The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-17
City Assumes Burden.

1t is physically impossible for the gas conf
pany to provide an even pressure, owing to the
remarkable variation In the amount Of gas con-
sulned at different times of the night and day.
In utilizing the services Of contractor to
provide incandescent lighting the city assumes
the burden Of providing gas in such manner as
will permit the contractor giving good service.
Mayor Jones bases his assumption that the
contract price approved by the council for
supplying incandescent lighting for Minneapolis
is exorbitant by comparing these actual con-
tract prices with the alleged and entirely I'M
certain cost of municipal ownership and main
tenance of incandescent lighting equipment In
mtted to the council and the newspapers in
complete aud inaccurate figures proporting to
represent the cost OF maintaining incandescent
lights In the cities Of Cleveland and Chicago
under municipal ownership. - ,.;s / \ <ES-&
His authority for stating that $e.16 was the
cost of maintaining an incandescent lamp one
year is based on the statement Of discredited
and discharged official Of Cleveland. who. as
1t has since been proven was only guessing.
His honor Is we'll aware that these figures he
presents us proporting to represent the entire
cost of maintaining incandescent lights in
Cleveland does not include any charges for
interest on an investment Of approximately
100000, nor is there any provision In this
compilation for the very necessary charge to
cover the deterioration Of the equipment.
| Further, that the supervision of the incan-
descent lighting in Cleveland is paid for out
| of the general lighting fund; also, he has been
| informed that in Cleveland the lamps are taken
care Of by boys who receive compensation OF
SIS and $50 a month. as compared with salaries
of $40 and $45 paid by the Minneapolis con-
! tractor.
Carries Other Items.
The mayor has been informed, too, that the
! lighting specifications Of Minneapolis include
many items not charged up to the lncandescent
service at Cleveland, such thaw1ng out frozen
pipes replacing lamp posts, painting them once
year. providing street signs at all intersec
lions. besides being subject to penalty fol
all lights not found burning
Fair analysis Of sworn detailed state
ment Of the expenses of lighting the city OF
Cleveland, taken from the city auditors books
shows that the actual cost under municipal
ownership Of maintaining incandescent lights
was over So. This figure does not include an.
of the original cost Of the equipment, nor To-
the expense Of installing new lamps. Adding
to this a reasonable charge Of 81 lamp TO
interest which must be paid the bonds ant
for the further charge which must be consfd
Grad II: the depreciation of the equipment, bring
the cost of Cleyeland's 1ncandescent lighting
up to $40.
For special services required from M1nneapo
, lis contractor and not considered in the Cleve
land cost would amount to at least an add
tional rs cents lamp. total Of these item
amounts to s1o75. Deduct this sum from tn
contract price Of $12.25, approved by the cour
Gil, and which Mayor Jones declares Is ez
orbitant, will produce doubtful profit OF $1.5
, a lamp as the proceeds from the city engagin
in supplying its own incandescent lighting. This
however, is contingent upon Minneapolis beiD
prepared to insist upon starvation wages. ~,
. He Cites Figures. -
t 1 submit herewith some figures Of the Cox
: of gas, electricity and incandescent lighting I
j various cities where this service is performe
8 by contract. This data is taken from Brown
e Directory of Lighting, recognized as authent
: and official everywhere From study Of tt
facts and figures, 1t would appear that tt
mayor In his endeavor to enforce economy h;
selected the least vulnerable department chargt
with the duty Of lighting this city. The f.
!. ures speak for themselves, and win bear clio
| scrutiny.