The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-27
Portland Electric Light
Co. Gets Other.
An Interesting Meeting of City
Fathers.

session again last evening to consider
again the old question Of making con-
tract for the lighting Of the city streets
by electricity. The interest in the meet
Ing seemed to be greater even than at the
time of the preceding meeting, The au-
dience Tot only filed the available seats,
but extended ont into the corridors. An
air of excitement and expectancy per-
vaded the assemblage, and the private de-
bates between members OF the audience
were numerous and animated as they
waited for Mayor Robinson's gavel to
call the board to order. The gayel had
not fallen long before 1t was very evident
| that the two boards were headed for an
other deadlock. One councilman de-
clared, after the aldermen.had passed the
order calling for new bids, that he had
come prepared to stay all night. This
sentiment met with general approval
from his associates.
Perhaps 1t was this general spirit
abroad among the city fathers that eau sed
the agreement which was finally reached
to be made on the basis of giving the con-
tract for lighting one half Of the city. to
the Consolidated Electric Light company
and for lighting the other half to the
Portland Electric Light company.
THE BALL BEGINS.
The main business of the meeting be-
gan when Alderman Dow presented the
following order:
Ordered, that all bids presented for
lighting the city by electricity be and
| hereby are rejected. Also that the Joint
standing committee on lights be and 1t is
hereby directed to ask for new sealed
bids TO- light the streets, parks, squares
and public buildings Of the city OF Port
land. by electricity for a term of two
years from the expiration of the present
contract for lighting namely, from No
vember /, 1889, as follows:
Bids to be furnished for furnishing, In
stalling and caring for not less than two
hundred and fifty 1900 candle power arc
lights ana such number Of 65 candle pow
er and 81 candle power incandescsnt lights
as the city may require.
Also, any additional electric lights,
which the city may require during the
said two years. to be furnished at the
same rates named In the lids as submit
ted. Also, all other electric current re-
quired by the city for said term at price
| to be named per 1000 waite.
The city to have the right to renew any
| contract 1t may make under the terms Of
this order for an additional Ieriod of two
years at the same rates
Any contract to be entered into with
any conlI any upon the basis of the bids
herein asked for to be subject to ali rsa-
sonabio conditions and restrictions which
the city may impose.
All bids to state the price for each
light per annum during the said two
years and the price to be the same for
each year.
All bids TO be presented SO as to be
pened BY the committee Thursday, Sep
temer 2Sth, at o'clock p. M.
The city to reserve the right to reject
any and all bids.
Mr.. Dow said that the making of q
contract for gas lights had SO modified the
existing conditions that the old bids were
not, SO far as one company was con-
cerned at least applicable TO the present
situation. 1t seemed also that five years
was too long time for contract, and
that the period of two years would be
better.
MIR. Merrill siad that he was in favor
Of any fair proposition to settle the ques-
ton. On general propositions he WAS not
In favor of a long contract. A short
contract with option of the city to renew
was better than long one with option
TO cancel. OF course the call for new bids
might be considered hardship on the
| companies; but the city had right to
ask for the lowest bids; and he should
| vote for the order. and for accepting the
lowest responsible bid.
The question was then put ON the order
and it rassed without formal division,
saven voting for it and two against 1t,
Msssrs. johnson and Frye against it.
The aldermen then nonconcurred In
order sent up by this council ct the preyi-
GUS nesting. providing for the one year
contract with the Portland Electric Light
company. Al soon as this action was
communicated tn the lower board, they
insisted on their order, and Messrs.
Cloudy, Wilson and Connolly were APP
pointed committee to confer with a
coinmittse Of the upper board. and