Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-14
new CASTLES HOT FIGHT
The Question Of Street Lighting Settled
Last Evening.
ARC LIGHTS To BE INTRODUCED
Will be Burning Within Three
Weeks.

Special correspondenceot Gazette and journal
New Castle, Jan. City Councils
adjourned session, held last evening,
was intensely interesting. All the
members were present. The Council
chamber was thronged and 100 citizens,
who could not obtain admission, were
assembled in the vicinity.
President Morrison announced that
. Council had met for the purpose Of
considering the question Of street
lighting, and asked whether any citi-
zen desired to make statement.
President Shaw of the New Castle
Gas Co. "Where do you propose to
get money for electric lightsf"
Mr.. Pagan 1--WE do not have to pay
for electric lights; we haven't got them
yet" (Applause
Mr.. Shaw. "What lights do you
propose to use?''
Mr.. Pagan "Arc lights exclusively.
Mr.. Shaw: "You understand that
We have contract for lighting the
city for the ensuing year. F"
Next the gas company's bid and pro-
test were read. The amount Of the bid
was $1,000. The accompanying COM
N unication insisted ON the continuance
of gas light.
Mr.. Pagan: 81 do not see in the
protest anything that is binding on
Council. "
The contract which expired on No
vember LIST last was read.
Treasurer King of The Wilmington &
New Castle Electric Railway Go. asked
that the other bids be read.
The bid of the Wilmington City
Electric Co. was opened. 1t was
falI
electric lights, S125 each per year;
l,2Oo-cand power lights, SlO0 each
per year.
The Wilmington & Nsw Castle
Electric Railway Co. agreed to fur
nish 25 electric lights of 1000 CANDLE
power each for 50, 900.
Mr.. Shaw: "You will find this
shady town; you cannot light it.
Mr.. Cooper: $50 make the question
debatable move that the bid OF the
Wilmington & New Castle Electric
Railway Co. be accepted.
Mr.. Shaw: "You will find that il
will cost you $4,000 per year. How
are you going to pay it?"
MIR. Harrington: 81 am poor. but
would willingly pay from So to $40 per
year extra for electric lights"
Mr.. Cooper: 81 would like to know
why we should and how we can pay
So. ZOO.
Mr.. Harrington: 81 am not under
| obligation to any person. l work for
living" Applause.
| Mr.. Shaw: 'You work for the rail
way company.
Mr.. harrington: 81 was the lowest
bidder" (Applause.)
| Ex-Councilman Etchell: "If 81, 500
per year is too much for gas we cannot
pay more money"
President Morrison: ~ am opposed
to increasing the taxation. "
Mr.. Etchell: when | was in Coun-
Gil we were in the SOUP and you will
be in the SOUP"
President Morrison: when en- tered
| Council we were in the SOUP but
now we do not owe cent" Zap
plause.) .....
Mr. Pagan: "If citizens are going to
oppose movements designed to improve
the city we should fence it in. white-
wash it and give it to somebody for
Christmas gift"
| Mr.. Shaw: 81 would like to know
where you are going to raise the
| moneys
Mr.. King Twenty five arc lights
will be 10 times better than the gas
lights. and will cost only $500 adj
ditional. II short time the popu-
lation will be doubled, and the taxa
tion will be reduced. If the gas com.
pany had not had opposition il would
have charged 81, GOO this year.
Mr.. Cooper, in response to the re-
quest of Mr.. King, Withdrew his
motion.
The names OF 100 property owners
who favor electric lights were read.
Next Council unanimously voted 10
favor of electric lights, and the con-
tract was awarded TO the Wilmington &c
New Castle Electric Railway Co.
Superintendent Miller of the railway
company says the electric lights will be