Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-06-11
UNION Lrour ASp rowrnconrANr

when, somewhat more than year
aro, the consolidation wis Effected ny
which was created tho Union L'Eht
and Power company. predictions were
made and published Co the eject tNAt
tho moycmcn, would result In the op-
precision ~ the people ~ this city ny
an incrcase IN the rates charged Tor
electric lighting Ems and power the
company WIS said to be- trust ANA
tho usual objections 90 trusts were
urged against q. while "a portion oi
tho press and business men ~ the city
took this yicw. q reverse opinion widely
prevailed. The "Nrwr" expressed tho
belief IN oncci. that the Organization
Of the Union Light and Power COM
many would prove o. be- n hcnchccnt
thing for this community. and q LARGE
proportion ~ thc business men ana
propcrty-owners N this city SHARED the
same faith. witch was based largely ON
tho character. reputation and past
course ~ the men who were 10 control
Of the now and mammoth concern
Anpic tlmo has now elapsed since
the Union company began prnciicii
operations In this city 60 fuzzy demon
atrato what HH policy really %. aud ~
figures comprise the strongest sort Of
arguments In "a case of this kind. few
Will be given. The company actually
began business In November l1ri' ANA
AZ every meeting " tho directors held
since then thc question " che greatest
reductions that could Do made in the
rates for lighting has been discussed
the purponc being 10 mako thvm as
low ~ possible. a. length. at o. mcrt-
INK ~ the directors hold lnst month";
cut ~ % per cent an along the line was
ordered.
before the Union company began
business. and up % last month. the
rnac charged for residence lighting was
twenty cents per unit ur one cent per
amporc hour. since the cut the rate II
nficcn cents per unit, or thrcc-fuurthH
81 cent per ampero hour. unirr the
old schedule tho rates Tor commercial
are lighting were 81, SO ana q per
month. according 60 the number ~
hours. Tho present schedule is 20 per
cent less. or ui25. $3.50 and g. Prior
to making lta present contract with tho
Union company, tho city was paying
5000 per month FOR street llFhta; now
Il IL paying &c. Formerly the minimum
charge a. any customer Tor llghting
was $3.50 per month. this has been re-
duccd 90 81 per month. an important
consideration 20 hundreds Of poor fam.
tiles.
Tho facts relating 20 the lighting oi
the ftrcota Of this city. and the manner
Ia which an oncrous contract o. hoing
lived up 60, reflect the highest credit
upon tho Union company The clty
furnished the company plot uu which
were indicated the points nt which
llrhtu were 90 be located. In many ln'
stances half mile ~ poles ana wiz,
had TO be erected 30 feed "a single lght
In the south aud southeastern pnrtipni
OF the city particularly the lights ar
far apart. ana taking the city ua d
whole IL exceeds any other ln I'M
United States In tho extent of are.
lighted In proportion 10 tho number %
lights put up. This condition. combine,
with the extremely low figure nt which
tho street lights are being furnished
has bcon very burdonfomc 90 the com
pany, but n has fulnllcd % tho ven
letter the most oxaotlng stlpulatnns 20
its contract with the city, including th
free lighting " public bulldiurH an.
grounds.
The uniform policy Of the director
Of the Union company has been broa
and liberal towards the public. a
great cost 10 the company and Will
no immediate prospect NJ rimhuuH
ment. they have caused 10 bg mad
marked improvements IN the fpryic
the company b. furnishing Goo its pat
rons II can Doe said ana ubuudauu
verified that the Follcitulr OF the a.
rectorH FOR the Interests ~ thCI
patrons and Of the public generally
sincere and genuine, The dircutuut
embraces men who have done ns muo
~ any others that could Doc name
for the welfare ana building up ~ m.
city and the entire state, aui they ar
not the men 10 puruc o. narrow Oh
selfish policy
Respecting the matter uf muFhu
natural EBH, thaw b. thIs Co hH rl.d
The gus wells have failed tp meet M
demands upon them. uui tho Uuwuu
has been Obliged to mako up 900. a..
nclency Boy providing mluufa..u"
coal gus Tho amount M thH latter hH
exceeded our-huu che totl amour
consumed Boo tha city since tbH IuIn
company began business y.t it hl
been furnished ut thH price charged n
natural gas namely, 90 cents p.r lu
fept The loss tl Dine y.mUIuN B