The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-07
STREET LIGHTING
Bids Called for on Seven Different
PROPOSITIONS

After the disposal of routine and minor
matters, the principal business of the ses-
sion was tackled In the report of the gas
and light committee, offering suggestions
as to the letting of the contract for light
ing the city's streets for one year from
January l. 1885, The report in full was as
follows
Your gas and light committee beg leave
to report, submitting for your approval
specifications for lighting the streets of the
city with electricity during the year from
January l to December 81, 1899, to-wit:
Your committee is actuated in taking up
the details Of next years contract in the
midst of the term Of the present contract by
recalling the severe criticism to which this,
as well as the preceding councils, have been
subjected by reason of failure 10 take action
herein until so late period as to reclude
the installment of a distributing system by
any company in competition with the pres
ent occupant of the field. With at least
three prospective bidders in the field at this
time your committee feel that the action of
your honorable body would be without war;
rant or excuse did you not take action in
the matter Of letting the contract for next
years lightin; early enough to afford an
outside bidder, should the contract be Sc
cured by SUCH ample time to install the nee
essary system.
Your COMMITTEES begs to remind your hon.
orable body of the imperative necessity of
providing every facility for active COMPETE
ton If 1t is your desire to secure In new
contract the desirable features of more
lights, an all-night service and reduced
price. Last year an earnest effort was made
bxyt tn fntr thae
lures by means Of provisions for twelve new
lights in each ward, continuous service until
midnight and a system for making deduc-
tons for lights not burning. 1t was then
positively stated by the Los Angeles Light
ing company that these requirements served
as a bar to any reduction of rates below
$3.50 per light per month. The appropriation
having been made for the fiscal year suffi-
cient funds were not available to meet this
cost hence your honorable body was reluct-
autly compelled to eliminate from the con-
tract all advanced and desirable features
in order to secure a rate of 50 per month. 1t
WAS the positive statement of the successful
and only bidder that this latter figure was
the lowest possible notch; that the dead line
Of ''cost Of production" had been reached.
u this was correct statement last year 1t
Is worthy OF all acceptation this year and
being fully aware that an increase of appro-
priation is not possible this year 1t becomes
apparent that to secure for the citizens Of
this city the progressive features they de-
mand, every facility must be afforded, so far
as time is concerned at least, for competing
companies to enter the field.
The experience OF last year sustaIns your
committee In the assumption that the ex-
pense entalled In the installation of asdis-
tributing system of poles and wires on the
basis Of only one years duration of contract
constitutes the major factor In sustaining a
high rate. We were told last year that the
extension to the present system required by
the addition Of twelve lights In each ward
contributed S. per cent of the $274S annual
difference between the $3.50 and 50 rate We
are called upon to supply large area of
| outlying territory with light; this obligation
is pressing and imperative. Under present
conditions the same barrier exists this year
as last. To meet this demand increased
| taxation Is necessary under present condi-
| lions.
| TO eliminate the very proper and neces-
sary charge made by bidders for the con-
| tingency of having ON hand at the end OF
| the year a system of poles and wires with
| out having secured renewal of the con-
| tract under which they. were erected only
one year before, as we'll as to do away
with the annual removal and resetting OF
poles and stringing of wires along the
streets of our city your committee beg