The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-04
GREAT FALLS LIGHT
The City Council Has Decided to Ad-
vertise for Bids.
DEBATING THE QUESTION
Ii Is the General Opinion That
Other Companies Should Be In
duced to Compete-Other
Municipal Business.


ings of the city council last night were
decidedly interesting from the time
Mayor Webster called the meeting 70
order until an adjournment was taken.
The question OF lighting the streets OF
Great Falls was the most important
subject under consideration and a
great deal of interest was evinced by
citizens as to what action the council
would take in the matter. The city
fathers. in committee of the whole,
took up the proposition recently made
by the Boston & Great Falls Electric
Light & Power company. Through
Manager Dickinson the company offer
ed to furnish AZ lights at sl2 per month
for each light and donate to the city
two lights; or to make a years con-
tract for 46 lights at s11 per month
each; or to make a two years contract
with the city to furnish As lights at
$1,000 per month each, with the proviso
that no lights shall be donated under
the second or third proposition; and,
under the second and third PROPOSE
tons all city warrants paid the COM
pany for such service shall be drawn
on street lighting fund and not on
the general fund. Manager Dickinson
was present and stated that the cleo
trio light company had lowered the
rates for lighting the city every year
since 1890, and that the expenses of
maintaining the plant was quite as
large now as it was six years ago. He
had statistics from a large number of
plants used for lighting western cities,
and knew that the rate Of s10.50 per
light made in his third proposition,
was as low as lights could be furnish
ed on business proposition.
Alderman Fletcher said that prices
on everything had been cut in two
since 1890, and he thought electric
light rates should be lowered in the
same proportion.
Alderman Dunn said Great Falls had
the greatest and cheapest water power
in the country. and yet all the people
were protesting against the rates
charged by the electric light company.
He added that there was a strong sus-
picion that the bills of private con-
sumers were not exactly what they
should be. The city, he said. should
offer strong inducements in the way of
a long term contract, to other COM
panies which would build a plant and
operate it in direct competition to the
Boston & Great Falls Electric Light
company. which now had a complete
monopoly.
Alderman williams said that he ia
vored giving a new light company an
inducement In the way of a long term
contract and would support a PROPOSE
ton of that character.
Manager Dickinson did not think IL
was the proper thing for the council to
get the bid of his company and then
ask bids from its competitors, who
knew the nature of the bid he had sub
mitted. He added that New westmin-
ster, b. C., which owned its own plant
last year, estimated the cost of each
light per month at $3.50, but the figures
were too low and this year they had
raised the estimate to $l0.50 per light
per month. A steam plant utilized to
furnish light at Great Falls would be
as cheap as the water power now used.
and that the splendid water power
with which the town was favored by
nature, offered no advantages in the
way of economy until the horse requir-
ed shall be at least 1000.
Alderman Young expressed sorrow
that on every public question in the
city there was more or less trouble.
which injured the reputation of the
town
Alderman Mitchell said the people of
Great Falls desired competition in
lighting and would favor
inducements TO another COM
pany to put in a plant.
On motion of Alderman Williams.
City Clerk Clark was unanimously in
TO advertise for so days for
bids for AZ 2,0O0-candle power electric
lights for a term of three or five years,
or their equivalent in acetylene or gas,
and any and all additional lights that
the city might order; the advertise
ment to be inserted in The Anaconda
Standard. Great Falls Tribune and two
standard scientific papers.
Manager Dickinson then formally
withdrew the proposition made for
lighting the city by the Boston & Great
Falls Electric Light e. Power company
Alderman Mitchell introduced an or
iinance changing the boundaries of |
the different wards. The ordinance |
provides that the First ward shall be |
hat portion of the city north of the |
center of First avenue south and west /
n the center of Ninth street, to be /
on the west and north by the /
Missouri river; Second ward to be that /
portion of the city south of the center
II First avenue south and west of the
center OF Fourth street. and all that
PORTION of the city west of the Nilsson