with. The only stipulation was
that in case the Board should decide to
have more than fifty lights they should
Ike given a reasonable time for the pur-
chase of the necessary insulations. II
was signed by T. W. Patton and Sccre-
tary b. NJ. Jones.
The next bid opened was that of X. p.
Foster and T. c. McNeciy. They would
light the streets for a period of five years
beginning with October l, with electric
lights not less than sixty in number and
1000 candle power for S5,+0O year.
These figures were based on the moon
schedule. If the lights were run every
night and all night they would charge
So extra per light. They would also
erect four towers of approved design at a
cost of S12O each. The remainder of the
lights were to be swung from poles to the
center of the street. They stipulated that
their property was to be free from munich
pal tax.
The bid which was the lowest and
which will be accepted, il it will stand
the close scrutiny OF the light committee,
was that of Mr.. l.. n. Cox, of Washing
ton. lie offered to run sixty lights of
nominal 1000 candle power every night
and all night for $1,000 per annum,
with 81 extra for each additional
light. Mr.. Cox also wanted to sell the
city an electric light plant. He would
furnish the city with two dynamos with
a capacity of fifty lights of 1000 candle
power each, in building to becrectcd by
the city for SO, 500. Then followed list
Of figures showing how the city could get
their lights for almost nothing, but after
consideration it was decided to accept his
bid to light the city il everything was
found satisfactory.
When the action of the board was
formally communicated to them he ex.
pressed himself as having no doubt but
what everything would be found as he
represented.
II think my company will be willing
to put in the lights" he said. "and il they
are not just what they claim them to be
will take them out at their ownexpensc. "