The San Francisco call., 1899-09-27
AND
PHELAN CONFER
WITH CROCKETT
Another Dark Night
the Result.
GAS MAN MAY RELENT TO-DAY
REFERS WHOLE QUESTION TO
HIS DIRECTORS.
The City Plans Retrenchment That
Will Pay Back Bills But Will
Gauss Five Dark
Nights.
AS MAN MAY RELENT TO-DAY
REFERS WHOLE QUESTION TO
HIS DIRECTORS.

Mayor Pheian, j. B. Crockett, president
of the San Francisco Gas and Electric
Company, and Supervisor Perrault. chair
man of the Finance Committee of the
Board of Supervisors, met in the Mayors
office yesterday morning for the purpose
of arriving at some agreement which
would throw little light in the citys
dark corners and make the public high
ways safe to travel upon by night.
Up to a late hour last night, however
they had not adjusted the difficulties, and
the city was again as dark as a pocket.
AS a result of the conference Mayor Phe-
Ian made public the pleasing intelligence
that though no absolute agreement had
been entered into with the gas company,
Mr.. Crockett had practically agreed"
that the street lights would be aglow
again this evening, Mr.. Crockett, how
ever, qualified his pledge with the proviso
that the directors of the gas company
should authorize him to carry it out and
turn on the "glim.'
The basis Of settlement offered by the
Mayor and Chairman Perrault was set
forth in a letter to Crockett by Mr.. Phe-
Ian. Mayor Phelan's plan is to pay the
back bills, but this Will necessitate five
dark nights each month The letter was
as follows:
Mr. J. B. Crockett. President San Fran
cisco Gas and Electric Company-Dear Sir:
Pursuant to the promise made at the con-
ference this morning, we write you making
a suggestion to public lighting. Two
hundred and forty thousand dollars has
been appropriated for the lighting of streets
during the fiscal year, which is $4,000 :
month, or $50, 600 for three months. Your
July bills are $2S, O57 rs; August bill. 500
$50 80; September bill including four
nights for this month beginning and includ-
ing tomorrow night. sl7.24S 92, making
total Of s6l,2S7 OS. or sl237 % IN excess OF
the 100000
We propose that during the next three
months October. November and December.
a sufficient number of lights be cut OFF tenn
porarily TO make up the sl2S7 O3. and our
suggestion is that in conference with the
Gas Inspector you agree upon the lights
shall be made up which no doubt can be
amicably arranged. In that event your
eregatng as above s61.23 0S, will be ap-
proved by the Finance Committee ana
ordered paid.
understood in the conference held in my
office that you pledged yourselves to bid on
the contract for gas and electricity
which is the compromise rate. We md
that you have bid II cents per lamp per
night for gas instead of the present rate,
which is the compromise rate. VIZ. lO cents
per lamp per night. At the rate of 81 30
per one thousand allowing for main
tenance. figure that a gas lamp should
not cost the city more than Sla cents per
lamp per night. but we, in behalf OF the
city, are willing to stand by the COM
promise rate and trust that your directors
will respect the agreement then mace,
There has been s240 coo appropriated for the
lighting of public streets. and that is all
you can possibly get for the fiscal year ana
it is all we can give. ny carving M tI 4ut in vriI9
be as well supplied with light for the en-
suing year the appropriation VIII anord.
and IN Judgment you Will De amply
compensated for your service and we will
see to II that your bills are promptly paid.
JAMES d. PHELAN, Mayor.
E. L. PERRAULT, Chairman Fin. Com