The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-09
TO LIGHT DERRING.
City Council Votes TO Make Contract
With New Company.
CULTIVATION OF LIVELY FIGHT
LAST EVENING.

New Concern Must Furnish Suitable Bond
10 Perform Its Part of the Contract
Hon. C. T. Libby of Portland Addresses
the BOARDING. More Brick Sidewalks
This Year.
The regular notify meeting of the
Deerlng city government was held last
evening. Mayor Moulton presided and
all of the aldermen were in attendance.
The principal business of the evening
was the consideration of the award of the
contract for the lighting of the city, by
electricity, for a period of years. The
opening session was devoted to the con-
sideration of the following matters:
Communication from George II. Libby
relative to the purchase of lot of land by
the city was received and filed.
The second reading and final passage
was given an order authorizing the loca-
ton of seventeen new hydrants in various
parts of the city.
Mr.. Il. @. Jordan of Portland appeared
before the aldermen and complained of
the construction of sewer on Mechanic
street as a result of which the cellar of
one of his buildings had been damaged
by the water backing upland flooding the
cellar. MIR. Jordan asked for the main
tenance of the old town sewage sys-
tenn. and that the catch basin on Deering
avenue be filed in, as the flooding of his
property was due to the faulty operation
OF the two systems of sewage.
The committee on laying out new
streets reported that Prowsland street
from Congress street, and one to be
known as Higgins street, from Brighton
street, should be built.
Order re-esta5lishing grade of Lincoln
street was given its first reading.
Alderman Hanson for the committee on
lights and water reported recommending
that contract be made with the West
brook Light and Power company; for the
furnishing Of the street lights of the same
ca ndle power as now in use. Contract to
run for three years, with a privilege to
extend the contract for period Of five
years, providing that six months prior
notice be given the company at the close
OF the three years COD tract, If it is desired
to renew the same. Lights to be paid for
at thu rate Of SIT per light for the year.
Alderman Dingley of the committee
on lights and water. offered as substi-
tute the following order; directing the
committee to make contract with the
Deering Electric company to furnish 273
or more 25 candle power incand escent
lights at the rate of S1495 per light for
one year. The lines to be ready to oper-
ate October LIST, said company to furnish
bond for the faithful performance of the
work. and if not ready for operation the
contract shall be given to the Westbrook
Electric Light company, the present COM
pany supplying the light. The vote was
lost by vote of to 3.
Alderman Dingley presented four
petitions signed by citizens of Daer1ng
asking the aldermen to give the contract
to the Deering Electric Light company,
believing that company composed large
ly of citizens should have the contract in
money saved to the city by making the
contract in this way.
Hon. Charles F. Libby, attorney for the
Sebago Power company, and the Deering
Electric Light company was given privi-
lege to address the board and make clear
erroneous impressions relative to the
ability OF the company to carry out con-
tract. Mr.. Libby was thoroughly CUES.
tfoned by the board.
Alderman Hanson, however, endeavored
at intervals to prevent the "giving Of
Light on the subject by moving to lay
the matter on the table.
Mr.. George W. Brown, manager of the
Deering Electric Light company, an
nounced to the aldermen that if they de-
sired to see just what was being done that
he would furnish a barge and take the
aldermen to the proposed power station
at Great Falls
Alderman Jacobs said that inasmuch as
the contracts of the Deering company was
5000 lower than that Of the Westbrook
company that he desired to look carefully
into the matter before voting.
The vote on the order of Alderman
Hanson to give the contract to the West
brook company was defeated: Aldermen,
Hanson, Farnham, Carter, Smith and
Lane voting yes and Aldermen True,
Dingley, Clay, Pickett, Wylnan and
J acobs voting no.
Alderman Hanson moved to lay the
matter On the table but no action on the
motion was taken at this point.
A Boston stakeholder of the Deering
company was present and gave facts rela-
tive to the financial condition of the COM
pany and its ability to carry out any and
all contracts. He further said that nego-
tiations were pending for bond with the
American Surety company of New York
as guarantee of good faith and ability
to carry ont the work.
Mr.. Brown announced if O bond was
not satisfactory he would deposit the
cash.
A motion to table the subject then pre-
vailed. by vote of to 3, with the
Understanding that the Deering company
snail produce bond within ten days