Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-18
GAN NOT AGREE ON
PLANS FOR LIGHTING
Water Works Committee Has
Friendly Differences as to
What Should Be Done
CLARK FAvoRs THE OLD LAMPS
Webster and Mcbride, Other Members
Of the Council Committee, Think
New System Would Be Economical
Solution of Lighting Problem - No
Report is Made.

The water works and electric light
committee of the city council is unable.
to agree on the plans for lighting
system, and instead of advertising for
bids, as the council had directed, the
committee, thru Chairman Webster
reported to the council at the adjourned
meeting Monday night that the COM
mittee would like further time. The
committee is having friendly differences
regarding just what should be done 20
solve the light question in MARSHALL
town. and Chairman Webster asked for
a written report of the minority, 10
be presented at the next regular meet
ing.
Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Mcbride are
of the opinion that the economical So
luton Of the lighting problem lies IN
the installation of new system, which,
while 1t will cost more at the begin
ming, will save money in the long run.
Mr.. Clark, the third member, thinks
that the old system can be made to do
by placing into service number Of
old style lights that the city owns. and
make certain improvements to the cir
cults. shortening the two, perhaps, and
making three instead Of two
Mr.. WEBSTER, in making his report
on the plans, which the committee was
authorized to prepare, explained the
differences of the committee, and said
that at the present time the committee
did not feel like making any recommen-
dations. He explained his views ana
those Of Mr. Mcbride, and also OUT
lined Mr.. Clark's ideas as to what
might be done. Mr. Webster said he
thought the council should give the
matter a thorough investigation, and
If it considered that the old plant could
be made to do, and give the service re-
uuired, that was the way to solve the
problem. He did not consider, however,
that retrenchment was always econ
omy.
Mr. Webster said that from the
point of view held by him at the pres
emit time he did not see where there
could be any economy in again placing
into service lamps that were first ine
stalled eighteen or twenty-five years
ago. were not now even manufactur-
ed, and had been discarded years ago
and replaced with newer pattern.
Superintendent Matsen, of the water
works. had declared that these lamps
could not be operated with economy,
because it requires more labor to care
for them. Mr.. Webster thought that II
the city could install a lamp that could
be cared for with ease, and would
give better light, he thought the coun-
Gil should make the improvement, and
not refuse to answer the demands of
the public and go back to an old lamp.
In asking MI. Clark to prepare 9, report
to the council on his views, Mr.. Web
ster stated that when this was done
Superintendent Madsen could present
what could be done with the the new
lamps, and then the council could de-
eide the question on its merits.
Mr.. Clark presented his views as to
the advisability of again putting into
service the old style lamp, a number Of
which the city has had since they We're
discarded years ago. Mr.. Clark added,
however, that he was not at all "hide
bound" on this question and was open
to conviction. His views had been
formed by looking over the situation
and he could not help but believe that
the old system could be patched up and
made to last some time. Mr.. Clark ex-
planned that there were now 100 lamps
on the circuit, and that the dynamo
and engine were overloaded. BY using
the old style lamp exclusively, and
there were ninety in the circuit now,
he thought 160 lights could be carried
with ease. The old lamps, known as
the open arc, are of 1900 candle pow
er, while the newer ones, or enclosed
arcs, are 1000. In his opinion the old
lamps gave equally as good, if not bet
ter light than the newer ones. Mr..
Clark considers that if a new system
is installed the city can not avoid an
expenditure Of at least 11,000
or $4,000, the cost of lamps
dynamos and extensions. Mr.. Clark
said as he understood the question
from the standpoint of the public, it
was not so much a question of quality
Of light as 1t was the absence of it.
He thinks that by making repairs to
the present system, and adding twen-
ty-five or thirty more lights, it would
be wiser thing to do than to create
the expenditure of a new and up-to-
date system. He was in favor, how
ever of putting in system that would
give the best results and please the
most people,
Mayor Ingledue addressed the coun-
Gil on the subject, and urged that the
members give the question their most
careful study and thought "The peo-
pie are very anxious to have something
DONE" said Mr.. Ingledue, "as all mem
bers who have been on the council any
length of time know. The lighting
question is not like paving, and the
expense will not be forced upon one
person more than another. I believe
the people want more lights, and are
becoming impatient because the coun-
ell has not seen its way clear to grant
the numerous petitions. some of which
have been before the council now for
three years. know that I have been
pounded pretty hard myself, as
member of the council. While do not
want to see any extravagant admin
istration, neither do 1 want an admin
istration that will be considered mig
gardly, retarding progress or going
backward. I hope the council will in