The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-05

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Judge Eo.ssr replisd shat shJ wsisbacl
company had eostrscssa TO haze los iishsl
bnrning on Novsmbsr ist bit had mol
got them burning until November 7th,
and some not until the 10TH he though,
some people were going Quito their way
to md fault with the new electric light
company. Judge Foster said the strike
in New York had delayed the new COM
pauy IN erecting lite poiss. He said the
Consolidated company should have begun
their lighting Of he oily October LIST, 1855,
but they did ut actulsiiy begin lighting
tbs entire city as they bad oontrsctsd.te dc
until May LIST. In this time the city paid
out $1,000 70 light the city while they
got ready t. carry ous their contract.
This amount had never been paid tho
city BY the Consolidated.
Judge Foster faid this order before the
board Offers 70 nay for all the lights from
this ting until the new company is pre-
pard TO tin the contract. The Consoli-
Gated c9mpsnJ took eight months to
carry ont Their contract and this company
is TAXI Ii eig,t days and there is q howl
OF protest because they do this. This
company Is reducing your expenses two
thirds for ftr,et lighting and 10 takes
timsfor tpssm to do this work. In ten
day thas company will be ready to 20
ahead and light the entire city but Presi-
dent Brown says It will be seven days.
judge Foster said the nsw company
hgI been delayed By orders introduced in
tie board Of aldermen. Ten or fifteen
times poles mad to be changed from one
Ode OF street TO another and each time
IL required y fourteen days notice to do
this.
the city electrician whose Judgment / do
not ss,ail. These and many other dilli-
culties have been surmountsd. Loop altar
loop has had to DO changed. Regarding
this letter Of Capt. Brophy. 1t happens
\to be all on one side am willing to
listen to Prof. Ball and all I ask is that
this committee on lights act fairly.
In reply to question by Alderman
Smith, Judge Foster said he didn't know
when the c3mmittss on lights had acted
unfairly, bus poles had bssn ordered CO
feet long. which 10 unusually long. The
cost 10 SIS each when the 45 feet poles COST
only SIC. Your board mas authorized this
and We have had to get two hundred Of
these poles and It has taken time to do
this. We don't complain, but We ask for
equity.
Judge Foster went on to talk In this
manner for some time. excusing the delay
oAustd the new company BY one thing
or Another and said the citizens did not
want the contract with tue new company
troken.
The order WAS finally passed by the
sidsrmen without division.
PUTTING WIRES UNDER GROUND.
Mr.. Cloudy presented the following
order:
whereas the great mum Der Of electric
wires above ground within the ci3y limits
ID q constant menace to property and psf
sonal sfsty, and seriouaiy hinder tine
work Of the fire department and endanger
the lives Of firemen and the numerous
are unsl ghtly and sadly disfigurs the APP
pearance of the city and obstruct the
streets and sidewalks, therefore
Ordered, that committee of live to be
composed OF two members OF the board OF
aldermen and three members Of the COM
mon council be appointed to consider the
hest course TO be pursued to cause to be
put In underground condutts al! wires
used for the transmission OF electricity
within the city limits. excepting suoh
wires as are necessary TO operate the
street railways: Said committee 10 report
TO the city council In order that suitable
action may be taken to effect the object
MIR. Goudy said that the object OF this
order was to see what could be done about
putting the wires under ground. The
committee should examine the matter
thoroughly and frame an ordinance
which will ultimately put all the wires
under ground.
Mr.. Dyer spoke In favor Of the passage
important matter brought before the
council this year.
MIR. Phillips favored the order but
thought the matter should be looked after
by the committee on electrical appliances,
which has BEEN Investigating this matter
for many weeks and will shortly be able
to make . report
mittes would he better becauss such
committee would probably do the work
bstter.
Mr.. Phinney thought that the wires
should be put under ground but as moth
ing can be done at present Mr.. Phinnsy
thought the electrical appliance commit
tee can Re given time to report.
Mr.. Phillips said that the mayor had
been working on this matter for three
months and the electrical appliance COM
mittse of which he is member will
shortly make a report on this very sub
ject.
After some discussion the order was
laidson the table by by vote Of IA to II
and sent up.
PLEASANT STREET CONTROVERSY
Two reports were presented on the
changing of the name OF Pleasant street
In Portland to Evans street. petition