Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-24
THE CITY AND Lighting.


The franchise granted to the Utah
Power company by the City Council
at It's last session il most liberal to the
power company, and may be taken as
an Indication that the CJuncil will
welcome to the city such enterprises
where large sum OF money Ia spent,
for the Council would no. discriminate
bstween corporations or citiz pro-.
ceuding upon similar lines. There are
Two conditions upon which the city In
to recsive n service from the company,
one OF which might lie regarded
IN the way OF consideration
for the franchise, provided 1t 10
taken advantage OF within one yeai;
but II 1897 is allowed to pass without
the notice requiring service, then the
company gets Its franchiss practically
as q free gift from the city. The
Council has concluded that this ia the
better policy to encourage such large
enterprises.
n garding the service by which,
undcr five montiM' notice given
within a year, the municipality can get
power at a given fgure,t this IL not to be
marked down as consideration for
The franchise, oven II made availabh,
since, while 1t may bs advantageous
| TO tie city in some respects, II en-
| tails no burden on the company;
rather, contract of 800 horse. power at
sg5, or municipal patronage OF 81 500
year, may be looked upon as pretty
| fair business proposition.
The other condition presents a some.
whAt different aspect. 1t is that, on
four montnt' notice given in 1897, tie
power company vii! erect enough polo q
with or ss-srms TO adm,. OF lighting
the city with 400 ere lamp; OF
course, II the company furnishes the
current for the lamps II VIII be paid
rr II. Ii the requirement be made
| wi hin the year, however, II viii
cause the company to make q consider
able outlay Ior poles, etc; Tut this Is
not wholly an expense to II, since the
sompauy uses The polea wherever they
gre within iis own area OF service, snd
il this covers the whole district whore
pol.s arc erec.1d, there Is no extra
burden.
But the most important feature IN
tho franchise, to the public is not tue
lirect dealing with the Utah Power
com any, which the people generally
welcome as they do any other enter.
prise in which large sum OF money is
Invested. The Significant piint is the
mumation that the city contemplstes
g,!ng into the business OF municipa
lighting OF streets. That ia the poinI
Of both the seTvic, conditions inn
pogei In the franchise; tor the city hat
use f5r neither horsepower nor bars
uoles except in the adoption Of suct
departure from its present AMI former
policy.
The quesiit OF municipal electric
lighting plant therefire becomes
q matter for care III contemplation
is the city financially abie to ans th'
Investment during the next yeal? AM
If 1t is, DO the present condition
Justify The conclusion tina! the stree
lighting can be done cheaper by tn
{ city itself than by contract will
private companies where there is a fAi
, amount OF competition? So far as th'
frat questlon is concerned, it may b
said thnt unless great saving is to b.
/. Effected the city is not now financial!
+. able to proceed in the direction
e named, especially as the adj
i ministration does not seem IL