Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-01-24
The Electric Light Question.

calico upon 20 vote on Cne queSClOn OF
increasing the Indebtedness of the Bor-
ough for the erection of an electric
light plant to furnish light for the
streets, the plant to cost $1,000.
When the st. Mary's Gas Company,
who have furnished the street lights
for several years notified the Borough
council thatthey would no longer supply
the street lights, owing to the great
waste of gas, unless the town shall re-
place the torches with Welshbach burn
ers, similar to the one in front of the
Court House. To erect these lights it
will cost about $40 per lamp, in addi-
tion to the expense of a man to light
and turn off the lights.
A majority of our Councilmen, have
decided that the municipality can own
its own plant for lighting its streets and
by supplying the public with electric
light can thus secure we'll lighted streets
at a nominal figure, if not entirely free
of cost to the Taxpayers. The Council
are the servants of the people and ex-
press a willingness to carry out the
desire of q majority of the taxpayers.
1t is question for the taxpayers to
fully post themselves on, regardless of
what may be said by the friends or OPP
ponents of the measure. We have not
| been able to attend the sessions of the
Council, on account of illness, to hear
the arguments pro and CON yet we
should judge from street talk there is
quite contest being waged.
We noticed in last weeks Independ-
ent rather severe criticism of Coun-
cilmen Burke, Murphy, Lloyd and
Howard, especially the latter gentle
man. 1t seems to us that it was entire
ly uncalled for. The gentlemen are
sworn servants of the people and no
one will dare to intimate other than
that they are acting in the best interests
of the people, as they view it. Mr..
Murphy, one of the gentlemen referred
to by the writer in last weeks Inde-
pendent, informs the PRESS that his
only desire is to do what he considers
the best under the circumstances. Els.
pecially Objectionable are the remarks
and insinuations hurled at Mr.. Howard
to give vent to the personal spleen of
the writer, whoever it may be. We are
glad to know, that our citizens soundly
condemn such business, especially when
aimed at honorable gentlemen, every
one of whom are respected citizens,
and attend strictly to their duties. Mr..
Josiah Howard, who comes in for whole
sale abuse from the Independent, is an
excellent citizen and the most kind,
charitable and liberal gentleman in the
county. AS a business man and finan-
cier he has proven to the business
world just the contrary to the charges
made in the Independent. Left, when
comparatively young man, with the
management of the extensive business
interests of the estate of his respected
father, the late @. B. Howard, he in
company with his hustling partners
Messrs. Henry Auchu and Joseph Kaye
CONSTRUCTED the Emporium & Rich
Valley r. R., purchased about 90
600 acres of land and incurred heavy
obligations, just as the hard times came
upon us. Nothing daunting them, they
put their shoulders to the wheel and
the hundreds of men in their employ
were kept at work, while most of the
other plants in this section were either
on half-time or closed entirely, and
never missed payday. The firm has
paid every dollar of the liabilities as
sumed and to-day are among the
soundest financial firms of the State,
Mr.. Josiah Howard, alone, being rated
financially above the wealth of his
father at the time of his death-and
each and every member of the firm be.
ing gentlemen of wealth affiuence, and
respected in the business community.
While we do not always agree with
some of the gentlemen, especially Mr..
| Howard, yet we cannot allow this mean
attack against a gentleman that every
man, woman and child within the con-
fines of Cameron county knows we'll to
be an upright, conscientious Christian
gentleman and citizen, to go unrebuked
Returning to the electric light ques-
tion. Every citizen should closely ex-
anime this matter and after due delib-
Grafton, vote for the best interests of
the town and welfare of the whole peo-
pie.
Since putting the above in type Mr..
| O. G. Catlin, one of our most conserva-
| tive and careful councilmen, calls our
attention to the following propositions
for the erection of the electric light
plant:
| WESTINGHOUSE ESTIMATE.
H. 2. gas engine, 81, 300
| 30 K w. machine or DYNAMO