New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-10
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
rHEIR APPLICATIONS FILED.
.,orLEY COMPANIES ASH THE ALDER
MEN FOR LOTS OF STREETS.

wHH Cas- CONTRACT QUESTION BRINGS OUT BID
FOR AcETyLENE oAs-oTHER MATTERS
BEFORE THE ALDERMEN
The Board of Aldermen yesterday afternoon
s.,a a meeting at which communication was
".os;ved from the Brooklyn Heights Railroad
company. the Brooklyn City Railway Company
md the Brooklyn City and Newtown Company
liking for franchises on about two hundred miles
=, BROOKLYN streets The purposes Of this modest
ds.ire have already been published in these
columns.
The communication OF the Brooklyn Heights
rompany which is similar TO the others. asserts
that the company will pay TO the city annually
sper cent of the gross receipts. to be ascertained
nv the provisions of the statutes relating thereto
ss II such franchises had been sold at public
auction so long 1t shall continue to operate
the roads. If another company makes an equal
or better offer TO the city upon the basis of per-
centage Of gross receipts or other basis, the
company asks that the Board will sell at public
auction the right TO construct maintain and
operate the railways upon basis to be fixed by
the Board. The company would. in such case
make the first bid Of per cent Of the gross re-
ce,p,s If there be competition, the company
will bid up it Will be competitor upon
anv other basis of compensation and bid up TO
a reasonable amount. The communications were
referred TO the Railroad Committee.
Commissioner White. of the Department OF City
Works sent TO the Board communication calling
attention to the fact that the Department has
had continued trouble in making corporations
with franchises formerly granted take proper
care Of the street pavemen,s. Commissioner
White also submitted clauses containing proper
safeguards relating TO pavements and the trans
mission Of electric currents, based on Phiadel-
phia ordinances.
Aldermen Walkey, chairman Of the Committee
on Gas and Electricity. said that the committee
last week agreed to report in favor of bids and
contracts for street lighting with gas for five
wears with a sliding scale OF prices. but that AL
6ermen declined to vote tor the measure now,
because the Mayor would probably veto such a
proposition ,,, co., I'D
Electric Company read The company pro-
tests against making proposed 1--WE years
contract with the new gas trust Offering itself
t. supply gas on five years contract LOT u per
O00 feet for the first year the price declining to
50 cents for the last two years of the five; and
declaring that the company is ready to proceed
with the construction of plant.
Alderman Walkley for his committee re-
norted in favor of a contract with the Flatbush
Electric Company. as he said. that company was
practically identical with the Flatbush Gas Com
nanv and electricity preferable TO gas. There
were objections. so the matter went over
In spite of the objections of Alderman Nc
the name of CniOn-st. TO 'Strana han-dVe
long wrangle took place over motion by
Alderman Walsh TO nullify Mayor Schierens veto
OF The proposed grant Of franchise to the state
Electric Light and Power Company the mo-
ton was withdrawn
Mayor Schieren yesterday received letter rom
Alfred C Porter. of No. 457 Clinton-ave. in when
Nr Porter said that the Chicago Gas trust ana
the Equitable Gas Company. of NeW-f ork CitY,
have bought the right to use acetylene gas that
This new gas is said 10 be of superior qualty, ana
can be manufactured and furnished for 10 Genus
rer 600 feet He added that he thought in place
- giving a five years lease ii would be better
f,r the city to paw even an exorbitant price lol
one wear rather than commit itself 10 the longer
lease Mayor Schieren says:
L have always taken the stand mat IN tfils
, % n progress and invention 1t would be mis-
AK To- make a gas contract for five years ne
ranso who knows II in another year or two we
will use gas at all: and II we do use gas sohle
tnventjon NAV come showing that II would oe
q mistake To bind the city 10 a SPECIFIC or stated
mice unless q contract was made IN when II
was clearly specified that the city shouu ~
caiye tho benefit OF such invention
Another FIVE years contract mat Md!o
s-bieran Is not likely to approve is the proposed
lease of the Flatbush waterwoTKs'