Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-17
CENTRAL ELECTRIC lOapAalH..
TRUSTEE M'LAUGHLIE HAS HIS EYE
ON ITS $40, 900 BOND.
He Doesn't Think the Company Has Any
Claim to Its Franchise, and
Wants it Forfeited.

Yesterday when the City Trustees were
allowing demands for city lighting, the
Mayor remarked that he expected the Gen.
trail Electric Company to make rebate to
the city of the difference between its con-
tract price with the city and the rates be-
ing charged by the Capital Gas Company.
Trustees Mclaughlin and Wolf ex-
pressed similar views.
Mr.. Myers, representing the Central Com
pany, informed the Board that the new
contract went into effect on the Goth of
April, since which time the lights were to
be furnished at the reduced rate. They
had done the best they could, and had put
up 500 poles, having between 80 and 100
yet to erect. The company expected to
light its new intersection lamps by the
goth of this month. Even now poles have
to be set in water and the workmen have
to stand waist-deep, at times, in digging
the holes. The company had been greatly
hampered, but would have its system in
running order by the time the sixty days
extension would expire.
Mr.. Mclaughlin intimated that he did
not believe the Central Electric Company
owned anything here. and thought it ex-
hibited great deal of assurance in selling
out the citizens the way it had. In his
judgment Mr.. Redding was i'm with the
gas company in the commencement of the
alleged injunction suit some time ago.
Mayor Comstock read letter from Mr..
Redding on the subject, as follows:
SAN Francisco, Cal. June r. 1890
Hon. ". d. Conastock, Mayor Of The City Of Sacrd-
me1lto, and the Board OF Trustees, Sacramento,
CdL-GENTLEMEN: Answering the letters of the
and June 1lth, in reference to the electric light
ing of the streets of Sacramento, would state:
Our superintendent has reported to the Office
OF the company that the one hundred and
twenty-five lights will be ready for operation
on the goth of this month in the city of Sacra-
mento and can then be lighted up. This is in
accordance with the letters heretofore ad-
dressed by me to the Board of Trustees and
also in accordance with the statements m ide
by me before FOUR honorable body.
The Central Electric Company have arranged
with the Capital Gas Company to pay them s2l
per light from and after April Goth for the forty
hye lights now being used, and the Central
Electric Company will accept from the city the
sum Of sl4 IS per light in full payment for said
forty five lights, which is at the new rate Mr..
Myers, our Superintendent, will receipt in full
Tor the said forty-fve lights from the city upon
the payment to him, on our behalf, OF s14 95 per
light per month, and upon receiving the same
the Capital Gas Company. OF course. this
rangement is only TO extend from April Goth
until our one hundred and twenty five lights go
into operation, which, as l have above stated,
will be on June Goth.
We have a double force of men at work in
Sacramento, completing our plant, and / am
sat isfed that every possible effort is being made
TO give the city the quantity and quality of
light called for. There have been many causes
for delay which, trust your honorable body
viii duly appreciate. Yours respectfully,
JOSEPH D. REDDING,
Attorney Central Electric Company.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said that as far as he
was concerned, he was in favor of main
tanning the old service. There wouldn't
be as much light, perhaps, but it would
cost the city less.
He asked Mr.. Myers if he had been ope-
rating the city lights under the terms of
the contract with the Central Company
keeping the lamps lighted from one hour
after sunset up to within an hour of sum
rise, except on four nights preceding and
four nights following the full moon.
Mr.. Myers replied that contract had
been made between the company and the
Capital Gas Company, for the latter to fur
nish lights until the former had its system
running, the same as had been done. He
confessed that he had not known of the
provision in the contract referred tore
garding the hours of lighting.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said the company
should be requested to turn its franchise
over to the city, as it had not kept faith
with the latter, and to forfeit its bond of
81, 900.
The Mayor thought that the four days
extra time asked for should be granted.
The matter was finally referred to the
City Attorney, to report on Thursday as TO
the power of the city to declare the bond
forfeitad