The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-06-06
PUBLIC INTEREST
is IGNORED
Water Commission Decides
Against the People.
Matter Brought TO Head by a Reso-
iutlOn-yan Dusen and Elmore
True 10 the Principle Of Jus.
tIee and Economy.

The water commission met last even
Ing 10 consider .he feasibility Of taking
steps toward putting In an electric light
plant for Astoria. After the ordinary
routine business "A communication from
Mr. sohern sckaU. chairman OF the
ways and means committee Of the
city council. was read. IN which he
referred the commission TO sundry
statistics and reports on the subject Of
municipal lighting systems printed IN
copies of city Government" handed
In with his communication. The pa
pers were examined by the members
Of the commission. some Of whom
found them. 10 their minds. favorable
70 municipal ownership. others to the
contrary.
Communications from various elec-
trIcai engineers. desiring TO submit bids
and specifications for lighting plant
were also read and put on file.
Judge BowIby stated that he had
written personally TO several cities
having municipal plants. and had as
yet heard from only one In reply
Alemeda. California. and the returns
from II were incomplete and unsatis-
factory He stated that he and Mr..
Welch had figured that plant Of
100 arc lamps and 1900 incandescent
lights would cost the city 5000 at the
outset The annual expense would
amount to sl9.330 distributed as FOL.
lows: Interest at per cent and de-
probation at per cent, 1920: salar-
les. etc. $3.50; fuel. 1880.
Samuel Elmore introduced and moved
the adoption Of the following resolu-
ton; ii.
Whereas the City OF Astoria, for rea-
sons not within the province Of this
commission 20 consider, Is without the
public convenience OF street lights;
And. Whereas. the City Council has
appealed to this commission for the
utilization OF the unused power at the
public water works In the generation
Of electricity for street light purposes;
the same TO be paid for by the city
OF Astoria according 10 such reason
able schedule OF charges as may be
fixed By this commission.
And, Whereas. under the act OF its
incorporation II Is contemplated that
this commission shall, and Is fully au-
thorized and empowered 10 contract
or purchase. keep, conduct and main
tain one or more electric light plants
TO be operated by water or other power
for the purpose OF supplying the City
OF Astoria and the inhabitants thereof
with an abundance OF electric lights
for all uses whatever;
And, Whereas, the absence o. pub
lie street lights and the inadequacy
and cost OF such other lights as are
now supplied the city and inhabitants
OF Astoria is a cause OF general dissat-
isfaction and complaint;
And, Whereas. from Informal esti-
mates and representations submitted
TO the members Of this commission
there Is every reason to believe an
electric light plant. or plants, sum-
cient TO supply the city and its inhab-
ltants with an abundance OF electric
light for all purposes can be provided,
maintained and conducted by this COM
mission at a cost that will amply JUS
tify the required investment, and at
the same time afford the city and its
Inhabitants the convenience OF abund-
ant light for all purposes, at charges
very much below those now paid Tor
like service. Now, therefore,
Be Ii Resolved that 1t Is the duty
Of this commission, in view of the
| ,tN 81 a
proceed with the execution of the pow
or with which IL Is invested to provide
the City Of Astoria, or the Inhabitants
thereof, or both said city and the in
habitants, as may be hereafter deter
mined, with electric light to be generat-
ed and distributed by one or more
plants built, maintained and conducted
| BY this commission, and TO that end
,b6 clerk In hereby directed to open
corresno6Aence and negotiations for the
employment OF 4 competent engineer
and electrical expert to prepare and
furnish TO this commission WIN tns
least delay possible. D plans Rric es-
Inmates for the utilization Of the pres
ent partially constructed plant and
power at the water works in the man.
ufacture and distribution of light for
street purposes only, and (2) complete
plans and estimates also for one or
more plants to be operated by steam or
other power for furnishing both the
city and the inhabitants thereof with
an abundance OF light for all uses
whatever.
Motion to adopt was seconded by
Clerk Van Dusen.
In opposition TO the resolution Judge
Bowlby said that the commission had
no right to fix rates and no assur-
ance that It could pay interest on the
necessary bonds. There would also be
some doubts about the city saving any
thing on It. Everything is high this
year, fuel and metals especially" he
said. Judge Bowlby thought that the
commission should wait another year
for better times and more investigation
OF the subject. He advised that the
council make an agreement with the
West Shore Mills Company for an
other year.
Mr. Gilmore stated that, as regards
fuel, there would be no extra expense
for street lights, as the water power
would be ample to run not only 40 arc
lights, but 1000 incandescent lights in
addition. He added that it took five
years for some to believe that the wa
ter works would pay, and that he dar-
ed to affirm that the electric lighting
business was the best paying business
in the United States. He was will
ing to offer the city as high as S125,OOO