Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-04-28
Anril 81 $500

April p, 1899.
To the Editor:-Having heard so much
during the past week, since my return
from the West in regard to the bailitf
question, thought | would like TO set my
self right before the community as to the
action of myself and my associates on the
board, who agree with me as to the con-
tract for lighting the streets of the village
The facts are simply these: The con-
tract for the arc lights expired June 80,
1898, and the contract for the incandescent
lights will expire on the 3lst of December,
1899. Believing that a better contract
could be made, either with the home COM
pany or with other parties, if the whole
contract could be given at one time
and not divided, advised allowing the
contract for the arc lights to continue un-
ill the contract for the incandescent lights
should expire. This was not done, how
ever, without first asking the Gas Light
company if they would make us any less
price on the arc lights for the year and a
half, the balance of the contract on the in
candescent lights, but this they declined to
do. If we would renew the arc contract
for five years they were willing TO make a
discount at the rate of SO per lamp year
ly for those going out at II o'clock, and
SO per lamp yearly for the three or four
which are burned all night.
We also asked them to make PROPOSE
ton as to what they would do for 1900
candle-power arc light in place of the
2000 candle-power now in use, but this
they declined to do, unless the village
would agree to pay the cost of the change
which would be necessary in their machin-
cry, and which they estimated would be
al
guarantee to make any very great reduc-
ton in the cost of the 1900 candle-power
lamps from the cost of the 1000 candle
power now in use.
We have looked into this matter of
lighting pretty thoroughly, and are salts
fed that We are paying too much for the
service rendered. The question of trans
posing the arc lights to the incandescent
system, with the exception of those on
Main street, has been considered, and an
effort is being made to estimate the num-
Der of incandescent lights which would be
necessary to light the village satisfactory
~. This estimate has not yet been COM
pleted, so | am unable to state whether 1t
could be done at any less price than we are
now paying or not. l am certain, how
ever, that we would get better service; the
light would be better distributed, and when
the system was once installed l feel sure
the village would be better lighted than
now.
There are large number of applications
for new lights, some of which are absolute
ly needed but the Gas company decline to
put them in unless we can guarantee GER
tain number for a certain length of time.
We have all the incandescent lights that
can be run with the present machinery.
1t is impossible in communication of
this kind to cover the whole ground, but
can assure every one that what has been
done was with the best intentions, and
was what we believed to be for the best in
terests of the tax payers of the village. AS
one of the larger tax payers l am person
ally interested that not only the best SER
vice should be had, but also that the price
should be just as reasonable as possible.
Very respectfully,
JULIUS j. EsTEY.