The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-04-23
BOARD OF
ALDERMEN
New Contract for Street Light
ing Discussed by the Board
on Monday Night.
FIFTY ARC LAMPS CALLED FOR


The board of aldermen held especial
meeting on Monday to consider the
question of street lighting. All the
aldermen were present at the meet
ing except Alderman Owen who came
but, stating that he was i'll, left bEe
hoard room before the meeting was
called to order.
Alderman Twining, chairman OF the
street lighting committee, reported
that the committee had held num-
her Of meetings in reference to inn
nyoyed service. and had prepared a
new form of contract and thought it
proper to advertise for bids for the
service under the contract.
The town clerk was set at reading
the new contract, which covered hf-
teen sheets of typewriter paper. Ihe
contract was for the term OF i've years
from January first next, and called
first. for the company successful IN
the bidding to lay before that time
conduits of yitrified clay around the
Park and down South street and Mad
ison avenue to the town limits, and af-
ter that one mile year OF new con-
duit during the life of the contract,
and at the completion OF these sec
tions to remove the poles in use. The
line poles are to be of wood, octagonal
in shape, with iron poles OF designs
shown in the contract for suspendlng
arc lamps and iron poles for portion
of the incandescent lamps. The poles
for the lamps are to be located by the
engineer under the direction OF the
committee. Arc lamps are to be OF
the magnetic type with luminome-
ter test provided. Arc lamps are TO
be not less than fifty in number, ana
NOT less than four hundred and ffty
incandescent lamps.
Just here questions were asked Dy
Alderman Mowery as to present con-
ditions. He was told that at preseno
there are seventeen arc lamps anu
about the same number OF incandes-
cents and gas lamps as called for.
The arc lamps are said to be OF l,2Oo
candle power, but Alderman TWlnlng
stated that this was only trade name
and none of the arcs are supposed TO
give more than four hundred candle
power, while they actually give about
two hundred. Alderman Mowery also
brought up some matters about the
wording which were discussed for
some time.
For the clock in the First Presby-
terian Church four fifty candle power
lights are required. A penalty OF $40
for failure of lighting is imposed, TO-
gether with clause by which the
town only pays for light supplied.
Alderman Twining, on question
. of Alderman Mowery's, stated that at
s85 and 500, the new prices OF the Puo-
lie service in towns to go into ef1ect
later. the cost under the proposed con-
oract would be $13,250. Alderman
Mowery asked whether in the event
of other companies bidding and wish
ing to supply lights to private parties
"a franchise would be required and was
told that such would be the case. Ihe
present lighting appropriation is Slo,-
. 600.
The matter of the expiration OF the
present contract on October hrst was
also brought out and it was declared
that the present company could not
under the law shut off the lights and
leave the town in a hole until the new
contract goes into effect.
Alderman Thompson brought up
the matter of the ruthless cutting OF
shade trees for pole lines and Alder
man Mowery spoke on the same line.
Alderman Twining said that the con-
tract should be kept workable, but
believed that if new company should
come in, considering the present price
of high poles, he thought that large
part of the wires would be put under
ground at once rather than remove a
pole line after two or three years ser
vice.
The Importance of shade trees was
discussed, also the rights of the town
and abut1ing property owners In the
matter. Alderman Day stated thab
a shade tree commission can be ap-
pointed under the law.
The form of contract was ratifled by
unanimous vote and advertisements
ordered published, calling for the pre-
sention Of bids on May Is, an earlier
date having been suggested, but being
considered by some as too little time
for bidders to come in.
Alderman Mowery asked if the fact
that Joseph York had served as a
councilman when not citizen would
invalidate any of the town ordinances.
The opinion seemed to be that It
would not, although the counsel mad