The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-05-15
LONG TALK OVER
ELECTRIC lights
Council PostpOnes Action In the Matter
For Three Weeks.
THERE WERE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Some Of the Councllmeh Insisted That
There Should be a Charter Behind the
Application For Right Of way
For Poles and Wires.

lOuHeu Sc6SlOu ldab ulBubi ~ DclnR Close upon
midnight when the gavel Of the president
fell finally and the members started for their
respective homes. The Counclmen in
attendance were Messrs. Mcclure, Coakley
Lally Boehm, Magarge Shoemaker, D. r.
James, Straughn, Englert Gable, Reese and
Hand
The star event Of the evening was another
lengthy discussion over electric lights in
which NJ. NJ. Burke, Esq, representing the
proposed new electric light company got into
very warm exchanges with several of the
members. The ball was opened by d. r.
James stating that the lamp and watch com
mittee had met Messrs. Burke, Fmney
Malone and others representing the new
company and the latter requested that
Council defer entering into contract
for street lights until they complete their
plant and have chance to bid. Also that
whether they get the contract or not for the
arc light, they be given the right of way to
put in poles and wire for ipcandescent and
commercial lighta. This right they wanted
Immediately.
Mr. Lally moved that the right Of way be
granted
Mr.. Gable objected He stated that the
Borough Solicitor had drawn up a bond in
conformity to the statements made by Mr.
Burke at the last meeting and the company
had refused to sign the bond
The bond was read by tile secretary. It
contained the following, to which Mr. Burke
made a vigorous objection And in consid-
Grafton of which right the said NJ NJ Burke
and sundry other persons associated with
him have agreed to and with the said
Borough of Shenandoah to introduce a better
and cheaper electric light for the lighting Of
the public streets of said borough for the
term Of one year or more than that now
furnished, or will in the future be furnished
by the Citizens Electric Light Company of
Shenandoah ON competitive bid" The
bond was in the sum of $4,000 and provided
that should the company fail to furnish a
better or cheaper light it would pay the
borough all damages it might sustain.
Mr.. Burke S point in ohieciing to the bond
was that his company didn't propose to bind
itself to furnish better light than the old
company would for all time to come This
would be unreasonable, he said, as the old
company might make this impossible by
adopting improved methods.
Mr.. Gable said that to eliminate the part
in the bond to which Mr.. Burke objected
would destroy the whole bond because it
was the only clause which was a safe guard
against the new company consolidating with
the old company and raising the price in the
future.
Mr.. Mcclure said the members Of the new
company were reputable and responsible men
and he did not see why bond should be
required of them No bond had been re-
quired in such cases in the past
d. r. James did not think it safe to give
rights of way to any company not having a
charter and he could not see why the matter
could not be delayed until charter could be
secured.
Mr. Hand echoed the sentiments of Mr.
Mcclure.
Mr. Boehm thoughts charter should be
secured before rights of way are granted, and
as to the bond he said it was prepared ON the
proposition made by Mr. Burke at the last
meeting.
Mr.. Reese was opposed to the granting Of
the right on the same grounds.
Mr. Burke, in reply to the several state
ments made, said the people he represented
We're of character that he could not allow
their motives to be impugned He became
emphatic in his remarks and President
Straughn interpOsed the remark that Mr.
Burke had not been given the privilege oi
the floor for criticism. Messrs. Gable and
Reese got into close quarters with the lawyer
as to remarks made.
Finally Mr.. Burke said he would admit
that he had made an error at the last meeting
when he offered to furnish a better street
light than that now furnished but he would
still guarantee a cheaper one, without re
ducing the quality of the light. IF the
members of Council don't see ft to give us q
chance to bid foI the lighting of the streets
then give us an opportunity to pole and lin,
the streets to put in incandoscent and com
mercial lights" said Mr.. Burke in conclu
sion.
1t was finally decided by vote of @ to t,
lay the matter over for three weeks, the idei
being that by that time the new company
will have received its charter and be in
better condition to receive rights Of way
| Messrs, Lally, Mcclure and Coakley asked
that their votes be changed to the atirma
tive
A proposition from the Citizens Electric
Light Co. was likewise disposed Of
Mr.. Boehm stated that the Thomas Goa
Company had stopped the borough from usinD
the stone quarry at the north end of Maii
street.
Mr., Reese, of the Fire Apparatus Com
mittee, stated that the committee and Colum
bia and Rescue trustees had met and nomi
mated Chief Fire Marshal and Secoul
Assistant The Phoenix Fire Company still
refused to cooperate and he wanted Council
to act in the matter. 1t was decided that tn
secretary write to the Phoenix officers am,
notify them to appear at the next Counci
meeting and state why they won't 20 int
the organization.
A fire plug at Turkey Run was reported on
Of service
The discussion on the grade of the side
walk in front Of the Armour market o
Centre street was re-opened and disposed {
by motion that a common sense grade b
made there.
The grade Of the Holman and PURGE
properties on West Cherry street was ais
taken up aud by motion the Chief Burge,
was instructed to notify Mr. Purcell to pu
his pavement down TO grade. The Boroug
Surveyor said it was from to 7 inches to
high,
The grade of East Centre street, betwee
Union and limerick streets, was also di
cussed with the surveyor and resulted in
motion that the street committee cut tn
street down to grade and the Chief Burgef
notify the Lakeside Railroad Company I
lower its track.
! The street and surveys committees weI