West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-12-14
1.-THE LIGHT THAT FAILBD."

the electric lights that We ever saw
in print. 1t went on 10 explain
that mistake had been made i'm
getting carbons and owing to this
delay, the lights had failed to work
for one night, giving out the idea,
that this was the only time that
the lights had failed to work to
the entire satisfaction of all and
worked up an explanation to the
effect that if anyone was TO blame
for the matter it was b. l.. Brown.
who had ordered The lcar5ons for
the town, since none Of the town
officials had ever found out vet
where to get electric supplies. The
fact Of it, as everybody in town
knows, that there has hardly been
single night under the misman-
agement OF the present town ad-
ministration, that all the arc lights
were working satisfactorily. There
was lots Of time that none of
them were working at all and the
plant not running on account Of
water, but there was really no
good excuse for it. Plenty of
water could have been secured by
proper effort and there has not
been II night since the present
town officials took charge. the first
of February last, but what every
one of the arc lights should have
been working and rendering good
service, had the matter been
looked after and attended to IN u
business like way. Many and
many a night half the arc lights
have stood shrouded in darkness
for the want Of five minutes at.
tentlon or new carbon. Several
times we have gone around town
and counted from Ave to eleven of
the arc lights idle and the plant
pulling away, suming as much
coal, oil, water, time and wear and
tear of machinery, as if every light
was burning. Time and again the
excuse has been offered that they
were out of carbon, but such ex-
cuses are very poor ones and not
allowable. The carbons cost but
a trifie and barrel Of them only a
few dollars and should be kept on
hand all the time, as they do every
other place where they have a
plant and some one should 90
around three times week with a
pocketful of carbons and inspect
every lamp and place a new carbon
where it was needed. IL would
only take an hour or two for one
man to get around to the twenty
one lights of the town and then
once month the globes should be
cleaned thoroughly but instead
none of this is done at all ONLY
after much complaint and kicking
upon the part of the property
holders in the section of the
neglected lights. The man who
runs the Plant is expected to do
this outside work also, but he can
not do it and ought not be re-
CURED to, when he runs the Plant
all night. The Town Sergeant
don't seem to be doing anything
except collect taxes and light rents
and he Is the one who should be.
required TO look after the outside
business. AS matter of fact,
there should be a superintendent,
who should have entire charge Of
the electric light business and be
held responsible for 1t. As 1t is.
there is no responsible head and
each official depends on some one
else to look after it and each one
lays the blame on some one else. The
fact Of it is that the present town
officials are awfully sick Of their
job and anxious to get out Of it
as soon as they can. They rushed
into it aud bit of more than they
could chew and overloaded their
stomachs and have been badly
foundered ever since. When called
upon to have repairs made or
something done, they say to "get
along the best you c.m for little
while longer as our time will soon
be up"
STILLIN TIE WILDERNESS