Rock Island Argus., 1899-01-31
COUNCIL ON LIGHTS.
The Combination System is
Unanimously Fa.
vored.
A VISIT TO THE TEST TOWER

City OmcIaIs and Citizens Alike I'm
pressed with the Efficiency of the
Proposed Plan of illumination - Re
marks Before the Observation-Disclosures
From the Seventh Ward.
The combination system of high
and low lights was unanimously V
adopted by the city council at a spe-
cial meeting held last night to give to
this i'm mportant question further con-
sideration and to hear the expressions
of citizens as to their preferences
Mavor Medill, the aldermen, S. S.
Davis, general manager of the Peo-
pies Power company, and a delega-
tion of citizens, the majority of the
latter from the Seventh ward, after
the convening of the council, and
upon announcement of 4 recess, took
street car excursion to the west end
of town to inspect the operation of
the tower located at Sixth street and
Fifth avenue to demonstrate the
merits of illumination by high lights.
The result was a revelation to those
who had not visited the locality be-
fore since the tower was erected.
The territory for three blocks on
either side was brightly lighted, the
com bination producing a brilliant ef-
feet. In certain localities where. ow-
ing to obstruction, the tower illumi-
nation does not penetrate, low light
has been placed.
Aldermen Reassemble.
On the reassembling of the council
remarks were called for in regard
to the opinions formed by the inspec-
ton. Aid. Maucker said he had been
opposed to the introduction of the
com bination system owing to the utter
failure of the towers some years ago.
but only two lights were on each
tower then, and the elevation was %
feet higher then than now, when the
tower had six lights, which were assist
ed by low lights, which were not used
under the former arrangement. He
believed the plan recommended by the
fire and light committee would give
to Rock Island the best and most per-
feet system of illumination of any
city of the state, and he would there
fore support its adoption. Similar
remarks were heard from Aids. Gall
Lawhead, Beck and Soderstrom.
Mayor Medill said the council de
sired that the people be heard on tn,
into, the contract would hardly b,
changed for five years. O. p. OF
son, F. NJ. Sinnet, Ferdinand Bein anC
other Seventh ward citizens spoke, al
| favoring the combination plan. but il
was felt by Mr.. Olson, since the Seventh
embraced considerably more territory
than the other wards, this condition
should have bearing when the time o
locating the lights arrived.
| Mayor MediIrs Opinion.
Mayor Medill expressed himself a.
favoring the high and low lights. II,
said the officials had given the matter
no little amount of study, the fire anC
light committee having made toul
Iof different cities, and reached the
conclusion that it was the best anC
most economical means of furnishing
public illumination. He ventureC
the statement that, once enjoying the
com bination system, there would 5t
no city in the west better lighted thar
Rock Island.
| Aid. Pender, a member of the fire
and light committee, was also of the
belief that the high and low light:
working together would provide tn,
best that could be had.
On motion of Aid. Winter it wa:
Unanimously voted the sense of tn,
meeting that the combination system
be adopted. The Peoples Power
company will Immediately order ma
terials for the towers, and it is ex
pected the contract will be entered
into between the city and the com
pany at the regular session of the
council next Monday night, when the
fire and light committee will submit
its final report.
The delegation from the Seventh
/ ward was carried down and taker
home in a special train furnished by
Tri-City Railway company. Aids. Law
head and Soderstrom being the host:
| of the occasion.