The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-04
WOULD HAVE MORE LIGHT.
MAYOR MYERS FAVORs THE CITY's
OWNING ITS LIGHTING PLANT.

The City Would he Well Lighted, He
Thinks, and Lights Could BE Fur
nished Residences at n Less Cost
Than at Present-The Council VIII
Probably Take Up the Matter and
Secure Estimates of COst-NOtes
Would Have 10 BE Given Running
One 10 Five Versatile Mayor in
Favor of a Large Amount of Paw
ing on the Same Basis.
Mayor Myers annual report. which WAS
read at the last meeting OF council. con-
tanned recommendation that the city
establish its own lighting plant. not only
for the purpose of furnishing lights to the
city, but for private lighting as well.
This is especially interesting for two
reasons. one being that should the recon-
mendation be carried into effect there
would be a new and important city de-
partment established, and the other. be-
cause Of the large amount of money al
ready invested in the Brush Electric Light
and Power Compsny's plant with which
the city's plant would come into direct
competition.
Mayor Myers was asked yesterday IL II
is probable that anything definite will be
done by the council this year in the line
of his recommendation. He replied that
he thought there would be.
The matter was informally discussed
by the council last year. and the PROPOSE
ton was regarded favorably," he said.
There is no reason why the city should
not own its own lighting plant, and there
are good many reasons why it would
prove advantageous. In my judgment,
lighting comes next to water. Both are
necessities, A man may economize on
them. but he is compelled to have both.
man VINO mas but little money to spare
viii economic on lighting as much as
possible, but if he is able to afford IL he
VIII nave his house well lighted. Being
a pubic necessity, 1t is proper that the
city should have control of il. The city
would certainly be better lighted IL the
CITY controlled its own plant. Our budget
approximation for street lights this year
IS $4,000. This does not include the light
ing or the public buildings, the city ex-
change, the police barracks and the fire
department buildings Altogether, our ex-
penditure for lighting this year will be
ABOUT $4,000. Now, If the city We're well
lghted Tor this amount there would be
less argument in behalf of a public light
ing plant, but the fact is the city is not
half lighted. Many portions are in dark
ness at night, but we do not feel war
ranted in increasing our expenditures for
lighting. l may be wrong, but 1 am of
the opinion that with the city owning its
pendlture as at present, have all the light
we need for the streets, and at the same
time we could furnish light to private
cltlZenS at less than the present cost"
The proper location of the plant" said
Mayor Myers in answer to a question
would be at the waterworks. There is
plenty OF room there, which would save
the expense of building. There Is plenty
or power there, too, though whether we
could make use of IT for an electric
light plant am unable to say. The boiler
1 satisfied cOIiln 10
use of, but il would probably require a
different class of engines"
The mayor said that he is satisfied that
some definite action will be taken by the
board on the matter 1--WE will probably
secure estimates" he said, for a plant
OF the required size, including poles wires
and other electrical equipment within the
city. The cost of the plant would he pro-
Vided for by small cash payment, and
notes running for one, two, three, four
and five years, thus distributing the cost
over several years"
Mayor Myers also recommended in his
report that the council undertake a con-
siderable amount of street paving and
provide for its payment by notes in the
same manner as that suggested for the
lighting plant.
Council has not yet taken up the mat
do so. 1 am in favor of paving South
Broad street, and perhaps some other
streets. l believe 1t would add greatly to
the appearance of the city"
Mayor Myers said that he thought vitri-
fed brick, the paving which should be used
on South Broad street. at costs less
than asphalt, he said, wears better,
makes smooth surface, is easily cleaned
and can be cheaply repaired"
A couple of very solid specimens of vi
trifed brick were before the mayor as he
spoke, and if all the brick provided for
paving should be equal to the samples
they would hardly fail to give satisfac-
ton. The mayor Will also recommend the
adoption of this brick for sidewalk paving.