The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-01-29
Republican Primaries.

The Republican primary election for
'he nomination Of borough officers, held
saturday afternoon, was fully as exciting
as any of the "water fights" of former
years. The battle was in behalf of
borough ownership OF an electric light
plant capable Of furnishing adequate
hght for street illuminating purposes.
/ and the vote cast was the largest ever
poiled al borough primary election.
All other contests were lost to sight in
the hight for seven councilmen and with
twelve candidates in the field, all pledged
t. carry into effect the proposition in
volved, it would naturally seem that
there was no necessity for canvassing for
votes This was far from being the actu-
all state of affairs, however. Politicians
OF all degrees took hand in behalf Of
their favorite candidates and BUTTON
hoiing'' was carried on To a greater extent
than ever before
Ever since the people of Somerset have
enjoyed the luxury of electric street
lights there has been constant clamor
for more light. At present the town pays
$50 for thirteen 20)0 candle power arc
lights, distributed As evenly as the
authorities who had them placed in
position saw III TO have il done. As a
matter OF course some of the people,
especially those residing in the suburbs
and in several eases in the more densely
populated districts. have derived very
little benefit from the are lights, except
ing tha; afforded all pedestrians on the
streets aiter dark. Council was petitionei
to purchase more light, bat that body
did not feel tha; they would be justified
in spending any more public money for
this purpose.
The service given by the Electric Light
Company has been entirely satisfactory
AID al a much less rate than is exacted
by similar corporations in neigaboTing
towns, but the usual complaint, to he
heard in every community where
corporation or individual enjoys a
monopoly, has not been absen; here.
When council turned deaf ear 10 the
petitions poured in upon them for ad-
ditional light, the people began to east
about for other means to secure their OBJ
ject. Coaneil had, with commendable
foresight, purchased steam boilers for
the water works Of much greater capacity
than wss necessary for the purpose OF
furnishing power 10 operate the pumps,
ard il was ;ntimated that that body had
the lightin. Of The town Icy an electric
plsnt run IN connection with the pumps
in view when they made the purchase
The light issue was raised at the
borough primary last year. with the
result that two councilmen favorable To
the borough's furnishing its own street
light We're triumphantiy elected.
Saturday morning circular was dis
tributed throughout the town signed by
James McKelvey, George krebs, Jacob
Pile, John II. Miller. Daniel Keller,
Robert L. Roberts and Harvey NJ. Berk-
ley. plciging themselves in case Of their
election, to exert their hes: efforts To
sccnre an electric equipment 10 be operat-
IL As indicated above. This circular
threw Consideration into the camp Of the
a7posilicn, who up "a this time had re-
fused to make public declaration upon
the question involved. However, they
rallied a half hour later and got ont a
duplicate of the original c:rc. .;ar. mutiiat-
ed only by the caption "Cuari nous
and bearing the additional names of
Thomas Jones, Josiah II. Pisel, Harry
Keifer, George II. Tayman and William
". SchTock.
The original circular had the effect of
driving the other fellows from under cov-
er, a. well as melting both sides to in
creased efforts. The voters appear to
have placed most confidence in the first
seven signers Of the circular, as was made
to appear mere clearly when the result OF
the election was announced, all of them
having been nominated by substantisl
majorities.
+. H. Werner. assistant clerk to the
County Commissioners, made vigorous
bnt unsuccessful effort to deseat Justice of
the Peace Noah Casehcer for re-nonina-
ton.
The other nominations are as follows:-
School Directors, i. J. Kooser, Esq, D. J.
Horner; Judge OF Election, Alex. Hus-
ton; Inspector, Jeremiah RhoadS; Con-
stable, William Gilbert; street Commits
sioner, II. G. Cunningham High Con-
stable. Chambers Huston; Auditor, VI.
l.. Craver.
SHADE TOWNSHIP.