Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-01-12
LIGHTED BY ELECTRICITY.
An Interview with Cyrus Stiles on the Prof.
ect of Placing the System in
Lewistown.
The Plant to be in Operation By the First
of June.

An ARGUS representative called upon
Cyrus Stiles, of the Judith Basin Roller
Mills, at his cosy bachelor quarters on the
east side last Sunday afternoon Tor the
purpose OF obtaining somefactsi in relation
to the project OF lighting Lewistown by
electricity. In reply to the question, do
you think it certain that the lights will be
put in?" Mr.. Stiles replied, 1--WE have
enough lights engaged and have received
sufficient encouragement to warrant me IN
saying that Lewistown will be lighted by
electricity Just as soon as | can get the
machinery here and the wires strung. which
will be not later than June" Entering
into particulars We elected many facts
which will be of special interest to those
considering the matter OF placing the lights
in their homes.
The Lewistown Electric Light Co. will be
incorporated with "a capital stock OF So
900, divided into shares OF 500 each, a
controlling interest of which it is hoped will
be taken here. Many OF our most foremost
and progressive citizens have entered
heartily into the plan and are %givingit their
financial y Mr.. Stiles has not yet
been able to see but few of the business
men of the town. but those called upon are
almost without exception subscribing Tor
lights for both business houses and resi-
dences.
The company agrees to furnish a sixteen
candle power light ON an eleven O'Clock cir
cult at the rate of seventy-five cents per
month for bed rooms and 81 20 per month
for living rooms. the prices of the all night
circuit to be double. The lights On the
eleven O'Clock circuit are supposed to be
out by eleven O'Clock, however, the power
will not be shut off SO that in case OF sick
ness or necessity demanding a light later
than eleven o'clock it can be used. The
company can easily tell ifanyone is violat-
ing their agreement and using the light later
AS "a rule, rather han as the exception,
and if so they will be charged for an all
night circuit. The cost OF placing the light
in the rooms, that is the wiring. cleat work
and porcelain rosettes from the street
transformer is to be borne by the sub
scriber, but such cost is guaranteed not to
exceed $3.50 for each light.
A number OF the subscribers have taken
II larger light to be placed in front of their
business houses. In case a number OF prop-
erty owners should desire a street light the
company will place a sixty-four candle
power lamp at the rate OF SO per month.
This size is strong enough to light a block.
Should patrons desire to subscribe on
the meter system, the charge will be one
and one-quarter cents an hour for each
light, beside a charge OF three dollars per
year for the use of the meter. This plan
will be favored by many who use a lamp
only at intervals and for a short time.
The system will be the alternating incan-
descent and the power OF the dynamo will
be five hundred lights. 1t is thought the
company will secure fully 300 lights to
start with and there is no doubt but that
the dynamo will be pushed to it's full capac-
ity within one year from it's introduction.
As soon as our people have had an oppor-
tunity to compare the use of kerosene at
forty-five cents a gallon and chimneys at
twenty cents each. to say nothing of the
difference in light and the annoyance of
keeping lamps in order, beside the danger
of explosion from kerosene, with an electric
system a unanimous verdictin favor of the
latter is without question. Mr.. Stiles
leave for the east in about ten days to
purchase the machinery.
The plan should and no doubt will re-
ceive the unqualified encouragement of our
citizens. Our almost unlimited water
power should be bridled and put to use.
Projects OF this nature advance the inter
ests OF our town in every respect, they at
tract residents, enhance the value of our
real estate, reduce the cost OF insurance,
and add to the comfort of our people.