The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-29
MAYORS AND COUNCILMEN.
The Convention at Columbus Now open
Talk on Street Lighting.


of mayors and city counclmen of the
| United States, Canada and Mexico was
| called to order at II o'clock this morning
by Mayor Black. Of this city, about 100
regularly accredited delegates being pres
ent.
Mayor Blacks opening remarks were
brief, and he closed by introducing Gov
Asa 5. Bushnell Of Ohio, who mado an
address Of welcome.
At the oloGe of the Governors welcome,
Mayor Black presented Mayor C. A. Col.
)ier, of Atlanta, Ga, who responded for
the visitors in speech glowing with sem
timents Of patriotism and presen ing the
Importance of good municipal government
with force and cloluence. Ho thanked
Ohio for tho aid she extended to Atlanta at
the time Of the first cotton exposition
there, and closed with tribute to tho
common love Of country that had called
tho delegates together. Alavor Golfers
address was received with enthusiastic ap-
plausc
Mayor Black was made chairman of tho
convention and Editor Gordon, of City
Government, secretary. These officers arc
to servo only during the sessions prior to
tion on the closing day.
Joseph w. otover, Of New York, read a
paper on photographic Systems for tho
Fertilization Of Fire and Polico Service"
1t was largely tcchinal in character.
VIM. Brophy, chief electrician of Boston,
was on tho program for a paper on
"Modern Construction and Maintenance
by Municipalities, but he was unable to
DO present and substitute read the paper.
Ala o'clock the convention adjourned un.
til 6p. nj.
Chairman, Black. in his opening remarks
at the night session, referred to tho i'm.
portanco Of street lighting. in cities, and
called attention to th3 National street
Lighting Association now in session here.
In closing he introduced Henry Hopkins,
Of New Haven, secretary of the assocla.
ton. Mr. Hopkins read paper on Tho
Proper Lighting of City Streets" the
chief point of which was an analysis of tho
reasons why the cost of public lighting is
increasing while tho general cost OF light
Is decreasing. These he gave as the ex-
panslon OF tho populated areas OF cities.
tho application of electricity TO rapid
service in old localities and the pursuit Of
mercantile and professional duties at
night. The National Street Lightning
Association has IS delegates here.
Mayor MacVicar, of Des Moines, Iowa,
read a paper entitled street Lighting
BY Contract Municipal Control or NUM-.
cipal Ownership. Whichf" He said in
purUi
While we generally concede the justice
of municipal ownership OF waterwork5
and are about ready to indorse municipal
street lighting, We hesitate at going fur.
ther and declaring for city ownership OF
such natural monopolies as gas and street
railways. However, We are rapidly com.
ing to believe In tho soundnsss OF this
principle. No sentiment should bo allow.
ed to stand in tho way Of utilizing these
monopolles for the benefit Of this whola
people, although 1t be at the expense OF
private gain.
1.-THE private lighting companies in their
effort to retain profitable contracts, sys.
tematically endeavor to demonstrate that
they arc furnishing light as cheaply as 1t
Is possible to furnish it. They ridicule tho
estimates Of competent engineers and crit
ioise the showing Of municipal companies.
They argue the imposslbility of the city
economically or honestly operating plant
because of tho elements of politics that
would enter into tho management and the
manufacturers Of apparatus will frequent
ly substan tiate these statements.
"A careful Inquiry into the conditions
environng these institutions show watered
stock, unproductive Investments. and In.
efficiency of apparatus, which will fully
explain tho high cost of production. Com
pare such o plant with the results obtained
from improved apparatus, jullcious selec.
ton of machinery and economy of opera.
ton and very different result will be
had"
After Mr. MacV!oar had finished his ad.
dress the convention adjourned until to-
morrow.