New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-23
40 PAY. NO LIGHTS.
RICHMOND BOROUGH WILL BE LEFT IN
DARKNESS IF THE CITY DOES NOT
SETTLE WITH THE ELECTRIC
COMPANY

orc,o,s ~ tho New-York and Staten Island
Electric Light Company have Informed Henry .
Kearney Commissioner OF Public Bulldlhss i"e''
ing and Supplies that II the bills OF the co'"Pa"'
against the city for light arc not pald oS O''O"
l. the lights I'm all the streets VIII he CUT OUT
the last twenty months the electric Hght eoi'P""'
has been lighting the island free OF chaIse'
although the money that was raised by '"e ''"'.
tax In the old villages Is now in the posesS''" "
IN, treasurer OF the City OF NewYork
About week ago J. II. Swinafton genera.
manager OF the New-York and staten ls'a''u
Electric Light Company sent commuhc"''o" ~
the Commissioner informing him that uNieeS "'
city made some arrangements to pay TOT the cur
rent used for street lighting purposes all the street
lights IN tho island would be discontinued on Oc-
tober l. Mr. swinarton said that the company
would await the action Of the Commissioners 70
recover the money due them for light suppheu
under contract in the last year and hair Out the
company could not and would not continue 70
supply current for street unless the city would
guarantee that the bills would be paid regularly
hereafter.
Commissioner Kearney acknowledged receipt OF
the letter and replied that he had sent 1t TO the
Mayor and Controllers also that the former bills
Of the company had been approved by his Depart
ment and forwarded to the Controller, and that he
had no further power in the matter.
The company IL supplying nightly current
for 3l59 lights Of which +5l arc and 2.97s are
twenty-five candle power incandescent lights p
10 July 81 there 300 incandcscent lights IN the
old village Of Edgcwater. but they were discon-
tinucd on that date. owing to the failure Of the
city To DAY its bills. The contract FOR the Edg'-
water lights expired I'm June 1898. and was not re
newed. but by order Of the Commissioner Of Light
ing and Supplies the service continued. War
rants were ISSUED In payment, but the Assistant
controller would not honor them asserting tnHt
the Commissioner had no authority 10 or;er the
lights continued. as they did not come under ne
head or supplies When the bills were not PAID
the company promptly discontinued supplying cur
rent for incauIescent lights IN Edgewater cont lnu
ing the are lights ordered by tho OLD Board or
Village Trustees. 49,.
The city now owes tho electric Hght companE
m ro than N751 40 FOR current for street hgh'S
since cons oliGaton. AID suit has been begun to 20
cover that amount 49, -, a..
General Manager swinarton admitted that lnr
notice had been served the Comm Ssioner. hut
did not care 10 discuss the matter turth'r- re
said however. that whatever was done IN teGdrd -
street lights the commercial lights would be KEPT
up without interruption. and every effort would ne
made 70 improve the service --.,..I
Thu residents ~ The slanl are greatly exercised exercised
over the fact that the lights mar b hlscon'hu',;
and II j. Ukply thai a mass meeting VIII be held
10 devise some means whereby the city authorize
Will be compelled 70 pay the bills or MAKE so"'e
satisfa tory arrangements with the company.