The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-19

honorable body as will be in consonancs
with the express will Of the people ana
sincerely hope that no further obstae!e
VIII be allowed to Interfere with the rapid
prosecution In the erection and operas
tlon OF a city electric Lsht plant. Re-
specially submitted
Mr. Edward ]. OBeirne, the engineer
and contractor whose bid has been APP
proved b. the board OF public works. said
yesterday in discussing The system OF
electric lighting 10 be adopted;
Electric lighting is fast reaching
permanent ana solid basis in the held OF
legitimate Industry. 1t was at one time
considered Il 1he light OF a venture at
hest. Time and experiences have
crystalilzed the various methods
great systems-hgh or low press
ure. Both have proven successful
Both have their especial advantages BOth
are manufactured and sold by the same
concerns
"The alternating current Is usually em-
ployed with the high pressure system,
ard by this method energy can be rams
mitted many milqs with a relatively small
conductor, at n slight loss.
As practically ell electrical energy is
! delivered 10 the consumer at low
pressure, Il is necessary TO transform the
high 20 d low press are current at point
OF consumption Tnls transfer nation OF
energy is accomplished al loss OF about
10 per cent but considered al coming
from a cheap source Of power, as for in
stance, waterfall nifty or hundred
miles distant, 1t is q small matter. In
the transmission ci power or energy be-
tween distant points, the high pressure Is
the only system that can be considered
CAS- the low pressure system pumps
N4HHaH
/ sumer, larger conductors must necessarily
be used than in the high pressure system.
The lower the pressure the greater tho
( current. or vice versa, for any given cleo
triCal energy. The additional cost Of cop
per lines in the low pressure Is onset by
tne cost Of the transformers in the high
pressure. The huctuGtion in the pressure
OF either system Is equal to the ratio
Of the speed Of the machinery and the
pressure. Tho variation Is therefore
greater in the high pres sure than In the
low. Tho standard lncandescent lamp in
use on high pressure systems has an eff
cheney o. $40 watts per candle power The
lamp used as a standard on the low
pressure system has an efficiency
hlament is finer and more delicate in the
81 watt lamp and can not Withstand the
huctuatlon OF variation in pressure OF
the 80 watt lamp
Tho low pressure system is harmless
> whereas the high pressure IS fatal ia
human life in event OF accidental contact
While the advantage Oft the saving effect
ed by the low pressure on the two items
Of transformers and lamps may appea
i TO the commercial instinct the single
= item OF safety has been probably larger
factor in the general adoption OF the loH
q pressure system. When power Is gener-
ated in the locality where used / per-
Ia
\
. Alderman Halyerton, seen at his place
of business. 1920 Washington avenue, to
: question OF Post reporter, he said.
why certainly l viii give my reasons
for opposing the electric light plant a.
: proposed. Ia tue lrst place, the roposi-
C lion WAS never favored by the people Ia
= my ward, they having voted II down al
, The election ON the bond issue, and bes de.
- that am personally opposed TO munic ipa
>! ownership Of public utilities to any extent
- whatever. Another reason is that thu
Is plsns and specifications proposed are Ut.
terly inadequate for plant such as aous-
"a Ton requires. Here are the specifications
la and DEFY any expert to md All electIi,
Va light plant therein.
- There are too many places In the
y0 municipal ownership Of the public utilize
ad 10 be filled By political appointment t,
to allow the possibility Of them being con
Ia Quoted efficiently, satisfactorily and SUI.
"a cessfully. l could cite many instances o
b. failure and mizmauaeement in tines.
ID premises, but only state to you the mos
OF prominent reasons I have for opposing
nd the proposed plant for Houston.
OF ny The way, there is another obstscl,
ip, IN the way OF operating the municipal llgl
pit plant Tor al least four years yet, and tina
u is The fact that the city has a conirac
with the company now furnishing the lgh
OF that VIII not expire until 1904 We arr
le Ia homer bound % comply with this con
lie tract. In fact, the contract exists. an,
rs everybody knows the duty Of contractor
n 10 each other.
70 Il believe the proper course TO pursu,
X would be for the city TO confer VITA tn,
og owners OF the present electric light plan
by TO see II favorable contract could b,
te made for the commercial lighting OF m
city and II this can not be accomplished
% 20 see what sort OF arrangements AM
e. terms could be agreed upon Tor the pur
80 chase OF the plant by the city do no
p Del4eYe that the oonhscalion Of corporation
ne property IS any more a part Of Justice o
- business principle than II would he TO an
=. proprlate without fair compensation tn
oa property OF the humbiest citizen.
- made q motion some time back TO
the appointment Of 4 committee OF cltl
~ zens TO confer with the electric light PEG
n. PIE. relative TO what stated minut
on ego, but It was pigeon boled somewhere
va and never heard of II again II the cor
llo Terence ! proposed failed OF It's purpose
- then, OF course. would be willing for tn
city to erect plant; but one OF sufhcer
capacity TO give satisfaction, and for I'll
As city to enact such laws as would take III
plant completely out OF politics.
AS to the inslnuations that are helm
made regarding the integrity OF the alder
men opposing the proposition as Il no
cry exists. have nothing further TO say this
re- that each OF us recognize in a man WI
'is- makes lDsinuatiens over n fictitious nam
no a bringing coward and disgrace 20 n
III community In which he lives. As 10 u
be comments OF certain afternoon pane
lall we Just consider the source, and Ia
We everything good-naturedlv DO not h,
~ heye that any o.. the aldermen are bel
ug- enting by their opposition, except in q
qualification Of their better Judgment. al
the knowledge that their positions on Il
hat question viii yet be thoroughly and con
lei. pletely commended"
re-
lis Alderman Rnn3nuan xran 49, .,,..,sov