Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-29
DISTRICT AF.F AIR S
Bids for Lighting tho Entire City Opened
To ay.
The Potomac COmpany's Proposal-
Letter of Captain Thomas-
Other Bidders.

1OUay was the day SET ASIDE by the Com
missioners for opening lids for lighting the
city. The occasion was looked forward to
with more than ordinary interest, for it
was generally understood the Potomac
Light and Power Company would submit
bid for lighting the entire city with
electricity. The representatives of the lat
ter company. although they admit that at
the present time they are not sufficiently
equipped with conduits to do the work.
claim they have ample authority, and, if
the contract Is granted, will Immediately
proceed with the work. They base their
claims on the several decisions Of the court,
which are to the effect that the Commits
sioners are without power to grant per-
nit to a company to occupy public street
for private purpose, and urge that in the
present instance 1t is clearly a case where
company is to occupy a public street for
a public purpose. They cite an illustra-
ton the recent legislation by Congress
which authorizes additional lights. and
point out that some one must be granted
permit to do the work. Neither the United
States Electric Lighting Company nor the
Potomac Lighting Company has any right
to occupy this new territory for private
purpose-that is, for furnishing electricity
to private individuals; hut both have equal
rights to maintain electric lights there up
on the permission of the Commissioners.
Further, that the Commissioners are with
out authority to grant a permit to pri-
vate corporation to occupy the streets with
a water pipe; but when the same is neces-
sary for the public good there is no trouble.
When the bids were read out today it
was demonstrated that the Potomac COM
rany was ready for a fight. 1t submitted
bids upon every form of lighting save gas.
For electric arc lights its bid was $lOO per
lamp per annum east of Rock creek and
S94 90 per lamp west of Rock creek. This
alS for
lights at so per lamp per annum, and
agreed to substitute them for oil or gas
lamps in any part Of the city. This was
considered the boldest bid of them ALL for
the Potomac company by this bid made
direct proposal to substitute its incandes-
cent lights for the gas lamps. When it
came to reading the bids for naphtha
lighting 1t was found that the Potomac
company also had a bid for doing this
work. Its bid was $3.50 per lamp per
annum.
United States Electric Lighting COM
Dany's Letter.
The United States Electric Lighting
Company refused to submit a bid, but sub
stituted letter explaining its side Of the
case. The letter is as follows:
The attention of the United States Elec-
trc Lighting Company tas been called to
your recent advertisement, dated June II.
1896. for proposals for public electric arc
lighting in the District Of Columbia, which
advertisement is as follows:
"Office of the Commissioners. D. c.,
Washington, D. c., June II, 1S96.-Sealed
proposals will be receiv I'd at this office un-
til 12 o'clock on Saturday. June 81. 1896,
for furnishing and maintaining electric arc
lamps in the public streets and avenues Of
the District of Columbia during the year
ending June 80, 1897. Specifications and
blank forms OF proposals may be obtained
at this Office"
Inasmuch as the United States Electric
Lighting Company has been specifically
declared and recognized by both the courts
Of the District of Columbia and by Con-
gress as the only company authorized or
entitled to furnish maintain any electric
arc lamps in the public streets and ave
nues of the District of Columbia, and par
Hcularly In that portion of said District
lying east of Rock creek, and inasmuch as
no authority of law, as said company is
legally advised. exists. empowering or per-
mitting you to advertise for proposals for
public arc lighting in any portion of the
District, such authority or power having
been requested by you at the last session
of Congress and by Congress expressly re-
fused and denied, the said United States
Electric Lighting Company hereby protests
against the advertisement for proposals as
above mentioned, or the receipt by you of
any proposals for electric lighting under
said advertiser ent. or any action by you
upon any proposal SO made or received
legal and void.
The United States Electric Lighting
Company further specifically protests
against said advertisement for proposals
on the ground that the same Is In clear
contravention of the will of Congress, as
expressed in legislation at Its last session.
refusing to confer upon you the power now
attempted TO be exercised.
The United States Electric Lighting
Company declines to submit a proposal
or proposals under said advertisement, on
the ground that the same Is illegal and
void.
The United States Electric Lighting Com
paEy. however desires to. and does hereby,
inform you that it is prepared to furnish
and maintain during the year ending June
30, 1897, as it has heretofore done under
authority of Congress. all public electric
arc lights now in use in any of the public
streets and avenues of the District of CO.
luTba at the price prescribed by Congress
for such lighting by the appropriation
act for the year ending June 30 1897, viz:
Thirty (3W cents per night subject to all
the limitations and conditions of said act;
and also at the same price and subject to
the same conditions all such reasonable
extt nsions and additions to existing serv-
Ice as you may deem necessary, provided
that the total amount to be expended upon
the existing service and additions shall
not in the aggregate, exceed the amount
elec trio lighting in the District
Very respectfully,
A. A. THOMAS
President U. S. Electric Lighting Co.
Other Bidders.