Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-10-30
NJ u NIC|PAL
LIGHT LAW.
Newark to Get a Legal Opinion
; on. the Power Of the City in
That Regard.

NEWARK, Oct. 30:-Confdent
that the installation of a municipal
electric lighting plant would mean an
enormous saving in a year, the re-
publican board of works commission
ers in Newark yesterday submit
ted to Joseph Cault, city counsel, a
request for his advice as TO what
right the board possessed in estab-
fishing Il plant. A report of two cleo
engaged teastudy the possibilities of
establishing an experimental station
on the site of the cid pumping sta
ton in Belleville, which would have
Il capacity of about five hundred are
lights. prompted the commissioners
to reach their conclusion.
The installation of such a plant, ii
was shown. wonld mean a saving of
at least $32 a lamp each year and
would make it possible for the city
TO care for all the lighting north of
the Lackawanna railroad.
Special emphasis was laid on the
great saving which the engineers
said laid the project would mea to
the city, but the question had long
been under advisement by the board,
and the commissioners were practi-
cally agreed on the proposition. AS
far back as March of this year Pres
ident Eggers of the board brought
to the attention of the finance COM
mittee of the Common Council that
the city was the owner of a pumping
plant which, he said at the time,
would serve admirably as a lighting
plant. 1t was in June that Chief En-
gineer Morris Sherrerd was instruct
ed to engage the electrical engineers,
and they have made an exhaustive
study of the electric lighting situa-
ton, with the result that they have
found conditions ripe for the first
step of Newark in the municipal
ownership movement.
The question of an experimental
station was the nucleus of the boards
consideration, but the question of
lighting the entire city was gone in
to, and the saving, as figured out
roughly, seemed to impress the COM
missioners.
1t was explained in a discussion on
this particular phase of the question
that three separate propositions had
already been presented for considera-
tion by persons who were willing to
assume the task of installing the
plant for a stipulated term of years,
say ten years, at the expiration of
which time the plant would revert
to the city without further cost. The
engineers in summing up the entire
electric lighting situation recon-
mend that a plant with a capacity of
five hundred lamps be erected imme-
diately. as outlined in the report they
submitted and that If necessary legis-
lation be obtained authorizing a bond
issue to cover the expense. In fail
ing to get the proper legislation, 1t
was suggested that provision be made
in the tax levy next year to realize
the necessary amount. The engi-
neers further recommended that
specifications be at once prepared
and proposals asked for not later
than May l of next year for the light
ing of the city after September /,
1908. at which time the present con
with the Public Service Corpor-
expires.
There is ample room to permit of
charging any plant erected on the
site in Belleville to provide for a ca
pacity of ten thousand lights.
The realization of this project will
naturally mean a great blow to the
Service Corporation. At pres
emit, under q contract which has been
In effect since the United Electric
Company was merged in the Public !