The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-24

Ahe Sisy COUNCIL az special meeting
held last night annulled the contract
for lighting the city by means Of electric
lights.
The contract now in force with the
Roanoke Electric Light and Power
Company terminates ON March 81. pro-
vided the city gives notice that 1t does
not wish to use the lighss longer. 1t
also provides that unless this notice is
given that another three year period
shall be In force at the rate OF "a cents
per lamp per night. The Council by
unanimous vote decided to give notice
that the contract would be declared not
binding upon the city after March 81,
and instructed the city engineer to pre-
pare specifications for lighting and to
advertise for bids for furnishing q plant
to be owned by the city.
| FIFTEEN members attended the session.
| those present being Mesers. Bachmsn,.
Boehm, Casey, Coulbourn, Fox, Haw-
kins, High, Richmond, Loughery, Mays,
Oney, Searkey, Stevenson, Wilson and
President Buckner.
Mr.. Boehm, from the committee on
iights' reported resolution declaring
that the city would not use the lights
after the 3lst Of March under the pres-
emit contract. and directing the clerk to
30 inform the company.
Thls resolution was discussed at
some length, Messrse Boehm, Wilson.
| Coulbourn and other members of the
light committee explaining the object,
which was to get cheaper lighting by
means OF competitive bids. This reso.
luton, as above stated, was passed by
unanimous vote.
| On m md ttOr A.
the Council then pasted q resolution
directing the city engineer to prepare
specifications for public lighting and
report the same to the Council through
the light committee for approval.
The committee on lights also reported
resolution, which Was adopted, direct.
ing thas committee to arrange for light
Ing the city temporarily for thirty,
sixty. ninety days or for six months, as
they may deem advissble,' their action
to be submitted to Council for approval.
resolution WAS also adopted direct
ing the engineer to advertise for bids
Tor furnishing 0 complete plant for the
city. This resolution provoked con-
siderable discussion, being opposed bv,
Messrs. Loughery, Stevenson and Buck
ner, on the gound that it would compli.
cate matters II the clay advertised for
bids for furnishing light by company,
ana besides this the city was not ready
and had not decided that it would own
its own light plant.
messrs. Bachman, Wilson, Boehm and
others took the view that this was a
| question to be further determined nv
Council. The city could by this means
ascertain which would be the chenner
means OF Zig hting the city, either bv
CON tracting with Q company, or by own
ing Its own plant.
| The resolution passed ny vote OF IL
70 d, messrs. Loughery. Stevenson and
Buckner voting nav
! During the confederation OF the re-
port from the committe on lights.
letter from the Roanoke Electric Light
ana rover Company was read, declin-
ing 10 accept proposition made by
the committee to light the city a. the
rate OF eighteen cents per lamp per
night and giving as reasons that the
company could not afford to make thia
leouc.ion; that the company had paid
terest on the investments. They aisn
complained that their bills were paid
In cisy warrants, which were NOT
promptly csshed; that the price of coal
would be advanced April /, and that
sne com psny had suffered upius, rec
auctions for lights being out.
Inc letter contained two counter
proportions, one OF which was FURNISH
ing nights at the present rate with Ave
per cent. discount. provided all bills are
paid in cash within ten DAYS After the
regular meetings of Council, and the
osner to furnish light upon the noon
light schedule ut the rate of IS per lamn
per month, and cents per hour for each
additional hour per lamp not included
In the moonlight schedule. No action
was taken on these propositions.
a Counterfeiter Sentenced.
ATT