St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-24
ON THE NOW VERY IMPORTANT
SUBJECT OF ELECTRIC
LIGHTS.
FACTS AND FIGURES SHOWN
WHY 1T WILL DE WISE TO SUB
STITUTE ELECTRIC ARCS
IN BUSINESS CENTERS.
BETTER AND CHEAPER SERVICE
Proposed For Fourth, Fifth, Sixth,
Seventh, Wabasha and st.
Peter Streets.

The substitution of electric arc
lights for gas lamps ON Fourth,
Fifth, Sixth and Seventh, Wabasha
and st. Peter streets, and the dis
continuance of all gas lamps in the
vicinity Of the public squares and
parks, will, if carried into effect,
save the city about $4,000 a year in
round numbers. At the same time
the streets and localities named, as
well as the neighboring streets, will
receive the benefit of a far superior
lighting system.
The greatest saving will be eff
fected by the resolution carrying into
effect the recommendation of the
board of public works which pro-
vides for the adoption of an all-night
service of the arc lights now doing
service in the various parks and
squares and at the market house,
until midnight only, at an expense of
| $127.75 per lamp per year. The ex-
penditure of S150 per lamp per year
only S22.50 more, will secure an all
| night service of these lamps, and at
the same time ninety-five gas lamps
now burning all night in the vicin-
ity of the arc lights can be entirely
| dispensed with. The gas lamps cost
the city $31.75 per lamp per year. A
simple computation shows the saving
| accomplished by this scheme to be
$2,923 a year.
Aid. Brady's resolution providing for
the placing of arc lights ON Fourth,
| Fifth, Sixth, Wabasha and St.
| Peter streets, will, if carried into eff
| fect, save 81, O51. 1t calls for thirty
three arc lights at an expense of $50
| per lamp per year. and the discon-
tnuance of 199 gas lamps at $31. rs per
lamp per year. The contract with the
st. Paul Gas Light company, under
the Arosin resolution, providing for
arc lights on Seventh street from
Seven corners to Brook street at every
intersection of Seventh street. means
| a saving of 1929. 1t calls for nineteen
arc lights and the discontinuance of
119 gas lamps.
The saving in the case of the Brady
and Arosin resolutions would seem, on
the face of things, to be greater than
that under the board of public orks
recommendation, but in the latter case
it will be noted that no new arc lights
are called for, but only an increase
of service from the midnight to the
| all-night, which will cost only $22. 50
more per light per year.
Considerable criticism is heard about
the city hall and elsewhere regarding
that clause of the contract with the
st. Paul Gas Light company whereby
the city agrees to pay two-thirds the
cost of the erecting or placing of the
arc lights. InaSmuch as the lights and
their supports, when erected, will be-
long to the company and not to the
| city the, wisdom of the council in thus
helping the gas light company pay its
| own legitimate expenses is seriously
| questioned. But as the total number
| of new arc lights to be furnished is
| only fifty-two the expenses of $40 per
| lamp will not be serious. But should
more arc lights be called for a con-
| tract requiring the city to pay any
| portion of the cost of placing them
would not meet with popular approval.
! The mere fact that the contract be-
| tween the city and the st. Paul Gas
Light company expires next March is
not regarded by the members of the
! board of public works as a sufficient
reason for the citys contribution OF
$lO or any other sum per lamp.