The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-01
A NEW LIGHT PLANT
1t Is Offered to the City on the
Installment Plan.
TO BE PAID FOR IN THREE YEARS
Light at Low Figures and q Saving
Promised In the Aegrecate-The
Other Lighting Bids.

When the board of public works opened
the bids for street lighting for the year
1855 yesterday IL found among them a
proposition 30 erect new plant and sell
il 20 the city on the installment plan. the
owners meanwhile furnishing light at
prices far below those of the other bid
ders. The proposition was afterwards ex-
planned verbally in more detail. This
proposition came from f. II. Osgood, A.
L. Hawley and J. T. Robinson Mr. os-
good is an electrician and railroad man.
He built the first street railroad and also
the first electric railroad in Seattle. and
is now the owner OF tire Rainier avenue
electric line A l. Hawley and j. T.
Robinson have for several years been con-
nected with the Union Electric Company,
the former as assistant manager. and the
latter as secretary, but have resigned, 10
take effect today.
They offer to erect and install an electric
light plant with all the necessary apPii-
ances and devices. and to sell the same
mot including steam plant. dynamos or
station equipmentD 10 the city for SIS. 0oe.
in thirty-six monthly payments, of 1888
each. such installments TO be paid on the
a0th day OF the month succeeding the ope-
ration OF the plant. and continuing month
~ thereafter. The city, under this con-
tract shall furnish water and pay any
and all taxes. and grant TO the contractors
a franchise to erect poles and string wires
for the purpose Of furnishing heat, light
and power, on the terms OF existing fran
chises. including the right TO construct
and use underground eonduits. For the
lighting OF additional lamps that may re
ordered by the city during the operation
OF the contract, the contractors propose
10 charge for arc lamps S7.25 per month.
for incandescent ffteen-candle power
lamps 81 and pro rata Tor those OF greater
power.
The city shall give the contractors dur
ing the existence OF this contract the right
TO carry on the same poles and through
the same conduits wires for commercial
lighting, and after the expiration or the
contract and during the franchise 10 be
granted TO the contractors. they shall nave
the right to an additional use of such poles
and conduits for their commercial wires.
and the city is not to grant such uses 10
any other lighting company upon more
favorable terms. The contractors are TO
retain full title and possession of the plant
until the purchase price has been paid
George Donworth, who appeared for the
proposers OF the scheme, said he oeleved
the city by adopting this plan would save
about $500 year on the present cost or
lighting, and III addition would IN three
years own its own lamps and wires IN
conversation afterward Mr.. Donworth said
the city now paid about $1,000 for electric
IEntlnZ. a year dtfANh ~
system proposed would be but $1,000. and
On addition 70 paying for the lighting
would pay one-third of the cost of the
plant In three years the city would have
saved nearly 5000 in cash. and would own
the installation of the electric light plant,
worth, on a moderate calculation, about
So coo This would not include steam en-
gines or dynamos, but the city could at
tach its system to any power or build one
OF its own.
The frs. item OF the specifications sug-
gests the building OF a conduit from
James street 10 Pike street, through the
alley between Front and Second streets.
The contractors propose 10 construct from
James 70 Madison the first year, TO Uni
versity street the second year and 10 Pike
street the third year.
The other bids were as follows: Union
Electric Company. arc lights of 2'oOo-can-
die power. s.. 30 each per month; mean
descent lights. 1fteen-candle power
$50; thrty-candle power, $3.50; Third
Street & Suburban Railroad Com
pany, arc lights. s9.95; incandescent, hf-
teen-candle power, Sis; thirty-cahcie
s295
The whole matter was referred to the
city council.