The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-05-27
ARE GIVING
LIGHTS AWAY
Sudden Change In West Shore
Mills COmpany'S Finances.
Two Weeks ago So Poor They cOuld
Not Afford to Take the Old City
Contract Now They DoA't
Want Money,

pany announce that the streets win b,
lighted Tor another night because som,
official OF citizen has asked the Wcsl
shore Mills Company to light then
and they add, with a great show ol
pride, that the corporation donates IN,
lights.
Il was less than two weeks ago thai
the principal owner and the manager
OK the West Shore Mills Company stood
up before the water commission ant
announced that the company had beer
losing money steadily upon the pub,
lie lighting OF the streets and Il wa,
FOR that reason Il could not afford L
renew It's old contract with the cltS
but must raise the price OF lights
Now, II seems, the company can afrort
to give away It's lights to any either
who chooses to ask FOR them.
When the Astorian Said this matter
Of giving away Of street lights by the
West Shore Mills Company, was a
grand stand play"-that is. It Is being
done In an attempt to win the support
and sympathy OF the people and not
because the corporation desires TO fa-
vOr the city or the people unless paid
Tor it-lt told the truth. II il was
mistaken, how does the West Shore
Mills Company reconcile its action Ia
giving away lights with its statements
that II was too poor and losing too
much money, to allow the city It's old
rate on street lights-whleh was a
big price-for another year2
The dodge is too 'gauzy" to fool
anybody, bat IL Is hoped the citl-
zens will keep on asking the West
Shore Mills Company to give away its
lights and that company viii continue
to grant the requests. II there could
be any certainty OF this being done the
public lighting question would be set
tied in manner most satisfactory TO
the taxpayers. while the name OF the
West Shore Mills Company would be
written under that OF Abou Ben Adam
as a public benefactor.
The statement has been made, time
and again, by the agents Of the West
Shore Mills Company. that the average
cost Of street lights throughout the
United States is $iOl per year. This
has always been made as an assertion
by these agents and has never been
backed up by the proof OF single flg-
ure taken from the cost OF lighting,
public or private. as furnished by the
various cities in the United states.
The statement is absolutely untrue.
The Astorian has published the cost
Of street lights, furnished by both
public and private lighting plants, In
over one hundred cities and in but
three land those in locations remote
from natural fuel supplies) has the
price per light per annum equaled
slOl.
II that figure is the average It could
be easily shown, but II is not. and has
not been for nearly ten years past.
Just as an instance: The Chicago
Times Herald quotes the cost OF street
lights in Portland. Ind. contrasted
under public ownership and private
corporation. 1t gives the figures for
sixty-hve arc street lights as costing
'5272 per annum under municipal, or
public ownership OF the lighting plant,
IS against $50 per annum when a pri- |
gate corporation furnished the lights.
There is the slight difference OF $2l |
Der light Per annum between the Port
and, Ind, rate under private supply !
and what is claimed as the average
,ost Of street lights In this country.
It is worse than foolish for the agents
II the West Shore Mills Company to
ry to deceive the people, especially
when there is such an abundance Of
ncontrovertible proof ready at hand
0 show their statements false. It Is
! question whether the average cost OF
treet lights within the United States,
ven when furnished by private con-
ract will amount to as much as $50
ach per annum, and under public
ghting, where the municipality con-
rolls and operates the lighting plant,
he average will be nearer $50 per an
um than s101
The agents have also been in great
lee over the seeming indifference Of
he water commission, as regards the
ublic lighting question in Astoria. The
lembers Of the water commission are
lerely servants OF the people, honored
bove their fellows in the appointment
that position because 1t was believed
ley were men Of sound discretion who
oIld do their duty.
The Astorian has all along urged that
ie water commission be given am
Ie time to investigate the public light
g question. Nobody wants It to
ish headlong into the proposition, and |
'N''~A N'No any DtF W1Hb ~ " 'utiHg | ,
ie settlement Of the matter an hour
niger than is necessary. It Is UNDER
cod that the members Of the water !
'mmission are making the investiga-
IN they promised to make, namely,
to the cost Of building, operating :
I'd maintaining an electric lighting
ant for the uIlruoeea of Furnishing
his city and the inhabitants there
;" with light and power for any
irposes whatsoever" That Is the d.
ction Of the law that created them
laying down their duties and they
e men Of too high character to shlrk
cir obligation. So it can safely affirm