The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-05-19


commission is willing 10 do before the
council goes any Further and We hop
ed that we would be able to get an
answer from you by next Monday
night, IN order that we might take
some action In regard to lighting the
streets"
The idea Of the water commission
having 10 act on any question with
IN three days seemed to disturb Tren-
chard lie said that before the com
mission could act II would have to
know the exact situation.
scherneckau mildly intlmated that
that was The exact purpose Of the com
mittee's visit, to state the situation
end sec what could be done 70 reme-
dy H. He again said that he had
supposed, until the moment. that every
commissioner was acquainted with the
fituation. For Trenchards benefit he
stated II. The Trulllngers had made a
proposition 10 light the city's streets
during 1850 The council had consld-
cred the bid too high and refused It.
The old contract had expired, the
street lights were out and the coun-
ell now wanted 10 arrive at the bert
means Of relIghting the streets at the
earliest possible moment but wanted
at the same time to make permanent
arrangements for public lighting.
Trenchard said he thought ne un-
derstoOd the situation.
Eimore asked what the city had
been paying for lights and what the
council wanted as to price.
scherneckau repeated the figures as
TO the old bid and said that hal he
West Shore Mills Company been sat
isfed with the old ilgures for the com
ing year there woull have been no
hitch, but the council objected 10 an
increase OF SIS a month on % sir,et
lights.
Councilman ParGes said another OBJ
lection was that the West Mills Com
pany would not guarantee any specific
candle-lower.
Perry Trulllnger thea raid, in ans
wer to questions. that the average
cost OF arc street lights in the United
States was slOi per annum. That 80
far as candle-powes was concerned
electricians agreei that no definite
candIe-power could be guaranteed by
any company.
Elmorc said that when the water
commission was thinking Of putting in
a lighting plant, firms had made them
bids guaranteeing not less than 1000
candle-power per lamp and asked how
they could do IT, He also asked
Perry Trullinger II 1t was not cheaper
TO furnish lights OF 1900 or 1,4O0 can
dle-power than lights of 1000 candle
power? In other words II Mr.. Trul-
linger had circuit of 40 arc lights Of
1000 candle-power each. II he could
not save money by adding 20 lights to
the circuit and cut down the candle
power?
Trullinger admitted that by such a
plan saving to the parties furnish
ing light could be made.
Scherneckau said that Perry Trul-
linger admitted TO him a long time
ago that the lights in use in Astoria
were not up to date. He said that
the light company had refused Sto
buy new lights unless they could get
long contract with the city.
Perry Truilinger admitted the pres
ent lights We're not up to date but
said his company could not afford to
replace them with improved lights un-
less the city would give them a con-
tract for five years. He said the
people were dissatisfied with the lights
at least, he added as an afterthought.
the council and newspapers said So
and the company wanted to better
them by putting in improved lamps but
had to have a five years contract from
the city before they could afford TO do
1t.
Etmore asked If the city's uncom-
pleted plant would be serviceable to
the West Shore Mills Company II they
would buy or rent It?
Perry Trulinger said: mo, we've
got steam plant that We want to sell
to the city"
"oh. that's il" said Gilmore.
Commissioner Dement, said that he
would like to know whether the fight
between the West Shore Mills Com
pany and the council had reached a
point where no compromise was pos
sible. He asked il the West Shore
Mills people were willing to take the
old price Of $3.50 per light per month
If the council would give them a
years contract.
Scherneckau answered that the COM
mittec from the council had not come
there to discuss any such proposition.
They were not empowered to deal
with any proposition from the West
Shore Mills Company. The council
had refused that company's bid and
sent committee to the water COM
mission to see whether that body would
complete the city's electric light plant
or not
Dement, said he did not propose to
dictate to either the city or the West
Shore Mills Company but he thought
that if that company would make its
old bid and the city accept it, it would