Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-05-02
Electric Lights-Perhaps.

/ sad to relate, there is little prospect o
the village of Randolph putting in an cleo
trio light plant on its own account thi
year.
The spirit is willing, but obstacles seen
too great to be overcome.
From careful observation, the HERALI
is convinced that the village would, by
considerable majority, accept any plar
that appeared feasible for the lighting O
our village by electricity.
| There might be enough d ference oi
1 opinion concerning the feasibility OF GER
tain plans TO defeat them all. but there i:
no doubt about the feeling of our citizens
on the main issue.
They want the lights.
But just II this juncture, W hen II seemed
fairly probable that they might be at
tanned, the most serious obstacle OF all
hobs up serenely.
Randolph has no charter permitting the
village 10 bond itself for electric lights.
Under this condition, to take any action
now looking toward municipal owner
ship would be hazardous.
The safe way is TO wait until the legisla-
ture shall have given US the right TO bond
for this purpose.
Il seems strange that the matter was
overlooked last fall after a special COM
mittee had been elected by the village to
investigate the subject OF lights.
An oversight somewhere.
Not until 'e6 can we get franchise that
would make our bonds marketable.
Municipal lighting seems two years or
more away.
But proposition for installing an cleo
trio light system in our village under pri-
vate owners hip will be made at the village
meeting next Tuesday evening.
The main features Of this proposition are
as follows
Mr.. George ]. Prince will ask the village
to grant to him, as agent for certain par
ties, a franchise for furnishing street and
privste lignting and power to the village.
These parties are men OF wealth who stand
ready to invest from 1000 to $4,000 in a
plant adequate to this villages needs. Lo-
cal capital will be admitted, II It is offered.
They ask for a twenty year franchise, but
will give the village the privilege of buy
ing the plant any time after five years,
either at figure TO be fixed by impartial
appraisers or at its cost prices, as the hold
FRS OF the franchise may determine. The
village will not be bound to take any num- /
Der of street lights, but sueh electric lights
is it does use for street purposes Mr.. Prince i
expects will be taken Of him. The price of /
,0Ga C. D. arc lights for street lighting will /
De about $50 apiece per year. The rates for
private lighting must necessarily be low |
N order 10 induce enough TO take them so l
hat the aggregate income shall be suffi-
.ient. The first ineandescent will cost about 1
4 year and additional ones less. Swan /
on's rate, " hich is as low as any, is s. for 1
he first light. II Mr.. Prince secures the /
ranchise, be will develop the power at his /
ub shop, so that it will yield much better
esults and will also develop another pow
II in addition. He will put in steam en-
-ine to depend upon when water is low. t
lie expects to have some 400 or 500 horse
,ower at his command. The development
i the power at his tub factory will be of
reat aid to him in connection with that
'usiness.
While, as matter OF principle, the HER
LID believes in the municipality owning
nd operating its electric plant, yet under
he present circumstances, it thinks the
iiIage will do well to consider Mr. Princes
roposition.
1t is certainly very favorable to the VIII
age.
1t does away with the necessity OF bond
ng and paying interest.
It places the village under no risk-the
isk is all with the investors.
We are bound to do nothing except to
axe electric lights of this concern If We
Ike their price and service; il not, goiwith-
int as we are now doing.
II, at the end Of five years, the village
FISHES to buy the plant, it has the privi-
sge
In view OF the additional facts that the
lighting of our village in an adequate
manner will certainly involve heavy out
ay. and that the element ofrisk will enter
argely since power is less accessible than
d most places and the results cannot be
urely predicted, we commend Mr.. Princes
fer TO the careful consideration of voters.