The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-01-10
Mr.. NEVES GIVES HIS SIDE
Some Facts Concerning the Street
Lighting Situation in Harrington.

LlEnN lIanl hIllNtu VI lD"H NuN' fth'
and TINT night attended meeting OF
the City Council which, among other
city lighting contract. At this meet
ing an ordinance was passed creating
"A Lighting Committee Of two with VA.
tious described powers, but particularly
with the power to submit AL acceptable
contract to the next meeting Of the
council, which was to take place Nov
9Th, fJr the sole purpose Of letting
street lighting contract.
The time of the lessee and also for
mer Manager Gus Sessinghaus was
given up entirely to this committee
aud prices were submitted on what
they said they wanted, and a very one.
sided contrpc, drawn, which with only
reasonable notifications by the lessee,
was accepted. This contract espec-
ally protected the city in It's service,
giving it not only the right 10 cancel
contract at ANY time service was not
first class, but it also gave the city the
right to make deductions in the shape
Of fines Tor each lamp not burning.
This contract was for an all.night
rvcry-night hight, or for what is called
by the Lighting company, iCUO hours
per year schedule.
At this meeting Of the Council Il
schedule was adopted for four or more
arc lights aud SO or more 32.candle-
power incandcscent lights, but when il
came to the price, which was slight
reduction to the city per lamp hour,
the council discovered or brought
forth the fact that this town might 20
local option aud the city would then
be unable to pay for the Lighting, aud
on the assertion by one Of the members
Of this possibility, the motion to pay
was lost, which lost the contract to
the Lighting Co.
The Mayor at that time asked, al
they had turned down our proposition,
If any Of them had anything to offer as
substitute, but after considerable
time elapsing and no one offered any
plan under which the city could or
would contract for street lighting, the
Mayor asked for motion to adjourn,
which was duly made and seconded
and the council adjourned.
Although the city contract expired
Saturday night, the 9th. of November,
lessee not wishing 10 be contrary or
hffront the citizens Of Pennington,
kept the street lights burning sunday
night, Nov. 10. Monday lessee tried
~ get some members Of the council to
say they wunld guarantee the payment
Of street lights at the old rate until the
next meeting of the council. Dec. ,,
aud made an appointment with one Of
the lighting committee through Mr.
Sessinghaus at the hotel for $3.50 p
M, but this member did not appear to
keep his appointment aud The lights
were not burned that night Tuesday
one of the Lighting committee called at
the plant and said they would guaran.
tee payment of light bill under the old
schedule, and to show the citizens of
Pennington and the board that we
could give good service, we accepted
same, knowing that they would burn
at loss to the plant. Under this ar.
rangement lights were burned until
Dec. 2, and bill presented to the board
on that date and paid. During this
time lessee made several appointments
with the lighting committee and tried
to ind out in many ways what the
board wanted, but most Of the time
was treated with contempt.
The committee called ON us about
Nov. 90, apparently to talk business,
and we gave them all Of our time de.
mnnded and suggested the many diff.
ierent lighting propositions that had
come under observation of lessee 10
long aud varied experience at public
lighting. One wass finally drawn up
and the lessee against his judgment
said he would accept it. This was
solely in the interest Of peace and har.
mony, as lessee knew that for the first
year he would not only be losing about
5000, but that he would also have to
make an investment Of over $500 in
arc lights, transformers aud wiring to
install same. Sunday night, Dec. /,
lessee met the majority of the board
and tried to show them why the con.
tract they wanted him to take was not
to either their advantage or the light.
ing plant, but they insisted that that
amount of money was all they would
spend, and that was the only contract
they would accept, We parted that
night with the distinct understanding
that would accept the contract and
regarded the matter as settled, al.
thUagh very uuiavorable TO the light
i