Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-21
AWARD LIGHTINGCONTRACT
COMMISSIONERS APPROVE RECON-
MENDATION OF ELECTRIC ENGINEER
Naphtha Street Lamps to he Kept i'm
Operation by Chicago
Firm.

The District Commissioners today ap-
proved the recommendation of Walter g.
Allen. the District electrical engineer. that
the contract for naphtha street lighting in
the District of Columbia for the fiscal year
ending June 50. 1902, be awarded to the
American Development Company of Chi
cago. at a cost of SIS per lamp. the COM
pany to furnish the fixtures and all other
necessaries.
Bids for naphtha lighting were opened at
the District building May IL. Since that
time Messrs. l.. S. and c. ID. Ncolai, the
present contractors and next lowest bidders
for next year, have written several COM
munications to the Commissioners concern
ing their offer and concerning the matter OF
naphtha lighting in general. Yesterday they
addressed a letter to the Commissioners IN
which it was strongly urged that the Dis
trict should own the naphtha lights ana
simply let contracts for their maintenance
This proposition did not meet the views
of the electrical engineer who is given SUI
perviSion in the matter.
In making his recommendation to the
Commissioners in favor of granting the
contract to the Chicago firm. Mr.. Allen
says:
THE proposition of the American Lighting
Company to furnish the service as stated
in their supplemental bid for the lump sum
of S27,4J6 cannot be entertained. as the
price asked for lamps using the incan-
descent burners is 81. which is So in excess
of the maximum price allowed by the ap-
preparation act.
This act specifically states that mo more
than $50 per annum for each street lamp
shall be paid for gas. and no more than
$24 for oil. lighting. extinguishfng, etc"
The mantle or incandeScent burners sub
United are so low In candle power, as shown
by DR.. Ford's tests. that / do not recon-
mend that they be considered. A much
higher candle powerfully three times as
great-can be obtained from similar burn
ers to my actual knowledge and at a price
but slightly higher.
Two Propositions Submitted.
''Of the two propositions on which pro-
posals were invited. L would recommend
the acceptance of the second. where the
contractor is required to furnish the lam
terms as well as the rest Of the necessary
equipment. Under this proposition. the
American Development Company is the
lowest bidder. it's proposal being s1s per
lamp per annum; the next higher bidder is
the firm of L. 8. & c. D. Nicola, at $40. 16
per lamp per annum.
THE American Development Company
were the contractors for this service for
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1900 and
gave satisfactory service. L would, there
fore. recommend that the contract for
naphtha street lighting for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1902, be awarded to the
American Development Company of Chi
cago at the price named in the second
proposition of their proposal, namely, Sls
per lamp per annum. the company to fur
nish the lanterns. tanks. burners. pipes and
all necessary appliances except the posts.
the contract to contain the stipulation that
the lanterns furnished by said company are
to become the property of the District at
the expiration of the contract. This is
the company's proposition as contained in
their letter of May IA. 1901. experimenting
their hid