The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-16
One Will Be Installed in City Hall
and Another in the Insane
Asylum.
COMPANY TENDERS HIGH BID.
Missonri-Edison Electric Company
Hastens Construction of Plants
Several Months by In
creasing Its Rate.

The city Of St. Louis VIII have its own
electric lightning plants. This result has
been fastened by the prIvaTr companies
The M!ssOuri-Edison Electric Company,
corporation which obtained its franchise
from the city, yesterday submitted higher
bid than last year for lighting public build
ings located south of Washing on avenue.
The bid was ~ cents a kilo2 att, this be-
ing Il: cents more than a year ago. Tho
bid Of the Laclede Gas Light Company fox
lighting buildings north OF Washington ave-
nue. was cents. the same rate as last
year ,
Al special meeting. the Board of Public
improvements awarded contracts to both
concerns. AS soon as the awards were made
A. Ross. of the LaCiede and S B. Pike.
of the Missouri Edison. left the chamber.
Scarcely had they reached the door before
Secretary Edwards began reading an ordi-
nance. formulated BY President Phillips,
providing for installation of a municipal
electric generating plant in the City Hall.
Another bill was read authorizing construc-
ton Of a lighting plant in the Insane Asy-
lum.
Boti bills we-e unanimously approved by
the board and will be read the first time
next Tuesday evening in the House of Dele
gates. The City Hall plant will cost about
$4,000 and the Insane Asylum plant about
$1,000.
When the board adjourned at noon. after
the bidI were read. President Phillips in
formed COMPTROLLER Player Of the increase
in the MissOuri-Edison rate and asked II
the lighting plants could not be built at
once. Go ahead" said the Comptroller.
Wen find the money
Plans for the City Plants.
The City Hall plant will furnish electricity
for lighting the City Hall. Four Courts and
Jail. old City Hall. Courthouse and engine
house No 6. The asylum plant will supply
light to the Insane Asylum. Female Hospi-
tai. Poorhouse and engine-house No. 35
Secretary Pike of the Tissouri-Edison ex-
pressed the opinion that President Phillips
was misquoted in yesterdays Republic in an
Interview stating that the city would build
plants of its own if the bids should not be
lower. Mr.. Phillips also stated that the
companies were demanding higher rates
from the city than from private consumers
The increase in the rate south of Wash
ington avenue is equivalent to about sI.70O
in a year. But the board Is resolved that
the company shall not do the lighting any
longer than possible. The contract IS SO
worded that the city can discontinue the
service In any. or all. buildings at any time.
No doubt" said Mr. Pike. President
Philips was TnlS(luOItu III Tue INepuDile. 1Ae
surely knows that our rate to the city Is
not higher than rates extended 10 private
patrons. OF course. some concerns receive
lower rates in the underground district, but
none get as low rate in outlying districts.
I'VE We're obliged TO increase the rate this
year for several very good reasons. Sal
aries are higher, fuel costs more and all
OF our expenses are greater. l consider
these very good reasons.
boulevard Improvement Hearing.
AT 10 o'clock yesterday morning public
hearing was conducted on the proposed i'm
provement of De Giverville avenue, from
Union boulevard to Skinker road; Water
man avenue from Belt avenue to Skinker
road; Demar boulevard. from Kings High
way boulevard to Union boulevard, and
Union boulevard, from Delmar boulevard
to the north line of Forest Park.
The Parkview Realty Company filed
written remonstrance against the De Oliver
vile and Waterman improvements, but no
other protests We're entered.
Boulevard Improvement Hearing.
The Gerhart Realty Company urged tho
improvements and suggested that sewers
be constructed and water mains laid. The
petitions were referred to the Committee
on Street Department.
The following were the lowest bids for
sewer construction: Tower Grove joint
district sewer Sl3S O27.70; Rock Springs joint
district sewers, rejected on account of an
omission in the proposal, and order issued
for another letting; sewers In Wyoming
street District No. l, s2,2iS.70, and Rock
Springs District No. 10. $5.S36.40.
Street Commissioner Narrelmann was
granted twenty days leave Of absence from
Monday, and Harbor and Wharf Commits
sioner Whyte thirteen days from August 2o.