The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-27

An adjourned meeting OF council was
held last night. The first thing to
come before the meeting was the con-
sideration o. section 9 of the ordinance
awarding the contract for lighting the
city by electricity to the Roanoke
Electric Light and Power Company.
This section was laid over at the meet
ing Wednesday night and is as follows:
Section Q. That said Electric Light
and Power Com pany shall have all neces-
sary powers and may use such currents
as may become necessary for success.
fully carrying into operation the privil-
eyes herein granted, as follows: Tho
furnishing of arc lights for the city,
power, incandescent and arc lights for
private use, and for such purpose Shall
have thesfranchise OF using the streets
and alleys Of said city, but in using
said straets and alleys said company
shall be subject to tho direction Of the
legally constituted authorities as ooun-
Gil may direct, and said company shall
not in any manner interfere with the
free use OF said streets or alleys or OBJ
struct the free passage Of vehicles or
street cars through tho said city. The
height of the wires supporting said
lamps shall not be less than twenty-five
feet above the ground"
Session was laid over until Mr..
Bngleby arrived with expert informa-
ton in regard to the voltage that would
BIO required in case at any time the city
should doom it advisable to increase the
number OF lights. The rules were sus.
pended and the vacancy in the Fourth
ward delegation, caused by the resipna-
ton OF Councilman Mccarthy. was filled
by the unanimous cleo ton of J. B. Levy.
Mr.. Engleby arrived at this time and
tho special order of the evening-sec.
ton OF the electric light ordinance
was taken up. Mr.. Engleby said that
the electric light and power company
would use 1000 volts and might posi-.
bly, be obliged to use 1000. In answer
to question he said all the way from
500 to 1000 volts was considered dan
gerous; also that the street railway used
500 volts. Mr.. Crabill offered an
amendment to section 2, 80 that it
should read: "a continuous current with
sufficient Voltage" instead or may use
such current as may become nee ssary."
This amendment was lost A discussion
then took place in reference to the dan
ger Of alternating currents, Mr.. Fack-
enthal and Mr.. Crabill opposing them.
Mr.. Engleby here stated, with the
permission of the Council, that at the
price of the contract it would be i'm
possible for the company to fulfill the
ordinances, as they could not supply the
expensive wires necessary for the in
creased power required for continuous
current. He explained that he did not
use this as threat, but to explain the
utter impossibility OF the company's
successfully filling this contract under
those conditions. Mr.. Moomaw stated
that tho electric light ordinance had
been under consideration for some time
by tho committee and that it was time
to see that the city was lighted properly.
Mr.. Pattie said that in the present con-
dition of the improperly lighted streets
there was as much danger to life and
limb as there would be from the altcrna-
ting current. A vote was taken and
section was approved by vote of l2
to 2.
Mr.. Fackenthal then offered a substi-
tute to the electric light ordinance,
which was lost
Mr.. Loughery offered an amendment
to section 4. which appeared in Mr..
Fackenthals substitute, as follows:
Tho said city shall choose one arhiter
and said company shall choose one
and in case OF failure to agree shall call
in referee whose decision shall be
binding upon both parties. All OF the
parties shall not be citizens Of Roanoke"
The original ordinance did not call for
the decision to be binding. After con-
siderable discussion as to tho lack OF
necessity of such an amendment, in
order to facilitate the electric light bill,
it was voted upon and carried.
Tho ordinance defining tho duties of
the city officials was passed. A bill
authorizing the inspector of sewers to
make his reports to tho city engineer,
instead of the board of public works,
was also adopted.
Council adjourned to meet again next
Wednesday night.
Eloped With Brothers Wife.
STAuNToN, Va, Jan. 6.-Henry L.
Layne, of Clifton Forge, vas arrested
to day at that place on a warrant sworn
out by his brother, Paul Lavne, of Fin
castle, Va charging him with elopipg
with DlainaOt's wife and child The