The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-07
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The Electric Lighting Contract Laid
on the Table.
A CHANCE NOW FOR A NEW CITY
ARMORY.

How Brother MCGOWAN Hung Up Brother
Guptill's Electric Lighting Contract
Various Other Matters.
Last evenings meeting of the city gov
ernment was busy, but not exciting.
The chief features were the knocking out
OF Alderman Guptill's electric lighting
contract by Alderman McGowan: and
the ratification of real estate exchange
by which the city now has in sight, the
prospect of a much needed armory for
the militia.
Electric Light Contract.
Mr.. Guptill's report was as as follows:
10 His Honor and the Members of the
City Council
Gentlemen- The contract of the City
OF Portland with the Consolidated Elec-
trlc Light company having expired the
81 ult., your committee beg leave to sub
NIT the following report for the year:
Number OF lights in use November l..
1892, 234 arc lights of 1900 candle power
each; 4s series of 65 candle power each,
a series of 81 candle power each; 112
Edison nun. lights OF 80 candle power
each. Number OF lights in use November
81 series of 65 candle power each; 12
series ~ candle power each; 112 Edison
nun. light of 80 candle power each;
anincrease during the year Of 4,65 candle
power series and a, decrease of 2, 81 candle
power series. Your committee have
computed the amount due the city from
the reports which have been submitted
from the police department for lights
out at each regular meeting of the city
council and find it to be as follows:
November, 1892 arc lights out, 1886
hours and incandescent sol, amounting
to $50. So. December, 1892, 69S hours
out, arc, and 666 incandescent, amount
ing to s24. 81; January, 1898, 1861 arc
lights and 764 incandescent, amounting
to $35. IS; February, 594 arc and 249 in
candescent, $19.07; March, $50 arc, 224
incandescent, S22. II; April, 1928 arc, 199
incandescent, S34. 81; May and June, SAG
arc, S48 incandescent, S1S. -; July and
September, 80 arc, So incandescent,
Sc. SO; October, 1863 arc, 37S incandescent,
$780, total, 1885, A.
To offset this the electric light company
have bill against the city for changes
made on account of swinging lights in
the centre OF the street and changing the
poles in order to render better service
amounting to $119.45; also bill for
labor for taking out and changing poles
at the request of the street and sewer de-
partments amounting TO $34.30, making
total due the company of S15375, and
a balance due the city of S112. SO. These
chargesshave been allowed to offset each
other. There have beensmany complaints
of poor lights, and when Superintendent
Raymond'S attention has been called to
the defects he has always -hastened to
remedy them. The citizens have good
cause to complain of the Edison muni-
cipal lights and in many cases the com.
1,ov 10 hpT OTIf hn ct gum
mer and put in 80 candle power series
lights. Four arc lights were put on the
Eastern promenade for the summer aad
discontinued October 1st. ,
The company will renew the contract
for one year from November 1st, 1893 and
agree to furnish 230 arc lights of 1900
candle power each, 40 series incandescent
of 65 candle power each, and lis series of
80 candle power each, for the sum of
$33, 900 being the same price as paid last
year. In the new contract the company
agree to discard the 112 Edison municipal
number of 80 candle power service at
no expense to the city for making the
change In other words they agree to
take out 112 lights at SIS year, and re-
place them with 112 lights for which we
have been paying $50 a year, at no extra
expense to the city. Extra lights will
be paid tor at the rate Of S125 per year
for LOO candle power arc lights, $50 for
65 candle power incandescent, and $50
for 80 candle power ineandescent. There
are now in service arc, 1906 candle
power series and 9,32 candle power series
more than the contract calls for, costing
the city $1490 for extra lights over and
above the contract.
After this report had been read Alder
man MCGOWAN spoke briefly, but plainly
to the effect that in his opinion the
electric light company had the large end
of the bargain. The S33, 900 yearly does
not cover the cost. The city pays nearer
s35, 1000 than s3s, 900 yearly, because of
extra chargesafor city building and
engine house lights. In Mr.. McGowan's
opinion those extra lights should be fur
nished for $33, 600.
Alderman Josselyn said he thought the
city was paying more than it ought to
for lights, and he would ask the chair
man of the committee on street lights il
some reduction could not be obtained.
Alderman Guptill replied that his COM
mittee had to do only with street lights.
The other lights were ordered and paid
for by other committees.
d Mr.. MCGOWAN then suggested that the
committees on street lights with the
chairmen of the committees on fire depart
ment and public. buildings, and the
Mayor constitute special committee to
treat with the elecric light company.
Mr.. McGowan's suggestion was adopted
by the board, and the proposed contract
was laid on the table.