Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-01-18
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Proposals Invited for Lighting the City
for a Fiye-Eear Reconsideration
Passed Tending to Municipal
Ownership of EIec-
trical Plant.


council was held last evening, the
only absentees being Aldermen Bramer
and DUNCAN.
After the usual batch of appropri-
ations had been disposed of, the Joint
report of the committees on judiciary
and street lighting was presented,
which, after amendment, was adopted,
and is as follows:
To the Honorable, the Mayor and Common
Council:
Your joint committee to whom was
referred the ordinance granting fif-
teen year extension of its franchise to
the Watertown Electric Light COM
pany, beg leave to report that they
would recommend to this honorable
body that action in regard to this or
dinance be deferred to said later date,
the present franchise not expiring
until the 28th day of May next.
And whereas the present contract
of the Watertown Electric Light COM
pany for lighting our streets expires
May 1st next, after which date a new
contract must be executed, and upon
the demand of some of our taxpaying
citizens that they be given an oppor-
tunity to submit figures for the light
ing of our streets, we would respect
fully suggest that this honorable body
authorize and instruct the committee
on street lighting to advertise for
sealed proposals for furnishing the
same number of lights as at present,
and the cost for each additional light
when deemed necessary, and of the
same candle power as at present, for
the term of five years, said lights to
be run on either the schedules herein
after set forth, the city to reserve the
each bid to be accompanied by GER
tilted check, payable to the city of
WatertOwn, for the sum of ST, 900, as
a guarantee for the fulfillment Of their
proposals, said bids to be opened on
the Goth day of February next, at s
o'clock ?. M, each bidder to name
separate figures on each of the re-
spective schedules designated as Sched-
ule 'sA' and Schedule ''B.''
Schedule ''A'-Light up from dusk
to midnight.
Schedule ''B''-Light up in Novem-
Der, December, January and February
of each year at $50 P. NJ, out at $50
A. M. Light up in March, April, Sep
tember and October of each year at
1880 P. NJ, out at A. NJ Light up
in May, June, July and August of each
year at $50 P. M, out at 3 A. M.
Dated January II, 1899
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY MULBERGER,
G. H. JABOBI,
H. G. Friedrich,
HENRY G. MAYER,
(. G. HARTWIG,
II. WERTHERIER,
CHAS. +. STRAW.
The report was the cause of much
diversity of opinion, and occasioned
prolonged discussion. Alderman Bru-
senbach offered an amendment extend
ing the contract period from five to
ten years. This was opposed by
Alderman Wertheimer, who thought
five years long enough, as he hoped
the city would be in a condition to
maintain and operate it's own plant
before the expiration of five years
Alderman Glaser was unalterably
opposed to the granting of any fran
chise. The city could utilize the
space and power of the waterworks
plant to good advantage. Alderman
jacob strongly objected to jeopardiz-
ing the waterworks plant with electric
al apparatus. Lightning was a very
destructive element, and he thought
it unwise policy to do anything tend
ing to insecurity. Alderman Bru-
senbach was finally appeased by an
increase in the hours of lighting
and the raising of the bond required
with all proposals from $500 to 81, 900.
All the aldermen present voted for
the adoption of the report as amended
excepting Alderman Chaser.
A resolution offered by Alderman
Mayer, instructing the committee on
street lighting to secure plans and es-
Inmates for a municipal electric light
HANOAO' "SoS c]ooPUOC CIDCI d VSIy u0-
termlned effort to accomplish it's defeat.
Alderman Wertheimer objected on
the ground that it would discourage
competition if it was known that the
city contemplated the erection of a
plant. Alderman Edwards was of the
opinion that the city, as well as an
individual, should become thor
oughly familiar with all matters per-
tanning to city affairs, and instead of
being a drawback would tend to a
reduction in the cost of lighting. AL
derman Mayer took the floor in sup
port of his resolution, and after con-
siderable more opposition on the part
OF other aldermen had the satisfac-
tion of seeing it adopted.