New-York tribune., 1903-03-14

On the representation of Colonel Robert Grier
Monroe. Commissioner of Water Supply, Gas
and Electricity, that the city Is paying mucn
more for its gas than Chicago. Detroit and, in
fact, any other large city, the Board of Esti-
mate and Apportonment yesterday took the
initial steps for the building OF a municipal
Ii ghting plant
The action of the board almost sensa-
tional in it's suddenness. The report of the
commissioner produced profound IMPRESSION
and some of the more radical members Of the
board were ready to declare for municipal own
ership Of lighting plants at
Mayor Low took leading part in the discus
sion. Apparently he gratif1ed that Colonel
Monroe had begun crusade against the Gas
Trust On the Mayors own suggestion he was
authorized to draft a bill empowering the city
to build its own lighting plant, and also author
izng the city to make a ten year contract with
the privilege Of revising the terms every two
and one-half years.
Mayor Low offered a resolution, which was
quickly adopted, directing Commissioner Monroe
to secure the services Of expert for the pur-
pose Of furnishing the board an estimate OF the
cost of lighting plant. Colonel Monroe sug-
gested Blackwell's Island as an admirable loca-
tion for municipal lighting plant.
Controller Grout said that he was In favor OF
sending a ball to the legislature authorizing the
city to pay a fair price for electric ana gas
lighting, and letting the lighting companies II
they wished, attempt to collect by legal process
the difference between a reasonable rate and
the alleged excessive rates now charged the city.
Borough President Cassidy of Queens said that
lighting experiments at the Queens sewage dis
posal station demonstrated that with an ex-
penditure of $25,00O the city could build plant
that would furnish ncandescent lights at one
quarter the cost at present.
Commissioner Monroe says that by System
of legerdemain the capitalization of the Eolson
company originally consisting OF SS'-VV'"''
stock and $65O0OO0 bonds. has been Increased
to SS5 600 900, and he declares that the monop-
oily Of the lighting companies is SO complete tnAt
there is no competitive bidding for the city con-
tracts The enormous valuation of the llgntmg
companies he asserts, is based on the pront per-
mitted by the present monopoly system.
Accommodating the Commissioners report are
charts and tables setting forth the comparative
cost of lighting in this and other cities ana an
elaborate report from c. F. Lacombe. engineer
Of sub-surface construction in Colonel Monrce's
department.
Il am unwilling" says the Commissioner IN
his letter to the Board of Estimate and Appor-
ti5nrnent after citing a clause of the charter
governing the letting of contracts, Ito execute
the contracts upon the bids submitted Thy the
lighting companies), and l recommend in the
interest of the public that all bids he rejected
Continuing, the Commissioner says:
the FIVE the ngta shas sns vas
In In t6ns fhs 'try pSyosh WhePe there has been
consolidation the territory has neen aPporuonea;
have m enf been ABSORBED by single corporstlon and
there is no rvafry even pet"Tse PonsoIfdae Gas
Company Of SewYork: controls all the sas and
tan as well as ali gas and electric light facilities
in the more important sections Of the Borough @ Of
dnIy dhs 6pent 5oes the price remain sed ali
msnt de IN the exenson proVded with
1ncandescent nantles is greatly needed By .,r thus
times the illumination given by the open burner
It costs chicago s. year additional o1s te for orGnRP "mP
Of Manhattan sli 50 additiona and for the same i'm
Ss cScaeo Se bas P Of pees we could
enough on the $500 high priced Welsbaeh lamps S IN IN
nefectivs open burners to iGcandescent naT man
M tie stTees Eeet IN those borouehs per and
Of the bp Section Sc of the be so
amended that the Commissioner OF Water supply.
Gas and ELECTRICITY may make ma sr such &c n6F et
ceeding three years when authorzed by the Board Board
eRs Ds astmse be- passed the Bosrd Of Estimate
rionment can consider all on tho 20
supplies under consideration and contracts fair to
both parties be enterGd mt rel % intS lighting for this
veaP is ss a. The corresponding appropra
efatenoe eGa IN ss smonnted e%S nsTssss @
FIVE has s. T GT
appropriated this year. in view Of the prices asked
IL entirely inadequate TO meet the reasonaple re-
uurements OF the city. Unless there Is mateTiaI
reduction in prices the annual appropriation lye
Years hence must necessarily equal or exceed SS-
0O000O Sixty per cent of our entire appropIiaItoh
or about s90OO.0Oo will be expended for electric
lights. 49, ,,.,oa hid for a
e0o0-ca ndle power electric lamp Is SIS The PTice
In rookIyn for 1.2OO-c candle power lamp Is NZA ~
have secured from sxty-eIsht cities throughout
the country the prices paid to the various electric
light companies for supplying these cities win
2oOo-candIe power lamps. end the average Price rice
is Sss 60 In tWeNty-three other cities using -S-
csnGIe power lamps the average price is $Sl o.
The combination which now imposes exoroitant
nrices lroon New-York is formidable. but 10 my
mind its strength Is more apparent than real
The capitalization Of the eleetrie ght c1mpNSaSs tn pNaH
York Edison Gonpany II s neE S &c ca pa1 paase6 ht
Ing the total SIS s3S O0o The original company the
Edison Electric Illuminating Company, Which
Many a distressed sufferer from Lung or Throat
trouble who had hope under the false icea that
his disease was tncurabe. has been restored to per-