Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1901-01-11
WILL HAVE MORE LIGHT
The Rocky Fork Company Proposes To
Put in Complete, Modern sys-
TEN Of Electric Lighting.
---.4---z-
O'sHEA's PROPOSITION.
~
The City Has Plumbers to Byrne, But
the City Council Is Well Rooted in
It's Preference.
O'SHEA'S PROPOSITION

With troubles Of plumbers With cred
itors who want their coin, and with
projects for the city's continued advance
ment the aldermen had plenty to occupy
their attention at the regular monthly
meeting Tuesday evening" All Of the
members of the cit, legislature were
With the exception Of Alderman Flager
who was unavoidably detained and un-
able 70 be present at ALL
Immediately after the reading Of tile
minutes Of the previous meeting. Mayor
Larkin said that MI. d. q. O.Shea, as-
sistSnt manager of thr Rocky Fork Cuitl
company, WAS present and had some
thing to say to the council. Nil O'Shca
was forthwith given tho floor. TIC IT'LL
mediately Informed The council that his
remarks would br devoted entirely "
the electric light system Of the city.
"lt IS needless " say, began Mr
OsShea, sthat the present system ut
electric lighting does not always give
satisfaction. either TO the company Or II
the city He then proceeded to review
something Of the history Ut the system,
how it started first by stretching Il wire
to Conrad's store, whence it went from
house to house, Just as it happened,
until there was really no system about
It, and il is not a paving Investment to
the company. In view Of this fact, lie
continued. "and in view OF the fact that
our town has good prospects before it,
the company has proposition to make
that will be more satisfactory :,ll around,
and that is the putting in Of a new, mod
ern electric lighting system. The com
pany stands ready to put in such plant
if the council is ready to give them the
protection that all cities in the country
are accustomed to give in such cases.
We would put in the latest alternating
system, and would put the prices 50 low
as would induce all to use the electric
light no matter how small the house
may he. We would also give the city
more arc lights, better service, and fur
nish the same as cheaply AS it is done in
any town in the state Of the size Of Red
Lodge. 1t would be our plan to take
down the present poles and mass Of
wires. In constructing this new alter
mating system, one wire would carry Us
great current as twenty do now. The
new plant would be devoted exclusively
to the city service, not connected with
the mine at all, and consequently not
hampered by any breakdoans that may
occur in the mines. The company simply
desires the council to grant franchise
for a stated number Of years, 50 that we
will know, after investing many thous-
ands Of dollars. that We will not have to
take out the whole plant within !. year
or 50, but that We will have the right to
operate the same for humber Of years "
Mr.. OShca then answered a number
Of questions asked by members Of the
council, and reiterated some Of the most
important statements he had first made.
ln reply to the mayor question, he said
he thought the company would want il
franchise for about twenty Or twenty
five years. this being the usual period
for granting SUCH When Alderman
Davis asked if he could give any idea us
to what the :'2=candle power incandes
cents Woald cost under the new system,
he said he could not tell exactly but
that the company would take the mat
ter up With other towns and would fur.
nish the light as cheaply AZ amy town in
the state OF any thing like the size of
Red Lodge. He gave the figures for
light ii Miles City, where the city owns
its plant, showing that the present rates
Of the company are reasonable in com
parison. He also told the council that,
if the franchise is granted them, they
will furnish arc lights for street lighting
as cheapl y as they are furnished to the
city of Billings, although the latter city
uses ten or twenty whore Red Lodge
would use one. Alderman Lucas made
a motion that a committee be appointed
to consider the companys proposition
and report at the next meeting. The
mayor and Aldermen Willy and Romersa
were rather in favor of taking up the
matter and deciding il then. on the
ground that the aldermen knew as much
about it then as they ever will know and
Mr.. O'Shea was there to explain every
thing. But the sentiment prevailed that
it would be better to give the matter
careful thought first, and the motion
carried without dissenting vote. The