Telegram-herald., 1891-07-23
OPINIONS ON LIGHTING
SOME FAVOR The LOWER SYSTEM
And othsss Medically oppose is-Ah
usiss Ia Askiss for More Light IN the
kestasst porusa Of the tity and
An All Night sehsdais.

The question of city lighting Is be-
coming = common subject for conver-
sation these days, aud considerable IN
terest is being manifested by many
eitsns. There seems TO he quite
prevalent sentiment n favor OF electric
lighting. although sonic seem to be- OPP
posed TO towers. 1t Is but FAIR to state
that the proposition now before tho
council does not contemplate lighting
the city with tower lights exclusively.
but is rather u combination ot towers
and individual lamps On mast arms, NJ
street crossings and dark aud shady
places. OF the 800 lamps which the
committee on lamps thought would be
necessary To ligbt the city, 1t rs pro-
posed 10 place lJi ot them on towers
and l36 on mast arms and poles. The
city now uses lis lamps from the
Grand Rapids Electric Light and Power
Company, every one OF which can toe
replaced with a single lamp and still
have eighteen single lamps and forty
one towers to co the lighting that IS
now teing done with gas and naphtha.
Should additional single lamps tie
needed to disslpate shade or light new
territory that Is likely 10 De built up
before a three year contract would ex-
pire, the cIty would have to pay SI5 Der
lamp per year. The TELEGRAM HAR-
AID interviewed few business men
yesterday aud this IS what each said:
l.. G.. Studley--I have been in Detroit
in the evening anu prefer the lign's as
We have them ilere, single lamks and
swung across tine street.
5. +. Stevens-I have not given the
matter enough thought to oc able to
express an opinion. The electric light
Is, of course, desirable, and II the city
has received = proposition that Will
save large amount OF money In the
expense or city lighting and Will give us
more light II Is worthy OF Careful con-
sderatlcn. AT the same time tins con-
tract should not be rushed. 1 believe
that the men who have invested money
in enterprises in this city have r1ght
to some consideration at the hands OF
the council. There are two electric
light concerns in this city which repre-
sent the investment of a large amount
of money. As near as | can learn they
have never yet paid u divided. The IN
terests of Grand Rapids business con-
Germs should be considered and these
companies should be given an oppor-
tInity 10 compete with this Star Iron
Tower Company If they desire to do so.
John +. Peck - The proposition
seems very advsntageOs and II the IN
terests of the city are guarded by sui
ficient bond, can't see why the pro-
posed contract is not desirable. AS to
the effacacy OF the tower system. De-
trolt's experience proves 1t. IN marrow
streets, or those with dense foliage
think low lights preferable, but IN wide
streets and in the suburbs the lighting
by the tower system will probably be
satisfactory. The saving OF $1,000 Il
year Is certainly at present very deslr-
able. Iii the company retain their plant
as is proposed they will be more apt to
render the best OF service. Otherwise
they would have less SHOW OF securing
a renewal of their contract, and would
in such event he forced to sell their
plant at q sacrifice.
Boyd Pantllnd-I have always
thought Detroit one OF the prcttiest
and best lighted cities III the country,
aud think we snould by all means use
electric light. What a grand effect the
towers with their glistenlng lights on
tue hills will present! We snould keep
up with the procession.
Gen. Il. K. Pierce-Well, the scheme
seems like good one. think that IN
our outskirts where 1t IS rather fhinly
settled and foliage not dense thA the
tower system wall prove admirable. But
down town, OF course, lower lights
should be burning. The high light
Will be dltfused and moonlight in effect
lighting front and back yard the same.
Yes, believe the contract will be one
of wisdom.
Alderman Tateum-1he theory of
tower lighting is radically wrong. Talk
about lis being on the principle OF
moonlight, its folly to compare the can
die power of tower lights TO that OF the
moon. 1t will be as it IS IN Detroit.
On foggy day you won't know there
are any towers. Yet believe IN I'M
provement, and electricity. not towers.
II. w. B8<oner- Ii had 4 chance TO
a better thing for $4,000 than | had
had ut n cost Of $42, 900. I'D buy, If
couldn't find stlIi better bargain.
ANYTHING in the way Of Improvement
is good thing for the city, If IT be not
too extreme. | think from the condi-
ton of the streets it would he good
scheme to have electric lights every few
feet in the daytime on some oi them.
J. ". Roscnthsi-- II don't seem TO me
that there IL any question aboutit. We
don't want lights that look as though
we were . hundred years behind the
times. With electric lights Grand Rap
ids will look Ikea city when you come
in on the cars. Even alta much greater
cost, electric light is be preferred to
ns phtha and coal oil. rhe towersystem
proves satisfactory IN Detroit, New
York parks and other places think it
will snt us here. This hrick pavement
out here - something everybody will
be SICK OF in very short time.