Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-04-02
A FEW FACTS
In Relation to the Electric Lighting Fran.
chise.

As Wauwatosa citizens are to be Civ
en- an opportunity to vote upon the
Electric Lighting franchise which was
passed by the common council on Au-
gust 4th last. at the coming municipal
election in this city few facts in ex-
PLANTATION of the situation may be of in
terest at this time.
Some fifteen years ago Mr.. f. r.
Godfrey obtained from the town board
of Wauwatosa permit to operate a
commercial lighting plant in territory
which is now within the city of Wau-
watosa This right and the business
which was established under this per-
nit were subsequently transferred, to
and acquired by the Milwaukee Light
Heat and Traction Co. The term of
the permit originally granted to Mr..
Godfrey was limited to September
1908.
As the last three year city contract
for sire ct lighting was also limited to
September list, 1908, the common coun-
Gil in the year of 1902 took up the ques-
ton of advisablity Of establishing a
municipal lighting plant, to be operat-
ed in connection with the city water
works; a special committee of the coun-
eli was appointed consisting of Alder
men J 0 Martin. c. A. Gum, James
Lefebcr, G. A Breed and William Won
Baumbach to investigate the question
and report An engineer was employed
to prepare plans, specifications. and
an estimate of probable cost of equip
ping the plant and the plans. specifica-
tions and estimate of cost were duly
prepared and placed on file in the city
clerk 5 office Meanwhile the Wauwa-
tosa Advancement Club had been or
gained. and at the suggestion of some
of its members as well as of some of
the city officials a committee was APP
pointed by the Advancement Club, to
investigate the question and report in
an advisory way the result Of its inves-
vancement Club consisted of Henry
Leisk. c. G. Wade and j. o. Myers,
and after making a thorough study of
the situation the committee of the Adj
vancement Club made report which
was delivered to the committee Of the
council The report which was signed
by Captain Henry LETSK, Mr. Wade
and Mr.. Myers, strongly advised
against installing a city plant, for the
reason among others that in the opin-
ion of the committee a plant conld not
be operated under municipal owner
ship in the city in such Il manner as to
furnish light as good or as cheap us the
same was then being furnished by the
Milwaukee Light and Traction Com
pany.
The Advancement Club committee
further reported that in all probable
ity a municipal plant at the end of ten
years would he greatly deteriorated and
practically worn out, or in other words
worth no more as an investment than
it would have cost for repairs. The
report of the committee which was
signed by Captain LeislS and the other
members concluded with these words.
Are there any small lighting plants
in the country that are giving twenty
tours hours service and losing no more
minutes in twenty-four hours than is
lost under the present arrangements
Service furnished by the Light Heat
and Traction Co. or which give any
steadier current; furthermore is it not
a fact that the Milwaukee Plant is be-
ing enlarged and improved and that
all is being done that unlimited capi-
tai and long experience together
with the services of first class en-
gineers commanding higher prices than
we could afford to pay can do to inn
prove the service.
After the foregoing report had been
made by the committee consisting of
Captain LeiSll, Mr.. Wade and Mr.. My
ers, the common council decided that
1t would be unwiSe to bond the city to.
raise funds with which to construct a
municipal plant and after advertising
for proposals for lighting the streets
on three or Ave year contracts for
which bids were received both for gas
and electric lighting on three and FIVE
year contracts, a contract was award
ed in April 1903 to the Light Heat and
fraction Company for five years. the
price for five years being at lower
rate than the price quoted for three
years and the Electric Company being
the lowest bidder. As the city contract
above mentioned covered only street
/ lighting, and because of the fact that
the privilege to light private bulldogs
and residences W as To expire on Sept
/ LIST 1908. the Light Heat and Traction
I Company applied for franchise for