The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-19
CITY LIGHT FRANCHISE
THERE ARE FOUR PROSPECTIVE
BIDDERS FOR THE CONTRACT.
Specifications Prepared by the City
Engineer Gone Over with the
Board Of Works.

The Board of Public Works is preparing
it's specifications for the competition for
the pulic-lighting contract. The bids are to
be received the last of next month or early
in July and are for a contract extending
from Jan. i, 1905, to Dec. 81 1915.
Specifications prepared by City Engineer
Nelson were discussed with representa-
tives Of the Indianapolis Light and Power
Company, the Home Heating and Lighting
Company, the Merchants Heating and
Lighting Company, and the Marion County
Heating and Lighting Company, all pros
pective biders for the contract. Nearly
four hours were spent In this conference.
which was held in the private Office of the
Board of Public Works behind closed
doors. At its conclusion the board stated
that great many changes had been
agreed to and that the specifications would
not be announced until they were revised.
THREE FEATURES OMITTED.
Three features of the specifications pre-
pared by Mr.. Nelson, ii is understood,
will be omitted. One offered a franchise
for private lighting at rate per 1000
watts. not to exceed 10 cents for twenty
five years a part Of the contract; an
other required the successful bidder TO
leave with the board the right to permit
other companies to use the poles of the
successful company; another made 1t pos
sible to require the successful company to
abandon its conduits and place them in a
general subway" which the city reserved
to itself the right to construct in the I'M
foreground district. These provisions were
taken out but it is probable a provision
will be inserted assuring any successful
bidder not now having a franchise for priv
ate lighting franchise for this purpose
The specifications were returned TO the
city engineer and the city attorney for
revision. Other changes OF minor import
ance were also made.
The specifications include these provi-
sions:
There shall not be less than 1,5Oo lights
and not more than Is per cent. of them
shall be incandescent
The lamps shall be enclosed arc and in
candescents with alternating series.
Bidders must present legal evidence of
their authority to bid. must not be i'm di-
rect or indirect collision, must accompany
their bids with a certified check for $40 600.
and must give bond, II successful, in the
sum of $4,000.
The board reserves the right to reject
The successful bidder must pay per
cent. OF the gross receipts to the city.
The lights shall be turned on half an
hour after sunset and remain burning until
half an hour before sunrise.
INSPECTORS AND ELECTRICIAN.
The city reserves the right to employ in
spectors and an electrician at the expense
of the successful bidder.
Lights shall be installed in parks at the
same price as In the city. providing five
arc or twenty incandescent lamps are used
for each mile of lines, but the Park Board
may make any other contract
al he I,trf nc
| the last year OF the contract.
Extension for private lighting shall be
| made when a petition shows that sixteen
| incandescent lights will be used to each 400
| feet.
The city reserves the right TO purchase
| the plant at the expiration of the contract
| by giving one years notice. II the city
| and the company cannot agree as to the
price they shall be bound by the finding OF
| a board of arbitration composed Of three
members, one named by the city, one by
| the company, they 60 choose the third
| who must be a mechanical and electrical
| engineer.
| The form for bidding will also be revised
1 The price 10 be bid is for each lamp by the
wear The city agrees 10 make all payments
| to the company monthly.