Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-01-31
STREET LIGHTING SYSTEM.
Ninety Per Cent of Tax Payers
Want More Lights.

i N0AAS AtASA~ @~@9--
| Abilene has the reputation among
travelling men Of being one Of the
prettiest towns in Kansas by daylight
but the poorest lighted town by night.
| 1t is difficult to understand why we
should be SO far behind our neigh
bors in this respect when we excel IN
others. This is more especially true
when the matter of rates 10 looked
finto. Abilene secures lower rates
for her street lights than any other
city in the state yet we have only
twelve arc lights on our streets and
these are so widely scattered as to be
detriment instead Of a benefit.
junction City has 'tifty-seven arc
lights on the streets and pays 50 each
per month. Manhattan has thirty
four arc lights and also pays higher
rate than Abilene. Salina on our
west uses eighty-fve arc lights and a
large number Of 50 candle power in
candescent lamps in the residence dis
tr cts.
As an evidence that our people are
demanding better street lighting SER
vice we notice that several 80 candle
power lamps have been put up on
the streets and are being maintained
by private subscriptions. One Of
these new lights has been located at
the corner OF Second and Mulberry
and others are lighting East Eighth
street.
A light like these placed at each
street orner is much better than arc
lights scattered over SO wide an area.
A careful canvass Of the plat OF the
CITY shows that it can be thoroughly
lighted by 115 of these lights placing
one on each street intersection. This
would make our city as attractive by
night as it is in the daytime, and in
stead of having the reputation OF
being the most poorly lighted town
we would be known as the most
brilliantly lighted city in the state
A petition has been circulated ask
ing the city council to adopt astreet
lighting service which provides for a
so candle power electric light on
every street corner in the residence
portion Of town. This would give q
much better and more satisfactory
illumination than is possible to get
from arc lights in the residence parts
of town. The electric light company
we understand has agreed to furnish
these lights and keep them in repair
for period of ten years for 81 per
month per so candle power light.
Salina is paying $3.50 per month for
80 candle power lamps.
The great number of trees in our
city make the streets particularly dark
at night and because OF this fact
many of our citizens, especially ladies
and older folks, fear to venture out
after dark.
We are now paying over a thousand
dollars each year for the few arc lights
scattered over the city and these
should be moved into the business
section Of town and the new lights
put up In their stead.
The following tax payers have
signed the petition asking for these
lights. There are over four hundred
names on the petition representing
about 80 per cent Of the taxable prop
erty Of the city and it is difficult to
see how the council can refuse to
grant the request of all these people,
PETITION FOR STREET LIGHTS.
To the Honorable Mayor and Councilmen Of
the City of Abilene, Kansas;
We the undersigned householders residing
within the city of Abilene. Kansas. hereby
petition your honorable body that you cause
an incandescent street light to be placed on
each corner or cross street as Indicated oy
blueprint attached.
navid Matteson A. L. Young
| n q sterl w. r. HartEell
A. W, Rice Hiland SoutnNoSI'n