The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-01-01
THE CONTRACT
NOT SIGNED.


lighting plants is possible Rapid
ic progress III improvements and the
p. lowering Of cost is being made. A
!, conference was held last night.
is Those present beside Mayoi
Y Fisher, were Directors Webster,
. Fahey and Carter OF the Street q
h Sewer Department. Secretary Wiley
o and Assistant Secretary Christy
Y OF the same department: John A =.
$ Riggs, president Of the United
q Power and Transportation Com
r pany. which controls the local cleo
$ trio light plant, E. A. Fltchorn, Sec
). retary OF the same company, Walter
Hayes, attorney for the company,
p and superintendent G. r. Van
Trump OF the Wilmlngt ton City
/, Electric Company.
Alter some informal conversation
, President Riggs opened the con-
ference by stating to the mayor the
object OF the meeting, which was to
yet his signature to the contract
Tor ten years. After listening to
Mr.. Riggs the mayor said he would
not approve of ten year contract,
adding that he had no criticism to
make whatever Of the price the
company was charging, as he felt
1t was a very lair one. in fact.
low charge, lower possibly than
any other :Ity ia the country en-
joyed. bat that he did not object to
binding the city in a contract for 10
years wheo the city could get the
same rate Tor years.
Continuing Mayor Fisher setforth
his reasons lor declining to approve
the contract. lie said that in the
past few years great strides had
been made in electrical machinery
thatshad brought down the price Of
lighting considerably, aud there is
no telling what would be developed
during the next few years. Modern
inventions might within ten years
bring down the price much lower
than is now asked. therefore he saw
no reason why the city should not
have the opportunity of taking ad
vantage oil these improvement atthe
end ef six wears, If the lights IN the
meantime were 10 cost no more than
If the contract was made Tor ten
wears.
Mr.. Riggs replied 10 this that the
main object IN getting a ten.year
contract was that the electric light
company having such length OF
time 10 run could make a geeater
outlay at Apresent get improved
machinery and give the city Il beL-
te, service through this new ma
chinerv than it could ii it simply
made an out ay for a six-year con-
tract.
The Mayor replied that the newera
va, ing 10. tic City "heu there !
would be changes and he believed
before the term ten years expired
the changes you'd tor the the ci}y's
benefit. He was aware that the
contract expired at midnight but
the contract was award six mouths
ago and il the Directors signed the
contracts all that time time then
there would have been time 10 fix
The matter up. Mayor Fisher be-
lieved as the contract between the
Mayor and CITY Council it required
his signature. lie positively re-
fused to be party to the contract
believing it Tor the best interests of
the city not TO do So
During the conference the ques-
ton Of Welsbach light was not
brought up, but the mayor is not
reticent in expressing what his
action will be on that contract. 1t
will be more stringent than his
action on the electric light ques.
Lion. His approval 10 the Welsbach
light has not vet been asked, but
when it, the mayor will have
10 say.
In speaking of the lighting con-
5ractS last night, after the conference
Mayor Fisher said: | will not approve
,f Il contract that binds the city ten
ears. feel that the bid of the Will
nngton City Electric company for
electric lights, from what know of
t, is fair and equitable. 1t is in fact
believe, very low rate and possibly
lndcr nocircumstances at the present
ime, unless the city owned its own
liant, could the city get as good a
lighting service for the price asked,
mt feel that it is my duty not to
lind the city for ten years. when SO
many improvements are being made. |
ix wears feel would be proper, but
will not give my consent for a long ;
+ period. {
Regarding the Welshback light ,un- |
.ss change my mind very much, l +
ill not approve of contract for that q
ght for ten years. One year think ,
! long enough for that kind of a light {
n really it is an experiment, l feel, c
u street lighting. G
| have been out in the early
and have seen some of the
.mps that have been installed and
Mess there is some improvements in {
! the system | think one year is long c
nough. '
| know the Welsh back light from b
prsonal experience, and have my O
Dubts as to its efficiency in street I
ghting. u have one in my cellar, n
here the air Can get at it and that "
ght cost to keep in proper condition, Il
'ur times as much. Ishouldjudge, ,as IL
does tokeep the Welshback lights
my Office in good condition. | buy i ,
le very best mantels and having the
ttle exposure it does, its cost is a v
rious matter. If it is so easily ef- Il
cted, surely the lights ON the street n