Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-04
ARC LIGHTS FOR $40
Proposition Submitted by Consol.
idated Electric Company.
Will Not Reduce Price of Incandcsccnt
LiEhts--Aldcrman Shea Makes His
Usual. Attack on the Fire
Department.

The monthly meeting of the board of
aldermen Was held Monday night
and FOR over an hour the business of the
board was delayed by an utterly useless
attack by Alderman Shea upon the con-
duct of the fire department. During the
evening Il proposition TO furnish street
lights for the city was received from tho
Consolidated Electric company, whereby
they agree to furnish arc lights for $40
per year. They refused to reduce the
price of incandescent lights. n large
amount of routine business was also
transacted. All of the aldermen were
present.
The first business to he taken up was
the payment of bills contracted during
the past month. All were ordered paid
except those presented by the police ana
fire departments. Alderman Shea object
cd to paying officers T. Il. Coon and H.
T.. Rivers. claiming they We're Illegally
appointed. The bill was ordered paid
after the amounts claimed 10 he due the
officers mentioned were deducted. The
pay roll of the fire department started
Alderman Shea and for over an hour he
talked about the department and quos-
toned Alderman Richardson about the
methods of doing business. He objected
to paying some of the men as he claimed
they were not legal members of the de-
partment. He accused the fire committee
of illegally reducing Captain Brown and
changing his station. Alderman Richard
son replied that the city attorney had
been consulted i'm the matter and that
the course pursued by the committee had
been approved by Mr.. Brown. Alderman
shea movcd that the mayor investigate
the department and determine who the
legal inomherS are: \ yea and nay vote
was called for and the motion was lost
10y a vote Of to p all but Aldermen
Shea and Courtney voting against the
resolution. Alderman Shea then made a
protest against paying men who are not
legal members of the department.
The street committee reported that
they had communicated with the Console
dated Electric company and had received
the following proposition from Superin-
tendent Parker:
In reply to your request for a PROPOSE
zion from this company 10 furnish the
city of Burlington with street lights.
would say that we agree to furnish 40
watt enclosed are lamps burning all night
and every night from dark TO dawn for
period of five years from September J..
1902. for So per lamp per year. We will
continue the present lamp until such
time as we purchase and install the en-
closed arc lamps. These lamps are such
rs are in use in all the principal cities
Of the country and represent the latest
advance in electric illumination.
In second letter Mr.. Parker wrote
Alderman Shea relative to the price of
incandescent lights as follows:
IN reply to the inquiry made by your
committee as to whether this company
proposes to reduce the price charged for
incandeScent lights, we beg To call the
attention of your committee to the fact
that on March |. We reduced our house
rates of u and ID cents to 10 cents. making
uniform rate for all currents furnished
10 consumers. This rate is lower by soV-
eral cents than The rate charged in New
England cities of this size and we cannot
sec our way clear to make any further
reduction"
The report was ordered on file upon the
motion OF Aldermen Shea.
petition FOR improvements on La
fountain street was referred to the street
commissioners.
a petition to curb, gutter and lay sdo-
walk on Monroe street from Champaign
to Battery street was referred to the
street commissioners.
Petitions to sprinkle Weston and Henry
streets and Converse Court were referred
TO the street commissioners.
The street commissioners reported in
favor Of the petition to curb and lay a
sidewalk on Crombie street
The city treasurer was authorized 10
borrow a sum not to exceed $1,000 To bay
the accrued and accruing Liabilities Of
the city
The fire committee was authorized to
purchase minor equipments for the de-
partmont.
a resolution was adopted authorizing
the water commissioners to lay ppe for
W. C.. A. S. and L. s. Isham in their
proposed street,
The city treasurer was authorized to
borrow a sum not TO exceed 5000 to M ct
expense of constructive work of the
water department for the season.
The bonds of the several city officials
were received and accepted.