The record-union., 1899-05-16
BIDS FOR CITY LIGHTING.
TRUSTEES NOT READY TO AD-
VERTISE FOR THEM.
Objection to Board of Hea1th's En-.
ployment of an Assistant
Sanitary Inspector.

All the members of the City Board oil
trustees We're present at the meeting
last night except Trustee Bentley.
T. SCHNEIDER appeared before the
BOARD and objected to the petition ne
understood was to be presented for IL
cense for saloon on the corner OF the
alley on Seventh sereet, between X ana
l., which he said was to have size
entrance and private stalls. His re-
monstrance was filed.
l.. I. Hatfield addressed the board,
saying that at the Oakland meeting OF
the State Christian Endeavor Society
the place of meeting for next year
would be set When it was held in this
city in 1895 5000 people visited the city.
Inls year Stockton and Santa Cruz are
making an active, canvass for the meet
ing. He hoped the board would adopt
a resolution presented by him extend
Ing a cordial invitation to the society
TO meet here and extending the cour-
tesles of the city to it. The resolution
was adopted
Mr.. Hatfield also addressed the board
regarding the contract for lighting the
streets. The present contract, he said,
expires July 1st, and the city should
take action toward making a new one.
Last year there We're various delays.
Specifications that were prepared sew
eral years ago have been used since
that time and We're he believed, salts
factory
DR.. Van Norden said that bids were
to be called for and his company was
TO be given a show. If that were to be
done three months at least should be
given for the Installation of the sys-
TEN, as there might be delays or rail-
road collision that would destroy the
machinery I'M transit. The penalty pre-
scribed in the past of ST a lamp for all
not IN place by a specified time would
be hardship to the Central Electric
company, as it has not at present the
necessary poles and wires in place.
Another factor that should be bid ON
was the use of power in bulk, which
would enable the city to do it's own
lighting and own its own poles and
lines. He thought that the city by this
method could get its arc lights at 81
per light, although he was doubtful as
TO the wisdom or economy of municipal
lighting, although many cities have
adopted it,
Mr.. Hatfield said that Dr. Van Norden
had used the same argument in favor
of delay. To accede to his proposition
would be to allow the various compa-
MES to determine whether they wished
to make a contract or not. In the case
of his own company, the forfeit was
fixed at 50 per lamp a day, but it did
not object, as it had time. He called
the attention of the Trustees to the
fact that two years ago DR.. Van Nor
den had asked sixty days time, but
when 1T was granted he did not bid
His company could bid tomorrow on
power in bulk just as well as to wait.
As for the company the speaker repre-
scented, it was now furnishing the lights
cheaper than the figure estimated by
DIR. Van Norden. and he asserted that
1t was furnishing light and power to
the city cheaper than it could be fur
nished by any means except electricity
DR.. Van Norden said he never agreed
TO light the city or claimed to be able
to do so with it's present convenienees
but he was willing at any time to fur
nlsh power in bulk. He claimed that
his company had given Sacramento the
cheapest light and power in the world
and that he could show figures to prove
it.
George w. Jackson said the Capital
Gas Company wished to bid, and was in
position to furnish the city with con-
tinuous light, having a steam plant
There would be no such trouble in its
case as there had been last summer
when there was a shortage of light. 1t
did object, however, to the penalty
which would be against it.
trustee Paine said the commit On,
asked for a weeks further time. not
because of the reason advanced for OF
against either of the parties, but for
the reason that the committee was
ngurlng on the cost of poles and wires
for the city to do it's own lighting. He
did not know that any of the competing
companies have done such wonderful
things for the city.
On motion of Trustee Devine the
committee was granted a weeks f,1r-
Their time.
Trustee Paine said that he did moi
like to object to improving Fifteenth
street, from P to @. but money is very
low IN the treasury and the city viii
have to pay half the cost of improve
ment
Mayor Land being called on for his
opinion, said that the treasury was very
low and the board should go carefully
for the present
Trustee Tebetts said that citizens in
the vicinity of the P-street plaza want
the street improved. He did not believe
the board should force citizens to mort
gage their property to improve their
streets and then "crawfish" out of i'm
proving the street in front of it's prop
erty.
Trustee Douglas thought that $500
would not bankrupt the city, and il
should not sneak out of improving the
street after forcing people and compel.
ing them to improve their streets and
sidewalks.
Trustee Brown said that the improve
ment of the street would Encourage al
the residents of that part of the city
to begin the Improvement of the streets
He favored the improvement
Trustees Paine and Dolan thought the
street should be improved
Trustee Kent thought if the board
would do away with some of the walk
ing statues that draw fat pay enough
money could be saved to improve tht
street
Trustee Dolan moved the adoption o,
the resolution to improve the block
and 1t was adopted unanimously.
President Mckay said that if there
were useless men in positions, drawing
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