Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-06-29

| light with arc lamps for Ut per month,
per lamp. half service, or $G.75 per
month, per lamp, for an all-night
service. and Town Hail for S. per
month.
E. S. Corbett's offer was for arc
lamps at 1914 per month, per lamp,
until midnight, or $4.5S per month,
per lamp, for an all-night service, and
IS cents per lamp of l6 candle power
all-night. and light Town Hall free.
The Mayor said there was petition
on the Clerks desk said to be signed by
80 citizens requesting an all-night
service. If Council thought proper
they could have it read and take it in
consideration when letting the con-
tract. He thought 1t would be well if
'the Finance committee would give
them an estimate of the resources
and financial condition of town, so
that they could consider whether they
would be able to pay for an all-nlght
service.
The petition was then read, and Mr..
Smeltz moved that the town be light
ed all night by whatever method Coun-
ell might decide. Carried.
He also moved that the lowest pro-
posal for arc lighting be accepted.
Not seconded.
Mayor Bear asked-if Councilmen
wished to ask any questions about the
different proposals. He gave the
representatives of the bidders chance
to make any explanation they might
think proper in regard to their bids.
E. S. Corbett SAID that his bid was
bona file offer that he proposed giving
the town full service; that his lamps
would be 1000 candle power, whereas
what the town is getting now on the
lower circuit is not over 500 candle
power. He proposed to put in modern
machinery and knew that he could do
all he proposed.
w. B. Redgrave said he thought that
Mr.. COrbett's business was to put in a
proposal for lighting the town--uot to
explain the defects Of the competing
company's plant, but he would like to
ask Mr.. Corbett-how he could light for
81 cents for one half of the night when
he (CorbetD wanted 1914 for the other
half9
Mr.. Corbett, in reply, said he was
glad that Mr.. Redgrave had asked that
question. The chief cost is up to -
o'clock ; after that time the only
additional cost would be for fuel.
Councilman Betz said that his COM
pany was composed of citizens of the
town; they had bought the Electric
light plant IN good faith and had put
it in good working order. Their plant
was on the ground, and they were
ready to sign a contract and fill
bond to live up to their contract. On
the other hand, the other proposal for
electric lighting did not have any
plant, or any sign of a plant. What
assurance did Council have if the
lighting was awarded to Mr.. Corbett
that he would be able to live up to his
proposal?
Mr.. Anthony asked If Mr.. Betz was
speaking as a member of Council or
as president of the Electric Light COM
panye Continuing, he said there was
a written law that no member of the
County Commissioners in the State
could sell to the county, and he
believed if there was no written law
governing municipal corporations,
there was an unwrtten one to the
same effect. He thought it was the
duty of every member of Council
to forget self and labor for the
best interests of their constituents.
In fact, they were all sworn to do SO.
He could not see where Council could
lose anything by awarding the con-
tract to Mr.. Corbett, but everything to
gain. There was difference of
$SS0.36 in the proposals for arc light
ing for the year for an all night SER
vice alone, and difference of $l06.0S
for half service. He did not under
stand the Gas company's bid f; did not
know what candle power was in an
S foot tip, but their representative
said they could light the town as good
as it is now lit with 100 lamps. This
number, at $l.75 for an all-night SER
vice, would be $654 less than the
Electric Light company's bid for all
night service, and $23l.3G more than
Mr.. Corbett's for half service. The
Gas company bid would be 1872 less
than the Electric Light company, and
$325.S2 less than Mr.. Corbett's. Con-
Guiding, he said it was Councils i'm
perative duty to get the best light they
could for the least money.
Mr.. Betz asked-how many gas
lamps it would take to equal an arc
lamp ? and the question was referred
by the Mayor to the representative of
the Gas company.
In reply the latter said that it would
he imnoSsihle for him TO answer with