The herald., 1898-05-26
MUNICIPAL Lighting
PLAN 10 HAVE THE CITY OWN
I'm DHsTRIBUTINa SYSTEM


whether or not to recommend that the
city take hold Of the business Of lighting
its streets. at least In part, by putting up
its own poles ana wires2 and calling for
bids on supplying lamps and power, Is a
question at present agitating the gas and
light committee OF the city council. Sew
eral Of the members are strongly In favor
OF the city's putting up its own lines. the
plan outlined being about as follows;
There are at present about 45S lights
paid for by the city at the rate of 80 each
Der month, total cost Of something like
$4,000 per year.
Any company that owns the system for
street lighting has tremendous advan-
tage over competitors when 1t comes to
bidding on the next years contract For
the new bidder must. II successful. run
his lines. erect his poles, etc., at frst
cost Of moro than half the entire amount
paid him by the city for years service.
should he he so fortunate as to secure the
contract Then, too, the law binders COM
petition. because II provides that street
lighting contracts shall not endure more
than one year. This forces the outside
bidder to talde chances on losing a good
portion OF his investment, even If he
should secure one years contract, because
he might not be a. successful next year.
To obviate this 1t Is proposed to adver-
tise for bids six months in advance, that
the successful bidder may be prepared for
business by the first OF January, 1899. But
the plan of the oity's owning its own poles
and wires, which can be used by any COM
pany, seems to be the one most favored.
Members Of the committee have consulted
the city electrician and the representatives
of electric companies, all of whom declared
the scheme entirely feasible, and further
more. that the city could thereby save 80
per cent of its cost for lights. There could
be free competition for supplying the cleo
trio current and furnishing the necessary
lamps. for the reason that there are two
new companies entering the city, whose
power Is derived from water sources in the
mountains. Besides these there are the
four local electric companies. The only
expense the bidder would be put to would
be to connect its wires with the city's
system at one central point, furnish the
number of lamps required and estimate the
cost Of maintenance, which Is very low in
deed. Arrangements would also be made
for extensions. This plan prevents any
monopolizing OF this very important con-
tract
Over a year ago City Electrician Francis
proposed that the city put up its own poles
and wires. but the proposition met with a
cool reception. Now he has been asked to
make an estimate of the cost of putting In
a system of fifty or sixty-foot poles of
wood in the residence district and orna-
mental iron posts in the down town or con-
duit district A duct in one of the conduits
already laid can be rented by the city, each
franchise containing that provision. Mr..
Francis is now figuring on the proposition,
but is unable yet to offer even rough es-
innate of probable cost.
A great reduction in the cost per lamp
would be effected by this scheme-so great
that many more lights could be provided
for the money now devoted to that pur-
pose. In Sacramento last Monday bids for
street lighting were opened and the old
company, which had had the contract, bid
50 per lamp for midnight service and SO
per lamp for all-night service, The new
company, which has lately come into the
field, offered to give the same service at IS
and $6.15, respectively. From this it would
seem probable that, with its own poles and
wires, the city could get lights at the most
for s. per lamp per month.
The councilmen have arranged, II the
plan is adopted, for twenty additional
lights in each ward, and for six lamps
where the tall masts now stand with but
three lights. There are thirty-three of
these masts, which would mean ninety
nine additional lamps, or a total Of 2.9
lamps in addition to the ASS already estab-
Used. Even then the total cost, it
is estimated, will fall $1,000 per
month below the present expense,
or an amount sufficient to pay interest on
necessary bonds to build the system and
to create sinking fund to pay of the
bonded Indebtedness at maturity.
Although the plan is apparently not only
feasible but eminently saving and prac-
teal, there Is no doubt that it will not get
through the council In rush or without
opposition. While the majority of the
councilmen favor the measure there are a
couple who say that they want more
light" on the subject before they can pro-
nounce either for or against it. Again there
Is the estimate of the electrician as to the
cost of the plant, yet to be received.
When the contract is advertised for
street lighting, as it doubtless will be
within fortnight, 1t will probably provide:
First-For supplying the city with light
under present conditions. but for 279 addi-
tional lamps at specified locations.
Second-It will call for bids for con-
struction of complete distributing system
for lighting the city with 1871 lights.
Third-1t will call for bids for necessary
current to operate the system for one
year: for it's maintenance for year.
This is the plan as now matured by the
city council, subject to such changes as
may be hereafter deemed necessary.
TODAY'S ELECTION