The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-05-05
THE WATER COMMISSION.
Regular Meeting for May-Bills Paid
New City Lighting Proposition.

Al tue regular molthly meeting 0r
the city water commission. held last
night. there was a fun attendance OF
members. After the reading OF the min
utes uhe following bills were audlssd
and allowed: Repairs to conduit, S5.s5;
distribution system. 81; pipe line road
repairs. ss.35; reservoir No. .. s15.9s;
general expenses. S2O5; office expenses.
1850; legal services. $40; sundry bills.
slO76l total. S43lss.
A communication was then read from
the eoElmit;ea on streets and public
ways OF the city council, which was
placed on file. The document was an
interesting one, and speaks for itself:
Hon. W. ". Parker. President. AMI
Members of the Astoria Water Commis-
sion-Gentlemen: A short time ago the
common council agreed to make an al
iowance OF $3.50 per month to you for
the furnishing of not over 50 eleotric
street lights. in accordance with propo-
sltion submitted by you. Power for
generating was to be taken from the
supply mains of the water works
through wheel. The expense neces-
sariiy to attach to an undertaking OF
this magnitude We assume is to be de-
frayed by an extra issue Of bonds OF
some $4,000, thus apparently increas-
ing the interest burden upon the tax
payers, but in reality only increasing
the bonded debt, for future generations
to liquidate.
At the time the council agreed to.
make the allowance above mentioned.
1t was burdened with a very expensive
lighting system. aggregating, ON a 60
light basis $3.50 per month, and in Us
interest towards economy sought your
assistance, with good results. Now
comes the West Shore Mills Co, with a
proposition to increase their presen.
lighting plant to 80 lights. and making
monthly charge of $3.50, viz:
Astoria Or, April 20, 1897.
To the Members of the Common Coun-
Gil of the City of Astoria-Gentlemen
We will give a good and sufficient bond,
or guarantee. that we will enter into
a contract with the city of Astoria to
light the city for the same amount o.
money, and the same number Of arc
lights that is proposed by the water
(60) arc hghts-the
same as we have run for ten years, for
the sum of three hundred and fifty dbl
lars. for the period of one year or more.
WEST SHORE MILLS co.
]. C. TRULLINGER. President
Gentlemen. this new proposition. we
think. comes in very opportune time.
You have had prepared plans and speci-
fications and invited bids thereon, and
We should be pleased to have you COM
pare same with the above proposition
and see If the city will not be served
just as economically under it; you, the
be relieved of a heavy
burden by it and the bonded INDEBTED
ness not increased through It. The valu-
able information you have accumulated
relating to the subject need not be lost
and can be brought into service at any
time when there appears to be any in,
tentfon 10 overcharge for the service.
This matter has not been brought be-
fore the council, as no meeting has been
held since the same was presented, but
1t will be placed before that body at
Its regular meeting next Friday night,
and 1t is our plea as members thereof,
and as committeeman under whom the
street lighting comes, that you delay
all matters pertaining to the "city fur
Mining its own lights" until after that
at which time, we trust, the
council will suggest retaining the pri-
vate plant for term of years.
Very respectfully yours.
FRANK L. PARKER,
H. C. THOMPSON,
T. SIVERSON,
Committee on Streets and Public Ways
of the Astoria Common Council.
Astoria, Or, May 4, 1897.