Smyrna times., 1897-01-27
OUR TOWN COUNCIL MEETS.
AN ORDER TO DISPENSE WITH ALL ARC
LIGHTS NOT ON THE ALL NIGHT
CIRCUIT-DIsCUssING NEW
TOWN CHARTER.


CIRCUIT-DI CUssING NEW
TOWN CHARTER.
One of the most interesting meetings
our Town Council has held recently,
occurred on Friday night when Presi-
dent John H. Hoftecker and full
board was present. The actual busi-
ness started with the reading of the
following bills which on motion were
allowed: Megear & Son, $3.50; Vallee
Bros. & Co., $1254; Cosgriff, Beck &
HAZEL (coal, $101 80; Total $117.O3.
The reading of the new proposed
town charter was then taken up and
read and approved by sections. The
most interesting discussion arose in
reference to district representation,
and in deciding what districts should be
considered first in the future elections,
the Council had great difficulty. 1t
was finally decided by the tossing of
penny. At the next town election, dis
tricts No ?, No. 3 and No. will come
up for representation, following in
1893 by No and No. and in 1899 by
No. and No. Z. Councilman Moore,
of the 1st district, said that w Lind
say McFarlane, had called his attention
to making some provision in the char
ter about extending the town limits to
Clayton in order that our electric light
line might be continued there. The
Board didn't receive the proposition
favorably and were of the opinion that
since Clayton was drafting new char
ter they could make this move accord
ing to their own liking. The law, as
the old and proposed charter now
stands, prohibits Smyrna from taking
any move in the matter
After the reading of the proposed
charter the Council decided unanim-
ously to place an order with the
SMYRNA TIMES for printing 1000 copies
of the charter in pamphlet form.
These pamphlets will be distributed
among the citizens of the town for
ratification before the charter receives
its final reading before the council.
Owing to the recent dissatisfaction
caused over our arc light system, the
matter was taken up for discussion.
Supt. F. L. Wright was present and
talked earnestly. In view of the COM
plant made that the plant was a sink
ing fund for the tax payers, he offered
a remedy which he said would be q
great relief and saving to the town.
He said our electric light plant con.
sumes SO tons of coal in about % days
and that the rental value of lamps was
about 5000 per month. The plant il
carrying a load of 45 amperes which
is more than it was constructed for 3;
amperes. He mentioned the fact o.
another boiler and engine being il
reserve and said that in order to allow
new takers, these would have to bt
brought in to play, meaning more Goa
for the town and an increasing debt
After a careful study of the matter
Supt. Wright proposed as the remedy
the taking off of Is arc lamps, leaving
only the which are now on the all
night circuit To maintain an ar,
lamp it costs the town $50 a year
where an incandescent costs $40
year or in the place of one arc lamp, h,
could place five 80 c. p. incandescen
lamps, better distributed, and at NOR,
) frequent intervals along the street
By taking off IS arc lamps, II smpere
of current would be left, which afte
placing 30 80 C. p. incandescent,
, amperes would remain. This power
in revenue to the town would mean 81
per month. Supt Wright said tn
change could be made for $3.50, TO
which he would agree to take the con
tract He closed his address by speak
ing of the relative costs between main
E taing an incandescent lamp and ths
of the trimming and repairs to an ar
lamp.
The foregoing address made an i'm
preston on the Council as was mani
tested by the stiffness which marke
the occasion at the close.
Councilman FAIRIES, of the 5th dis
trict, arose to his feet and said h
thought it was retrogression instead {
:, progression. Our electric lights wer
= pride to the town and he was not i
favor of adopting the incandescent sys
tenn. If the present Helios lamp
=, didn't work satisfactory he thought an
= other kind of lamp should be institutes
sooner than do away with the arc sys
> tenn. He referred to the dimness c
:, the incandestent lamp and the dissatis
;, faction it would cause after little use
1t wouldn't cost tax payers, he said
more ten 10 cents per capita to maintai
= them.
u President Hoffecker, of the 4th distriC
: thoughtth council ought to look ahead
The expense was the most importar
. thing to be considered and in lookin
into the future with the heavy bonde
" Indebtedness the town was carrying
increasing every year by immense Goa
bills and the like, he feared what migI
g be the result upon future genera
, ations.
Councilman Robinson, of the It
district, talked on the arc light system
its present nuisance, the complaint {
} the people in his district and th
trouble they caused Supt. Wright i
keeping in order. To get the matte
u before the council he moved that th
- Town dispense with IS of the 20 al
lamps and that they be replaced by 9
q | s.,oo.. lon....A l-.--.--