Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-05-28
STREET LIGHTING.
ELEorICrTY, GASOLINE OR o1L-po1Nrs

ELECTICITY, GASOLINE OR OIL-PoINI
PRO AND CON.
Next Monday is the day set for obtair
Ing an expression of the will of the pee
pie as to whether or not this town sha
bond herself in sum not to exceed so
600 for the purpose of erecting an electri
light plant. Not much interest is showr
and there seems to be little work don
either way. This is not as it should be
The question is important. Estimate
on cost, etc. have been given in thes
columns from time to time, but review
of them now may not be out of place
Several prominent gentlemen, who pa!
large taxes, are opposed to the plan fol
the following reasons: They think tht
town is not yet ready to incur the addi
tional expense. They claim that taxes
are now quite high, and that good citi-
zens are being kept away from the town
by this high rate. They say further that
the electric light is uncertain; that the
wires may be easily deranged by storms,
and that by some slight accident the
streets as well as public places and stores
may be plunged into darkness. They
claim that the estimates are too low, and
that in practical use the plant will be
found to cost much more. They say that
lights in the middle of the streets will
not illuminate the sidewalks as well as
the present lights on account of the trees
They predict that this expenditure is only
an entering wedge, and that water works
and paved streets will follow, and they
suggest that the money to be invested
might be put into some form of manu-
facture more advantageously to the town.
They claim, too, that large reduction
from the present cost of lights might be
made
The other side of the question has
made more effort to collect data as to ex-
pense, and presents more aggressive ar
A representative of the Thomp-
SON Houston Electric Light Company, the
best company perhaps in existence, has
Council that a plant with ca
pacity of 30 arc lights may be erected at
a cost of $3.50, and that his company
will contract to erect it for that sum
This sum to cover all expenses of ma
chinery, poles, wires and burners. The
cost of maintaining such a plant is esti
mated at S1,375 per year. distributed as
follows:
Interest and depreciation at per cent. ...S 7O3
Coal, slack, 800 ton at SOC. Observation-Disclosures. $50
Engineer at $40 per month. 4SC
Carbon trimmer per year. 100
JarDons -.----..-.-...---....---- $50
..................... g.
Total 81 ,s75
The machinery is extremely simple In
Cambridge and Moundsville the engineer
costs no more than above estimated, and |
It is not required that he be an electri- |
,an. The great point in regard to ex-
Dense is made just here. Undoubtedly |
public buildings, stores, and even resi-
iences would be lighted with the incan-
descent lights, and the rental on such
lights would reduce the cost of running |
he plant to small figure. Moundsville
'uns its own plant of 81 arc lights entire
y from the rental of incandescent bur
lers. Under such circumstances the
own may be lighted at a much less cost
han at present, and taxation reduced
n any case there would be no increase,
IS the debt would not be paid until after
he railroad bonds shall have matured in
895. Accidents may occur to wires and
'oles, but the general use of electric light
ng shows that it is more. satisfactory
han any other form of light. In all
'laces where brilliant illumination is re-
uired electricity is the agent. Good
itizens may be frightened away by high
axes, but this argument fails when it is
hown that we will have a better light at
lower figure than under our present
ystem. If the present lights can be run
t lower figure, the opponents of the
'roposed plan should have demonstrated
he fact by bid when the opportunity
vas presented. No lower bid, however,
vas made. The Canton company, now
perating our lights, have certain patents
n the burners, which make it extremely
if not impossible, for us to
se them. We must either enter into
ontract with the Canton company or re-
urn to OIL A point of much importance
), that we now get only 246 nights of
ght, leaving US much of the time to
tumble over our nOne-too-good pave
lents by the fiickering beams of the
ale faced moon, whereas the estimates
iven contemplate lighting severy night
TENDERS of Council give every assurance
hat even should a majority of the people
ote for erecting plant, no action will
e taken and no.contract entered into
Mess such can be done in accordance
nth the estimates given.
Let every citizen make an attempt to
the points in this question,
nd get out and vote.
OH, THE SHOW!
ST. CLAIRSvILLE, FRIDAY, MAY 29.
The G. G. Phillips new colossal shows,
ig circus, trained animals, Exposition,
nd elevated stage, will exhibit at st.
lairSyille. MAY 30. afternoon and even