The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-12-02

in the arraneem is that hereaf-
ter families using the light must
make their own renewals of lamps
In the past the company has made
the renewals of all breakage. The
cost of an ordinary lamp is 20 cents
or eighteen cents if a number is
taken. The breakage and wear of
lamps is very small compared to
the very great reduction made in
its rates by the light company. The
same arrangement will be allowed
business places that use the light
continually in case they desire to
install meters, save that the mini
mum rate to private consumers
will not apply. The new rates to
private consumers are to go into
effect January T..
OTHER BIDDERS STILL UNKNOWN.
A brief communication from the
Jones people was read while the
ordinance was under consideration.
The statement was signed by Thorn
as Jones, and declared that if Civ
en- the opportunity. a lower /: bid
would. be offered, The council
did not consider that the communi-
cation was tangible enough to nier-
it consideration No statement as
to the identity of the bidders was
made, and no evidence submitted
in the new communication as to
the financial standing of the pro.
posed bidders, Both of these are
essentially factors in any contract
to be made by the city for so long
a period as 10 years, aud the alb
sence of information on both points
made it difficult for the members
to assume the responsibility of de-
laying for further consideration, !
The mistake of the competitors
all along, has been in not disclos-
ing their identity fully, and in CIV
ing the conncilmen a full view of
their purposes and plans as evil
dence of good faith. Of the fnan-
cial stability of the Porter com
pany, there was no doubt, and the
council took no chances in deal
ing with them. With the other
people all unknown, factor of risk
was manifest. especially in view of
the fact that in the last offer there
was neither certified check or offer
of substantial bond.
WHAT JONES BID sAvRD CITY.
Oft the Jones people, there is,
however, one thing to be said. To
the unexpected and opportune ap-
pearance of their first bid is due the
fact thaf-a comparatively short term
contract has been made, and at
prices much lower than would have
been possible had they not appear
ed as competitors for the franchise,
The local company refused fifteen
years contact at So.a5 for arcs and
81. 46 for incandescents. After the
Jones people appeared, the local
company accepted ten years con-
tract at SIS for arcs and $I.35 for
incandescents. The difference on a
basis of fifteen arcs for street light
ing for fifteen years, had the local
company have finally accepted the
latter term, would have been s., 375
which amount is saved. to say
no. hing Of annual in crest and the
natural increase in light consump-
ton as the period advances the
saving of which large amount is
due to the timely APPEARANCE of the
Jones bid.
The council has ordered eight arc
lights by way of experiment, with
a probability that othefs will be
added. -Four will be placed on
Main street. probably as follows:
One at Hotel Corvallis corner, one
at the OCCIDENTAL corner one at the
corner OF Main and Jefferson. and
one at the R. M Wade corner. Of
the other four it is the present plan
to place one at the City Hall cor
ner, one on the top of the court
house. one near the end of south
Fourth street, and one in the wi
cinity of the public school build
ing, This plan may of course be
somewhat changed. It is expected
thatthe new lights will be in op.
arof;o+, aocsihJx1 hx1 the I,o1idouc