The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-03-07
CITY LIGHTS
DISCUSSED
Water Commission and COun-
eli Hold a Conference.
ESTIMATES WILL BE MADE
Council Accepts the Proposal OF
the Commissioners.
THE SPIT ORDINANCE WAS PASSED
Mayor Taylor VIII Sign the Measure
and II viii Go Into Effect Prob
ably on the Morrow.


mcnt. Friday night the common e"un-
ell mri last night In committee Of the
whole TO confer with the water commits
nlonern as TO the advisabili;y OF putting
In an electric light plan, ~ the water
works M.ssrs Dement, Parker and
Fisher. Of the commission. were absent
James W. Wcich presided. The request
of the commission for the conference
was read.
on behalf OF the commission, Judge
Bowlby stated what had been aEcer-
taincd es 70 the uucoS'srul operation
u an electric light plant The water
works has been 10 constructed said Mr.
Bowlby that from 90 10 so horse power
can be- obtained, He then rad the
report of Mr., Schuyler as 10 the extent
To which the power could bc developed.
The report shows that there IN sum
cicnt power 90 operate G0-llght plant.
lt II estimated IN the report that the
plant will cost $4,000 The monthly
expense of operation is placed al 'S9sJ0,
Commenting upon the report Judge
Bowlby said that the commission estt-
mates that this monthly expense can
be reduc,i TO $3.50 He said the water
commission did not wish 60 undertake
the lighting Of the city at cost 70
water consumers. but that they wanted
the council tn make an appropriation
The consumers are now paying for the
nru protection and We think they should
not ba made 20 bear the eNpense Of
lighting the city, II the council wiz
work with the commissioners we will
do all In our power 10 furnish the city
with lights.
MIR Bowlby then gave the probable
cost of the machinery necessary and
read the estimates from several cleo
trical and water power companies. He
also read a letter from Engineer Adams,
from which II appeared that thd plant
would pay for itself In three years.
From observations taken" said Mr..
Bowlby. ut appears that the water
supply does not quite come up 10 the
usual 1000 600 gallons In q hours during
a few weeks In summer. This would,
OF course reduce the power but at
all events power enough could be OBJ
iaincd for frty lights, At present We
are using only about one-eighth OF the
supply and no trouble is anticipated
In storing or holding in reservoir
enough water to operate 6Olight
plant during the dry weeks.
1.-THE question is, can we put in and
operate plant for less than 1t would
cost us II the contract We're let To
corporation? We think the city can
operate the plant for as little II not
less. than the cost 10 individuals; but
the commissioners do not feel justified
In attempting the operation Of a plant
unless the city Will agree to render
assistance"
| The representatives of the West
Shore Mills co. (which furnishes the
city with lights were called upon 90
explain the company's position. Mr.
Grant Trullinger called attention to a
proposition formerly made whereby a
50-light dynamo. poles, etc, excepting
a water wheel, were offered Nor sale.
For some reason the price asked was
not stated, but referred 20 as "a lump
sum, named, "
+. l., Parker then moved the com
mittee OF the whole recommend that the
commission employ electrical engineers
TO make an estimate of the expenses
Necessary to lighting the city Mr..
Thompson said there was no doubt
tha city sooner or later would have to
purchase It's own lights. but he thought
the Trullinger plant should be consid-
cred He wanted the commission to
make soma concession to the local COM
pany. Replying, Judge Bowby said
the commission was disposed to con
slider the Trulllnger plant, but he
thought II hardly right that the city
should pay any great amount more for
the 50-nght plant than 60-light plant
could be purchased for He also stated
that $4,000 worth Of good water pipe
was lying in a city warehouse-pipe
Just as good as new-and II $4,000
worth could be sold the plant could
be purchased with that money.
Mayor Taylor suggested that the mat
ter could be better handled II the prop
osition OF the commission 10 furnish
60 lights for $3.50 a month, read at the
last meeting. was taken up. He rec
commended an answer. McGrgor filed
notice OF his intention to oppose an
affirmative answer to the commission's