The Portland daily press., 1896-09-05
MR.. PETERSON'S PLANS.
Proposition To Furnish City EIec
trieity
WILL BE MADE TO CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY.

Results of Investigation of the Past Few
Days-Price at Which Power Can Be
Furnished City-LegaI Distinctions
Must Be Removed.
MI' jesse Peterson OF Lockport, N. Y,
who represents the company who
controls the water power at Great Falls
on the Presumpscot, In Gorham, and
which has been considering a plan Of
furnishing the oity with electric power
from this point, has his proposition In
form to present to the Mayor and City
Cou noiI.
As has already been stated in the
PhEsS. Mr.. Peterson has been in the oity
the past few days accompanied by
James W. White of New York, of the
well-known firm of electrical eng ineers
Of White. Crosby & Co., new York city.
MT. White is undoubtedly the leading
electrical engineer in this class
OF work in the country, and
with Mr.. Peterson has investigated
throughly the feasibility of the plan un-
der consideration, and has satisfied
himself that electrical power can be fur
nlshed Portland at price which will
be much less than what Is now paid.
and practically an unlimited amount.
Mr. Peterson's company controls the
Great Falls power, formerly the Indurat-
ed Fibre works, and has made arrange
ments with parties to control the
power next below that about three-ouar-
tiers OF a mile. These two powers will
enable MI. Peterson If necessary, to deliv-
YER to Portland ourrent Of 5000 horse
power.
To construct plant Of this capacity
will require an expenditure of about
$3.50, 900. This the company is willing to
expend If the city will contract to take
certain amount Of power for street
lighting.
Mr. White and Mr.. Peterson are Eboth
satisfied that there are few cities in the
country where plant of this kind nav
be constructed to SO great an advantage
as the prices of coal are high and
there are numerous small man
ufacturers which would be glad to get
cheap power.
The proposition which sMr. Peterson
has drawn, will be given to Mayor Bax-
ter so as to be presented to the City
Council Wednesday night. 1t is under
stood that 1t embraces the following
points:
Ho will furnish the necessary elec.
trio current for operating arc and
inoan descent lighbs for the city's use,
and will deliver the same to a point
nearest the city line that he can without
interfering with existing law. He wish
es the city to take not less than 400
1200-candle power arc lamps, or an
equivalent In inoandesoent lamps. His
proposition will embrace prices that
will enable the oity to get the arc lights
of 1900 candle power for not more than
S65 light per annum; that the 50-candle
power incandescent lamps can be furn-
ished for less tina n $40, and the 49, candle
power lamp for $12 and the 16-candle
power lamp for less than $6.
It should be understood that these
prices are not the sums 10 be paid the
company, but that the company will fur
that this city can maintain lights at the
figures named which is about one-half
what is paid now.
The matter now is one wholly of
public sentiment.
In order for the city to accept the
proposition, If it should decide to do so,
it will be necessary to go to the legislature
next winter and remove cert ain legal
difficult les.
II there is a sentiment In favor of the
plan sufficiently strong, that could be
easily done without doubt.
Young Wallace who was injured q. the
theatre is doing we'll. His leg was not