The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-07-26
OUR CITY LIGHTING.
Some Facts and Figures that
Should Interest Everyone.

facts IN regard 10 the ngnting OF oHs
city.
am aware that there are those
among our citizens who, regardless of
what the Light company may do, and
without any information on which to
base their assertions, are energetic and
loud in their clamor concerning the rob-
berry of the Light company of both the
private citizen and the public, and that
others accepting this ignorant and large
ly malicious dictum as truth, form their
judgment from it, if they do not repeaf
it, although intending no harm.
AT council meeting a few evenings
since one of the councilmen took the
trouble to denounce the prices paid by
Oskaloosa as Outrageous"
Suppose we take the trouble to see
just what she is paying, as compared
with other towns in Iowa, and deter
mine just how "outrageously" she is be-
ing treated.
Under its contract with the city the
Light company agreed TO furnish "a
candle power incandescent lights at $I8
each, per year, and 1000 candle power
oAS AlSillS dl PSo d year SdNIl, Tic llCdIl-
descent lights to bum from twilight I'M
til o'clock, except on moonlight nights
and the arc lights the same, except that
10 arc lights and incandescent lights,
at the alley intersections in the blocks
fronting the public square These I6
arcs and incandescents were to burn
until o'clock every night and all night
when the moon failed to furnish light
This fixed, substantially, the number
OF hours each light is to burn, and it be-
comes matter of simple calculation to
determine the number of hours in year
and the cost of each light per hour
It then becomes an easy task to COM
pare the ;s.;ces here s- ~ tieS5 Of ether
cities and to determine the extent of the
robbery practiced by the Light COM
pany on the people of Oskaloosa.
In order to gain information concern
ing the light question, members of our
city council visited Cedar Rapids, Ma
son City and Boone and their report
from those places. if made up in tabu-
lated form, would show the following.
taking in each case the number of hours
which the lights burn during a year,
and the cost of each light for the
wear, which gives us the cost per hour
in each city for its light.
In Cedar Rapids the lights burn 2,15S
hours in year.
In Mason City they burn LOGS hours
in year.
In Boone they burn 2,15S hours IN
year, and
In Oskaloosa they burn $3.50 hours
in a year
These are all arc light figures, and all
on a basis of 1000 candle power lights.
In Cedar Rapids they pay SIS year for
each light for 2,Is8 hours service, or a
little over three cents and four mills an
hour.
Mason City pays 500 year for each
light for 1893 hours service, or frac-
ton over FIVE cents and seven mills an
hour.
In Boone the lights are only I,2oo
candle power and costs $40 a year for
each light for 2,I58 hours service, or a
fraction over three cents and two mills
an hour, and this figured on basis of
1000 candle power instead of 1900
makes ii cost a fraction over FIVE cents
and three mills an hour.
Oslsaloosa pays 500 year for each
light for 1886 hours service, or frac-
ton over tao cents and nine mills an
hour.
These different hours of service are
the result of the different schedules on
which the lights are contracted.
To condense the information gained
at these three points, Cedar Rapids
pays three cents and four mills, Mason
City pays five cents and seven mills:
Boone pays FIVE cents and three mills,
and Oskaloosa pays t70o cents and nine
mills, an hour for two thousand candle
power arc lights.
In other words, if the arc lights IN
Cedar Rapids burned as many hours as
ours do here, they would cost them over
SIIo a year, and under like conditions
they would cost Mason City $I85 year
and Boone over $I72 year, and Oska-
loosa, with all the robbery we are ac-
cused of, is getting this service for 500
year.
instead OF the 10 arc lights which the
contract calls for to burn all night when
there is no moon, we are furnishing 2s,
and instead of the 4 incandescent lights
we are furnishing Ia. The contract calls
Tor I,2S5 hours service a year, each,
from these 9 extra arc lights and 10
extra incandescents, and we are furnish
ing $3.50 houis year, and this az con-
tract price, taking into consideration the
length of time these lights have been in
service, represents $4672.82 worth of
light furnished over and above what
the contract calls for, and for this ex-
ira service we have never demanded or
received one penny.
The contract also calls for not to
exceed 10 incandescent lights of 10 Gao
die power to be furnished the MAYOR s
office free of charge, excepting as 10 re-
newals, and on that score we are fur
nishing 10 lights of 81 candle power,
Just double what We agreed to do, anil
we have made no charge for renewals.
Besides this, we have furnished light
which we have had to put in especially
for city registrations and elections, and
have made no charge, and, at request of
our mayor have, at fair times, and on
other occasions when the town was FILL
ed with strangers, run all of the lights
all night without asking for any extra
compensation. These extra services il
charged for at regular rates. would have
cost the city $7oo3o Now add this to
the other amount as stated and furnish