The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-11-01
STILL In DARKNESS.
THE COUNCIL AND LIGHTING COM
PANY CANNOT AGREE.
The Council Will Not Contract for
Street Lighting for Long Period,
and the Company Will Not Do 1t
Temporarily.-The Outcome of rlon-
days Meeting Is That the Streets
Will Remain in Darkness.

The specia! meeting Of the council
Monday was presided over by Mayor
Weaver, and all of the aldermen were
present.
Mayor Weaver stated that the
meeting had been called to transact
general business, but there was moth
ing important except Jno. f..
Meagher's proposition, which would
be the only matter considered. His
first thought had been to have no spe-
cial meeting, as the proposition was
not different from present rates; but
had decided to call the meeting and
asked Mr.. Meagher to be present.
The city recorder read the PROPOSE
tion, which was as follows:
This company will continue the
street lighting if you desire they
should do so, for one year from the eX-
piratiOn of our contract for the prices
named in said contract, or we will
make a five year contract at $50 per
light per year, same light and sched-
ule, with like reduction on incan-.
descent lights, on five year contract
A silence followed until Aid. Brad
ley said that he could see no differ
ence between this and the old rates,
and the principal complaint had been
as to the high rates. There was a
feeling that the interests of those
who have private lighting ought to be
looked after.
Mr.. Meagher came in during the
latter part of these remarks.
Aid. Andrews said that he would
like to see something done to cheaper
the cost of commercial lighting, and
a great increase in the use of private
lights would follow. He did not like
to do anything to jeopardise cheaper
commercial lighting. He would not
favor either proposition submitted
unless amended.
Aid. Adams said that he did not
think that the tax would be ten cents
difference whether the city is lighted
or not. He wanted to go on record as
in favor of having the city lighted at
the old rates rather than have the city
go in darkness. He called attention
to the danger of accidents in the
darkness.
Aid. Andrews moved that the one
year proposition at the old prices be
adopted.
Aid. Peterson said that he was ut
terly opposed to this. The people
had long complained that the city
was overcharged for it's lights. He
offered an amendment that the COM
pany be authorized to light the city
for an indefinite period, at the rate of
So month for arc lights, and 81 for
incandescents.
The amendment was carried only
Aids. Zimmerman and Lille voting
"no."
Mr.. Meagher was called upon and
said he had not come to make any re-
marks. The company had had no in
tention to present proposition until
requested by the mayor, and had done
so out of courtesy. The company had
been blamed for not furnishing lights
cheaper. 1t had never been able to,
because it had never had any status
in the. community. 1t had made the
five-year proposition to obtain a
status, and be in position to buy
new incandescent machinery. 1t
could not be expected to buy expen-
sive machinery with no contract long
enough to warrant it. No men with
intelligence enough to make money
could be expected to invest it on such
basis. The company could not &C
cept the proposition of the council.
The lights have been ordered turned
off, and the company has been put out
of the game, and it now proposes to
stay out until it receives contract
sufficient to enable it to provide
proper machinery, when it can furnish
light as cheap as any company on
earth. The company had intended to
purchase new machinery, but today
couptermanded the order.
Aid. Andrews moved that the com
pany be asked to light the city at the
old rates until Dec. 1st. He said that
it was not right that the city should
go in darkness, and the people did not
want it.
This motion carried, only Aid. Him
melman voting ''no.'
Mr.. Meagher stated that the COM
pany would not accept the PROPOSE
tion. 1t would never again turn on
the lights for an indefinite period.
No company would furnish light on
such basis. If the council had not
ordered the lights off, the company
would have been glad to have contin-
ued at the old rates, as was stated at
the time.
Aid. Zimmerman said that he was
glad that the company had taken the
stand it did, and he would have done
the same under the circumstances.
He moved that the council adjourn,