Smyrna times., 1897-02-03
TOWN COUNCIL PETITIONED.
A RemOustrance of Sixty Names In Favor
Of Maintaining our Arc Lights. Supt.
Wrights Plain Statement.

nlgnJ Win all present except PRESIDENT
John H. Hoffecker. In his absence
w. A. FAIRIES acted as chairman of the
meeting.
On motion Edwin R. Metcalf, for
merly the firm Spalding and Metcalf
were allowed $500 for their oil tanks
now used at the power house
The subject of buy of buying coal
for the town was next considered by
the council, and actively debated upon.
Supt. Wright who was present talked
of his visit to the Middletown plant
and the free use of the coal there. Re-
marks we're made by Boyer, Cosgriff,
Robinson, Cummins
Councilman Cosgriff, moved that the
Board advertise for bides on 600 tons
of Georges Greek coal, delivered as
needed. Carried.
The arc light system, which by this
time had become thoroughly agitated
about town was taken up. Council
man Boyer of the 3rd district, said he
would start the ball rolling by moving
that the motion made at the last meet
ing dispensing with IS arc lights be re-
scinded. Councilman Robinson of the
7th district, one of the champion agita-
tors of incandescent lights, quietly in
formed the gentleman that he was in
the minority, and could not make the
motion. This fell like a thud on the
energetic councilman and in endeavor-
ing to squirm out easy he moved
that the arc lights dispensed
with be replaced" " In doing this
he put his foot farther in it, when
Mr.. Robinson again opposed and
Mr.. Boyer seeing that he could
do nothing took his seat.
On motion of Councilman Moore, of
the 1st district, remOnstrance of fifty
or sixty names were read, opposing the
change made by the council, and ask
ing that the arc lights be maintained
DR.. Moore then asked if that WASH t
a fair representation of the taxables
Mr.. Boyer said that he understood
only three to whom the list was handed,
refused to sign it. No special ones
were picked out but it was handed
here and there as convenient.
After discussing the merits of the
remOnstrance, in which all the coun-
Gilman gave their opinion. Council
man Robinson took the floor and said
it would take a great deal to make him
change his mind in the matter ofincan-
descent lights. He believed the sys.
tenn of arc lights was wrong and he
verify believed if the town had 3O-3G
c. p. incandescent lamps in the place OF
these 10 arc lights, the people would
have better lights and more equally
distributed He said he was in the
council a servant of the people and he
intended to serve them to the best Oi
his ability. But if the people wanted
arc lights, he was willing to set aside
his feelings in the matter and vote tc
maintain them. Hedidn't, think though,
the remOnstrance was fair representa-.
tion of the taxables of the town and he
wanted to wait the ten days out to see
if there wasn't better expression pro
and con.
Councilman Moore, on the strength
of this, moved that the disposal of this,
be deferred until the next regular meet
ing night FRIDAY week extending the
tens days request made to President
Hoffecker in issuing orders to oul
Superintendent. Now that it had gone
so far he wanted the people to settle
the question and particularly urged that
two petitions, one for and one against
be solicited to gain the expression O
the tax payers. He also moved tina
the secretary write to those towns else
where using the HeliOs arc lamps t.
get an opinion as to their success
These motions were carried unnami
Ously by the council.
On motion of Councilman COseriff
Supt. Wrightwas allowed the privileg,
of the floor and gave a few practica
views on the system. He hooted tn,
idea that he was trying to get out O
labor and positively asserted he coulC
take care of the Helios lamps or any
other lamps. They all needed atten
tiOn and repair else the makers would
net send out repair sheet constantly
He told the board he wound his owl
magnets, which were more satisfactor,
J than buying them already wound and
that before he put up an arc lamp, i
was tested and tried at hepower house
In placing them on the street, ther,
were various causes to prevent then
from giving steady satisfaction. Som
times it was the resistance of the wire
sometimes a skunk box burned out,
wheel or magnet broke and many othe
little anOying things, but, he said,
can make all repairs and can attend I,
the arc lamps if the town wants then
on. 1t wasn't the work that caused
him to bring the matter before the peo
pie of Smyrna, but on the other han(
to save the town from expense. Re
ferring again to the arc lamps he sale
they represented 81 amperes and Will
the five off, ampers. There are 80 in
candescent lamps on the street anC
they represent amperes, 20-sixteenthi
to the amper. By distributing tn,
light, the town would be better salts
fed. The plant is carrying a load o
As amperes. You ask me to sollci
more business. To do this at tn,
present rate, it means q third fire,
third engine, dynamos and the running
the street circuit alone with the other
Both dynamOs can not be run at the
same time owing to different alternat
ing currents. Had both the same alter
mating we could readily doit. Neither
could he run the two engines and the
pumps at the same time. He showed
an incidence where the lights grew din
in just a few minutes pumping to fill
the boiler. In speaking of an incan
descent lamp for the street circuit ht
said he had looked into the matter anG
instead of going to the expense of buy