The Bessemer indicator., 1893-08-12
A LARGE ELECTRIC coMcERN.
TVS Electric Lighting Companies of st
Louis consoiidate-AsphaIts YER
aus Wood,

oos 'oUA-
ST, LOUIS, Aug. 5.--For several
months there have been rumors point
ing to the consolidation of the Munich
pal and Missouri Electric Lighting
companies of this city, and it now ap-
pears that the analgamat ton has been
completed, and that both companies
will in future be known Us the Edison
Lighting company Of st. Louis. The
Municipal company has been before
the local public for about four years.
IT obtained the contract for long
term for lighting the streets 6f st
Louis with arc lights at about $50 u
year light, subject to discounts and
deductions The company proceeded
to build what is still tho largest are
lighting plant In the world, and
started In on their contract with CON
siderable energy, IT was soon found.
however, that the price being so much
lower than that paid elsewhers there
was little or no profit in the transac-
tion, and for the last two years the
company practically declined to erect
additional lights when called upon.
II has, however, made considerub C
money out of its commercial business.
Tho Missouri cemrnny his The lafg-
est ihcandescent central station in
America and has very profitable
business, chiefly of commercial char
acter. The consolidation Will be an
advantage to those having in charge
the st. Louis festivities. us there will
be additional facilities Of securing an
abundance of power. The trial illumi-
nation for the 1893 season takes place
Saturday, Aug. L., with upward1 Of
35,OOO electric lights in the d splay and
Of evcn larger number of gas lights.
There will be set and pyrotechnic
pieces illustrative OF the discovery of
America and of the country's prosper
ous and peaceful career.
1t is proposed to add to the attrac-
tions of Forest park, the second lai ge t
municipal park in Ame, lea, n large
lake, which will be suitable for boat
ing and other purposes. There is am;
pie room in the park for this lake and
the ground is SO rolling in pli, es that
comparative little expense Will be in
carred in its construction. 1t is pro-
posed to pipe the water from the
Merrimac river near it's source aud
thus have exceptionally cool and clear
water in the lake. 1t has been sug-
gested thet the work house prisoners
eould be used to do the bulk of the
excavating and n public subscription
is likely to be raised to pay unavcida-
BILE expenecs.
An interesting controversy is going
on as to the reat We merits OF
asphalt and wood for paving
purposes. Th6 first wood pave
ment laid in st. Louis few years ago
proved complete failure. but the i'm
proved wood pavements laid within
the last three or four years have been
very popular and appear to be wear
ing wei. The present street commits
sioner favors asphalt, and the enor-
nous travel on the streets running
east and west paved with this material
shows its great popularity. During
the spring and summer two main
thoroughfares have been relaid with
lake asphalt and the quantity of
traffic they have drawn from parallel
streets has been n matter of general
comment One of the theaters is by
permission of the authorities laying a
layer Of asphalt over the granite
blocks along the two fronts adjoining,
and the experiment is watched with
much interest. If it is II success The
granite in front of several of the pub
lie buildings will be similarly coated
The Real Estate Exchange reports
an immense increase in the number Of
parties with small sums Of money who
are anxious TO lay it on real estate
Several thousand dollars are being
Withdrawn daily from safe deposit
vaults and invested in first mortgages
on real c te and the effect on the
mnrket is marked. The holders of
propertv are not sacrificing and are
very confident as to the outcome. At
an auction sale of u suburban sub
division this week the prices realized
averaged more than so per cent above
the highest prices paid at private sale
in the subdivision, md there was
quite Il spirited competition among the
bidders, most of whom purchased
.,nall home sit S.