The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-03-20
CITY COUNCIL.
The Arc Light Question Discussed and
an Agreement Reached.

A special meeting of the city council
was held last night to consider the arc
light question and other matters. There
were present Acting Mayor Eshelman
and Councilmen Butts, Lauer, Grove,
Joles and Hudson.
The matter of the arc lights was con-
sidered with the arrival of Mr.. Virgil
Bolton, manager for the company. He
stated that a committee of councilmen
had submitted proposition to him of
$11' per light. This he was not inclined
to concede because the margin of profit
would be very small. It costs about SO
to maintain each light, figuring upon a
basis of regular expenditures, and when
other details of expenses, constantly oc-
curing. are considered, he could not
figure upon margin of 81, which is a
very small one, and stated that at $Il
there would be nothing in it for the
company. He narrated that Mr.. Rob-
erts had tried to lessen the rates below
$12 some years ago and failed to make it
success. The last light placed by the
company cost 5000 to put in and it
would be long time before the COM
pany got the mere cost back. He recog-
nized, however, that times were hard
and the city badly in debt, and was will
ing to make as fair concession as he
could. For this purpose he offered to
furnish the lights for $12 each, in any
number required, provided the company
could have two years. contract from
the city. Mr.. Hudson thought the
proposition a very fair one and moved
for its acceptance. Mr.. Butts wanted
the question postponed until the regu-
lar meeting, but was opposed by Grove
and Hudson and the motion carried.
The recorder was next instructed to
draw up a contract with the company
and present it at next meeting for ap-
proval.
Mr.. Crandall submitted his estimates
on the cost of repairing the Jail. The
improvements contemplated are very
thorough. There is. to be one large and
two small cells, all on the, south side of
| the hallway. Partitions to be of dressed
2x4's, spiked together. The iron door
leaning to the Jail yard will be closed.
The water closet and wash bowl will be
removed to the interior. The iron work
is to be of boiler iron with half-inch holes
punched through. The corridor will be
15x15 feet. The old walls are to be lined
with 111sinch plank. The cost was
stated to be about $500. The report was
accepted, and the recorder instructed to
advertise for bids.
Mr.. Butts then moved that bids be
asked to lay 212 feet of sidewalk in the
Union street cut, and recorder was in
structed to so advertise. Mr.. Joles
wanted the sidewalk extended down to
Fifth street, the city to bear all the ex-
pense, but Mr.. Butts would not listen to
it as part of his motion, saying it would
delay the other. He believed there was
way of condemning bad sidewalks and
fencing them out, but Mr.. Joles' only re-
ply was an ominous shake of the head.
He has been through the sidewalk ordeal
before.
Mr.. Crandall then read report con-
corning the Elton grade from Fourth
street to thecity limits, stating the num-
Der of cubic yards of cuts and fills that
would have to be made, the grades, ETC.,
but not the probable cost. The steepest
grade was 1216 per cent, or one inclined
the same as the steepest part in the
Union street cut. After considerable
argument the recorder was instructed to