The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-28
COST OF CITY LIGHT
Henry C. Scott Proposes Ad-
vance to 81 Per Month.
Is NOW LOSING MONEY
He Claims on Account of the
Price of Material.

At last nights council meeting a letter
from Henry c. Scott, president of the
Wichita Gas and Electric Light com
pany to Mayor Ross was read. Mr.. Scott
says that owing to the advance in price
Of carbon, copper and other materials
necessary in the operation of a plant it
would be necessary to advance the price
Of lights to 81 per month. Mr.. Scott says
the plant is being operated now at an
actual loss. His letter follows:
"St. Louis, No, Nov. q.
Hon. Finlay Ross, Wichita, Kansas:
MY Dear Sir-Our directors, who have
been looking over our recent reports at
Wichita, have once or twice reminded
me recently that owing to the very
great increase in the price Of copper,
carbons and other supplies which enter
into the operation and equipment Of cleo
trio plants, we are not only making moth
ing on the street lights furnished to the
city, but are actually losing money at
the present prices. 1 had myself noticed
these facts and, in fact, had spoken to
some of my associates about the ad-
vance in prices of the above mentioned
materials, and also Of the increased price
which we have recently been compelled
to pay for coal, owing to the general adj
vances made by all the coal companies;
but, hoping that the time would shortly
come when we would either be relieved
of the street lighting al Wichita, or the
city government would be in position to
make some fair arrangement with US for
this work, have let matters run along,
being DESTROYS as you no doubt know,
TO take no steps in this matter at cross
purposes with any Of your plans or those
of the gentlemen OF the council. There
seems now, however, to be no way Of de-
termining when the city will be in po-
sitiOn to deal with Us in this matter, and
! will therefore be obliged TO you if you
will take this matter up with the men,
bers Of the city council and let me know
whether, pending the arrival of the time
when the city win be able to take defin-
ite action for permanent arrangement,
1t viii be satisfactory for US to charge 81
per light per month for the arc lights
furnished the city. If this arrangement
is satisfactory, we will put the circuits
IN condition to at least temporarily take
care Of this business with safety, and,
If" order that no hasty action may be
thought to be taken by US, we viii agree
not to advance the price on arc lights
until January l, after which time, how
ever the price vii be 81 per month, the
arrangement running along from month
to month, as in time past; and, Of course,
If the city can secure other parties who
viii do this work at a lower price, or if,
has been suggested in your daily papers,
the city desires to construct its own plant
we will not only heartily sympathize In
this movement, but We will, without
charge to the city give it the benefit Of
the services of our superintendent and
city electrician during the time that the
plant is being erected and equipped, pro-
vided the city determines to do this work
for itself.
Please let me hear from you in reply
as early as possible. and oblige yours
truly, HENRY c. SCOTT,
President Wichita Gas, Electric Light
and Power Company"
r P Dodd. who has charge of the
Douglas avenue scales. reported that he
had weighed 403 loads of corn, hay and
oats in October.
A motion to add $1,000 to the appropria-
ton bill to pay for the alley on East
Douglas avenue between the Kellogg
Newspaper Union offices and the old City
mills carried. This property was con-
demned some time ago for an alley.
An ordinance raising the salary of city
electrician from $50 to $75 per month was
passed unanimously. This was done on
account of the increased amount Of work
recently heaped upon Mr. McVay, and
the raise should have been made a month
ago. Under this raise Mr. McVay must
devote his entire time to city work.
An ordinance was passed prohibiting
hucksters or others from peddIing fish or
game on the streets without paying a
license Of So for six months. but this
does not apply to persons who have an
established place of business for The sale
of such stun.
An item OF S2.70O was added to the gen
eral appropriation bin to pay the claim
Of Mary Weiss against the city for ir-
jury from a fan on defective sidewalk.