The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-06-01
COMMISSION TO
MEET TUESDAY
At Which Time Public Light
Question win Be Settled.
Citizen Claims a Public Plant VIII
Furnish Lights for Half Of Pres
ent Cost and Pay city's Debt
An Experts Opinion.

Tuesday night next and will decide.
unless a majority OF the members
change their minds between this time
and that date, the question as to
whether or not Astoria shall build and
operate its own electric light plant.
The commission was to have met
last night but for several reasons 1t
was thought best TO postpone the meet
ing until next week. Facts and fig
pres win be ready for consideration
and as the members should. and are
supposed to have been investigating
for themselves. they ought to be ready
to act.
There Is hardly any doubt but what
the commission viii decide to build a
city plant. One member is reported as
saying. I'VE cannot do otherwise than
build city plant. The water system
has proven a wonderful thing for the
city besides being a money-maklng in
vestment. Everything tends to show
that the electric light plant will earn
"a to the water systems one. besides
giving the people abundant light at
very low rates.
A prominent citizen. who at the
start was against public lighting, but
who now favors 1t, in conversation
yesterday, said: THE water system
cost Astoria in the neighborhood Of
$4,000 and has been a paying propo-
sition. An electric light plant capable
Of furnishing $50 arc lights and $500
to 5000 incandescent lights will cost,
with everything. lamps and all, Of the
latest improved pattern. from $500 to
$4,000. Add 10 per cent interest per
annum on this amount. the topmost
estimate Of the cost OF operating ex-
penses and then. as against this
amount, put the receipts from the
same number Of lights as are being
used now by citizens-the city's lights
being free-at a rate Of 40 cents per
light per month and the electric light
plant will then pay more money on the
investment in proportion than the wa
ter system Is paying.
"But / will tell you what l honest
ly believe" he continued. Il believe
that public lighting plant can be
built, maintained and operated in As
toria, that will furnish the city and
the citizens with all the lights they
can use, furnish incandescent lights to
consumers at 25 cents per month and
arc lights in proportion, and earn
enough money above all cost to pay
the entire city debt in ten years"
This is more than the Astorian has
ever cared to claim for a public light
ing plant. but the proposition is not
unreasonable. 1t can be shown to be
possible, II the figures furnished by
cities owning their own light plants,
are correct. There is no question but
what the price Of lights can be re-
duced more than one-half the present
prices. and stin the plant be made to
earn a tremendous income over and
above all cost.
The Astorian prefers to take the fig-
ures the water commission will offer
next Tuesday night, to furnishing fig
ures based upon calculations made
from the receipts and expenditures Of
other cities. The figures the water
commission will furnish win certainly
be received as correct and they will
show far more than the Astorian has
tried to prove with regard to the ad-
vantages of public lighting system.
John Poole, proprietor of one of the
most extensive machinery and electrical
supply houses in Portland. is one of
the men who has been conferring with
members of the water commission for
the purpose of obtaining data upon
which to base proposition for fur
nishing the necessary machinery for a
city lighting plant. Mr.. Poole recently
installed electric light and power
plants for the cities of Woodburn and
McMinnville and submits proof that
they have given the greatest satisfac-
ton. At Woodburn steam plant was
put in and eleven arc lights are being
furnished at a reduced rate. while in
candescents Of 16 candle-power are
supplied to private consumers for 50
cents month. At McMinnviIle in
candescent lights are furnished for
10 cents a month.
Mr.. Poole declared that nowhere in
Oregon was there better opportunity
for city to furnish its own lights
than in Astoria, and he expressed much
surprise that our facilities should have
been allowed to remain undeveloped
so long. He expressed the conviction
that Astoria could furnish its own
lights-lights of the very highest grade
at a cost of less than half that
which has been paid in the past.
Should Astorias water facilities be
insufficient to supply the necessary
power for all the lights in the city,
a steam plant, he said, could be put
in at very low cost capable of fur
nishing all the power required.
The council will meet on Monday
night, but will probably wait until af-
ter the meeting of the water commits
sion before taking any action regard
ing the lighting of the streets. 1t can
be stated, however, that the commit
tee to whom the lighting matter is
intrusted has plan ready for lighting
the streets which will probably be
pu into speedy execution. The tax