The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-05
Cost per month
Cost per night

TIE total cost of the nightly i]lumi-
nation of a city is very far from being
included in it's municipal expenses
This is true even where the city owns
It's own gas and electric light works
for the reason that the number Of pri-
vate illuminating plants are increas-
ing each year, saying nothing of those
parties who continue to use coal oil,
acetylene gas and other llluminants.
But when the city, as is the case with
st. Paul, does not own it's own light
ing plant. an estimate of the probable
cost, inclusive of all private plants, be-
comes rather difficult problem.
In st. Paul, in 1897, the total amount
expended by the city for lighting it's
streets and public buildings was $780,
f00.50 In $685. with considerable in
crease in the street mileage, number of
gas and gasoline lamps and arc lights,
the amount expended fell to Sill 144.15
a decrease of $25, ,456. 35. Two companies
carry on the business Of Lighting the
city of st. Paul; the st. SPaul Gas
Light company and the American De-
velopment company. The latter COM
pany has the exclusive contract for
lighting and maintaining the gasoline
lamps. The ST. Paul Gas Light COM
pany does the rest. In ST. Paul all
street lamps are required to be kept
lighted during the entire night from
dusk to dawn. Under direction of the
city council contracts are made with
the companies, and the gas light COM
pany supplies electric lights and all
necessary wiring. In the downtown
business districts and prominent thor
oughfares the electric lights used are
known as 1000 candle power each. Gas
light contracts call for a lighting DOW
er OF sixteen candles each. and gaso-
Line contracts power of fourteen can
dies each. The ST. Paul Gas Light
company provides. also. the gas lamps
The city Of st. Paul owns the gasoline
lamps, also the wooden posts support
ing them. In 1897 there were 3,154 gas
oline lamps; 1852 gas lamps, 120 electric
arc lights and these supplied the illu-
mination for 335 miles of streets. The
contract for lighting the gasoline lamps
included gasoline.
DETAILS OF COST.
In 1888 the gasoline contract was fill
ed at an expense to the city as follows:
To lighting and maintaining. ........ .$27 1874 As
10 new ramps s.......:....... S41 10
To new posts Observation-Disclosures. 43 Ga
To numbering gasoline lamps. ..... 1853 90
Total ............ ................. so, ,6S2 46
The gas and electrical contracts were
divided as follows:
To rent of gas regulators. ......... s167 Ga
To gas and arc lights for market
>, house 444 At
To gas for morgue. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 60
To gas for public lamps 60,413 25
To gas for police depar rtment........ 76S 80
To gas for fire department.. 1.160 20
To arc lights ..-.......... ....-. a. $50 1S
To interest :.-..E... 5,9SS %
To moving lamps and electric lights. Sc 80
To arc lights for parks. =. .....l... 1852 90
lOtdl SSS, ,46l BY
Gasoline plant ...........S ....,.-... 27,6S2 IS
This is the total exnenseSfor the fis-
cal year beginning Nov. I, 1897, and
terminating Oct. 81, 1898 y 1t will be
seen from the following. showing that,
the expense for lighting, =per month,
runs very uneaually. In one case. also.
a portion of an old 1885 bill is allowed
the st. Paul Gas Light company:
November 1897 II
st. Paul Gas Light CO. =. SIS, ,703 3S
American Development ca $3.50 IS
December. 1897
st. Paul Gas Light Co. !..... $6.Oe1 02
January and February. 1885
st. Paul Gas Light Co. .$12 S43 81
American Development Co....-....... 4,371 81
March. 1888
St. Paul Gas Light Co............... 1859 Sc
American Development Commons. Iii 64
Total .......... ................... ss,iA 50
st. Paul Gas Light Co............... $500 ss