The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-21
SHALL IT BE DIVIDED.
Gas Committee Is Puzzled About Its
Specifications.


The conference between tie council
subcommittee on gas, consisting OF Ala.
DonahoWer and ASSemblymen Thomp-
son and Albrecht and the board of
public works took place yesterday att
ernoon, instead Of last evening, as at
first intended.
The conference did not result in
much progress, though the committee
decided to recommend certain amend
ments to the specifications, regarding
the testing of electric, gas and gaso-
line lights, and the penalties to be I'M
posed in case they are found deficient
in candle power.
The committee was unanimous in its
Endorsement of the plan proposed by
the board of public works, which pro-
vides for putting in 1853 arc lights, that
is, 245 arcs in additional to the la now
in use. The plan submitted by the
board of public works has already been
set forth by the G / o b e. In addition
to the present business district, the
specifications call for bids for arc lights
on University avenue out to Dale
street. on Rice to Front street, on
Como avenue to Western, on Payne
avenue from Beaumont to Lawson
street. on East Seventh and East Sixth
streets to Hope, on West Fifth to Third
street, on Sixth street to Summit ave-
nue., on st. PeCef TO leHIH, anu Olt
Wabasha to Tenth.
After some discussion it was decided
to amend the specifications by elimi-
mating the section calling for bids for
gas lamps within any portion OF the
enlarged electric light district proposed,
Upon the question of the manner Of
subdividing this arc light district, in
order to secure competition Wnen the
city advertises for bids, the members
of the committee could not agree. Aid
Donahower was not satisfied with the
wording Of the boards recommended
ton outlining what is known as dis
trict No g. This includes the business
district generally, except that it does
not take in Seventh street. AT present
the st. Paul Gas Light company is
lighting Seventh street with arc lights,
but it is doing so voluntarily, this thor
oughfare not being included within
district No. 2, where the company
agreed to furnish arc lights for 5000
a year. Aid. Donahower insists that
Seventh street must be included with
in district No. 2. Assemblyman
Thompson wants electric lights on East
Seventh and East Sixth streets as far
east as Hope street, and in this the
other members of the committee think
that he is asking too much.
There was some discussion over the
The specifications as drawn imposed
on the common council the duty of au-
thorizing tests, but the committee
amended the Specifications so as to en-
power the board of public works to
make two tests year, one in the sum-
mer and one in the winter, at such time
as the board might see fit. By this
plan, the contractor furnishing the
light would have no warning when a
test was to be made. In the case OF
gasoline lamps the specifications pro-
vide the fines and penalties attending
a failure to furnish the specified can
die power. Penalties will also be pre-
scribed for similar failures of the gas
and electric lights.
The specifications for gas as recon-
mended by the committee, will reserve
the right to the city to discontinue the
use of gas lamps on any street or part
thereof at any time.
The specifications covering the cleo
trio lighting, provide that the success
full bidder shall be given a ten-year
franchise to do commercial lighting.
This provision was made to secure
competition.
The members of the committee and
the board informally discussed the pro-
position advocated by Assemblyman
Albrecht, that the city own and operate
it's own electric light plant. Mr.. Al