Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-09-22


light on an ordinary post at the side
Of the street would be more or less
obstructed by the trees, while the are
lamp would have clear sweep l
have not investigated the comparative
cost of the two systems of lighting,
but l am Informed that the proposed
change to gas would mean an
pie. The new system would necessi-
tate more lights and to me, a row of
lamp posts would look like a step
backward instead of forward"
Mr.. John Memmer gave his opinion
to Democrat reporter Friday after
noon regarding the proposition to
light East Market st. with gas. He
said: "IVhen / learned that the City
Commissioners had introduced reso-
luton into the Council last Monday
hight to contract with the Welsbach
company to light East Market st. with
at first considered the whole matter
huge joke, and could not realize that
the Board was in earnest and deter
mined to enter into such a contract.
When the matter CT lighting the street
was first being considered by the resi-
dents of East Market ST, and the
Commissioners, nearly month ago,
it was learned that the Commissioners
seemed to favor lighting the street
with gas. A number Of the property
owners then drew up a remonstrance,
securing the signatures of over two
thirds of the property owners on the
street, protesting against lighting the
street with gas, and desiring the I'M
proved electric system of the North
ern Ohio Traction company to be used
in lighting the street While this re-
monstrance was being circulated l
met Commissioner McNIillen. | asked
him whether the Board intended to
contract with the Welsbach company.
Mr.. McNIillen smiled and said the
Board was not in favor of such a
proposition. l considered the matter
settled until we learned that the Com
missioners would recommend the
passage of a resolution contracting
with the Welsbach people.
"Therc are several good reasons why
the Council should defeat this reso-
luton. In the first place, if it is q
question of economy with the Com
missioners, why don't they enter into
contract to burn natural gas. 1t is GER
tainly cheaper than artificial gas as
proposed to be supplied by the Wells
h al, thic 90
pany may furnish good light, but
no sensible person will say that it can
be compared with the improved cleo
trio arc lamp the Akron company pro-
poses using in lighting the street
Each gas lamp must be placed upon
post and the posts placed in position
along the sides of the street, among
the trees, and naturally will throw
light but short distance; whereas
the electric lamp suspended in and
above the center of the street, will
furnish clear and brilliant light for
a great distance without obstruction.
In addition to lighting East Market
St, the electric lamps will light
considerable portion of intersecting
streets upon both sides of East Mar
ket st. This could not be done with
gas lamps and would entail another
added expense upon the taxpayers.
Again, another important matter the
Council and the East Market ST. prop
erty owners should consider is the
again tearing up the pavement and
sides of the street in. order to pipe the
gas to each post. The new pavement,
after many weeks of delay to traffic
and travel along the street, has just
been completed. AS ] understand 1t.
the Akron Gas company has but one
main extending along the street. The
02 gas lamps proposed to be placed by
the Commissioners, will be located $50
feet apart along each side of the street.
This will require trenches to be dug
across the street to each post, and to
do this, the pavement must be removed
and traffic again delayed on the street
for many days. Taking these matters
into consideration, ! cannot believe the
Council will favor the lighting Of the
street with gas, by passing the resolu-
tion recommended by the Commission
ers in favor of contracting with the
Welsbach company, and saddle upon
the taxpayers an additional expense
OF more than $500 a year above what
Il would cost to light the street with
the most improved electric system"
Mr.. Il. S. Day-"I desire to say that
7 am most emphatically opposed to
lighting East Market st. with gas, as
recommended by the City Commits
sioners a few days ago. Lighting
streets with gas is proposition that
village Councils should consider, but
which is out of the question for a
city like Akron. l have given consid-
erable attention to the test of the Wells
bach light on East Market ST, and
do not think it will give satisfaction
I'm lighting a street like East Market.
The improved system of the Akron
Electric Lighting plant, now being
placed in. will meet the requirements.
A great majority of the property own
ers want electric lights on the street,
and the Council should comply with
their wishes. There is no comparison
between the improved electric lamps
of the Northern Ohio Traction COM
pany and gas lights to be furnished
by the Welsbach people. There is
4Ao nvnanon Aa~auar n q