St. Paul daily globe., 1894-01-09

true. The mayor said 1t was false
Proceeding. MIR. Livingston said: at
is claimed that the cost OF lighting un-
der the present contract isll5 mills"
Mayor Wright interrupted to say that
it was nearer Is mills than 315 mills.
Mr.. Livingston proceeded to make his
statements. He claimed that the cost of
renewing electric burners will amount
to 81, 900 per year. The cost of lighting
by electricity would not be cheaper.
We expect to test this matter within
the next thirty days. This building is
wired under the three-wlre system,
which would prevent competitive bids
for lighting the building, as other sys-
TEN are the two-wire system. A couple
OF years ago the city asked our com
pany to make an attachment to the
building and test the wires. We
declined to do so unless the
city would agree to indemnify us
against loss TO dynamos and other dam
ages that might result. The wires have
gotten out of order since the building
was wired. The building has. settled.
sand wires are doubtless broken. 1t
would Oe Il big expense to put the build
Ing In order for electric lights. EX-
penSive machinery must be secured and
an electrician employed. 1t would re-
Qtlre additional steam power to run the
dynamoS. As TO some of the buildings
mentioned by the mayor, Mr.. Living
stun said that the plant owned by the
hvan hotel Is lying idle in the basement
aud he has it for sale, and will dispose
OF 1t to any one who wants it for 40 per
cent OF its cost. The Aberdeen has
Offered to take its plant out amt let the
81. Paul Gas Light company do
its lighting, and this NAV be done
when the company ruuS its
wires that far out in the city.
Speaking of the cost of gas. Mr. Liv-
ingStOn said it is not nearly as much as
claimed by the mayor. The cost is seven
mills per light per hour for a twenty
four-candle power light. The electric
light spoken of as costing three and
halt mills per hour is il sixteen candle
power light. Reduce the gas jet to a
siXteen-candle power light and the cost
would be reduced to three and a half
mills, the same as the electric light.
Mr.. Livingston said that the Ryan hotel
people said 1t cost them eight mills per
light per hour to run their own plant
They abandoned their own plant when
they had the explosion some time since.
The statement was made to the COM
mittee that if they will run the plant of
the St. Paul Gas Light company so that
1t Will not cos. more than three and a
half mills per light per hour the COM
pany Will pay handsome salaries to the
committee, or he would pay $4,000 to
the man who can do it,
Mr.. Livingston then said to the mayor
that he was mistaken about the con-
tract being changed seven days before
the new administration came in for
political reasons. That matter had been
taken up three months before, and was
because of suggestion made by Cor
noratIon Attorney Lawler. Formerly
there were separate contracts with the
city and the county. The county con-
tract expired in 1898; the city contract
in 1896. MIR. Lawler said the contracts
should be united so as to both expire at
the same time, and suggested that
they be united by making both
with the joint committee. This
was done. ana the consolidated contract
made to expire at the same time that
the original contract expired with the
city. The matter was fully explained
to the Joint committee at the time, and
they knew that 1t was an extension of
one part of the contract. and the propo-
sltlon was adopted by a unanimous vote.
BY that consolidation 1t obyated the
possibility of two persons hnving con-
tracts for lighting the same building,
which might make confusion, in view
OF the fact that in some Of the rooms
one jet might be Jointly owned by two
companies and create confusion.
Mr. Livingston wanted to know why
the Joint committee did not take up the
Davidson proposition in case it wanted
TO ec0nomIZe. The mayor diSclaimed
any knowledge OF that proposition. Mr..
Livingston reminded him that he was
present when the proposition was made
to the committee, which made saving
OF $500 year over the figures of the
joint committee.
Mr.. Zimmerman said it would cost
$4,000 or S12, GOO to run a tunnel across
the street to make the connection with
the Davidson works.
Mr.. Lauer said it would not cost more
than $1,000. -3
Mr.Livlngston said that the Davidson
company would put the tunnel across at
Its own expense. and keep in it order free
of cost. He also stated that the David
son proposition is still open, and that he
had the bid in his pocket, and would
submit it to the committee if it would
consider the matter
The resolution of Mr.. Zimmerman was
referred to the committee on fuel and
lighting for investigation and report.
A communication was received. which
was signed by all the district judges,
asking that another court room be pro-
vded. 1t was suggested that the grand
jury room might be fitted up at NOM
lnal cost, as all that is needed is a
Judges and clerks desk. The COM
mlttee on grounds and buildings was
asked to look into the matter and ex-
pend sum not exceeding $100 for the
purpose.