The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-16
THE LIGHT QUESTION.

THE LIGHT QUESTION.
According to the views of the State
Journal, and we believe there is a wide
spread similarity Of public opinion in
the same direction. there are three very
important things for the city council
to do tonight in connection with the
matter Of street lighting.
First, Is to take the necessary action
SO the mayor may issue the proclama-
ton tomorrow. the last day. for a
special election to be held on the day
Of the regular election. April Z, to vote
bonds for the extension and improve
ment OF the present municipal electric
Hight plant.
Second, to make the maximum
amount Of these bonds $4,000.
Third. to specify that this money
shall be handled and expended by an
electric light commission. In this con-
nection the council should push for
ward the ordinance which places the
electric lighting in the hands Of a com
mission. and which ordinance the coun-
Gil has already ordered be drawn. This
ordinance. of course, can be worked out
in detail later.
With the bonds voted. the electric
light commission can discuss and in
vestigate all kinds Of systems, plants.
and propositions and need spend only
so much Of the $4,000 as may seem
advisable and necessary.
The figures submitted by Superin-
tendent Stewart of St. Joseph, to the
meeting Saturday evening, SCI, ,275 SEEM
ed somewhat high upon the face, but
upon a careful investigation Of these
same figures in Mr.. Stewards list of
items which are published elsewhere
In this issue today, 1t should be plain
to the mayor, to the COUNSEL and to
the public that $50. 900 is ample for the
maximum amount to be voted in bonds
at the spring election.
For bond voting purposes the city
could be warranted in assuming that
Superintendent Stewards figures are
correct, holding the one item OF in
stallahon of 158 additional lamps
21,725'' in abeyance.
In other words, according to Mr..
Stewart, we could put our plant In
first class condition, suitable for sup
plying 500 lights. and including the
cost of the 500 lamps. all for $3S,560.
or practically $4,000; rnat is. the diff
ference between Mr.. Stewards total
figures $61.275, and one item of in
stallation OF 1853 additional lamps
$21,T25. The electric light commits
sion would then have on nand mar
gin of $4,000 which II could expend
toward the installation of the addf-
tional lights The figures arrived at
by Councilman Montgomery Of the
ways and means committee and by
Superintendent Goodrich Of our elec-
trio light plant, only reach $1,000 to
cover the item whlun Mr.. Stewart
estimates at $21.7
There is this to be borne in mind:
That of the new lamps, the installa-
ton of 32 will be very modest sum
scarcely worth mentioning. These
are the 32 to replace rne 32 Edison
lights ON Kansas avenue now because
| the city at present has the poles, the
cables, the lamp leaders, the wind
lasses and practically everything fol
the installation, except the lamps and
| the wire nnection. Furthermore, as
Mr.. Stewart himself. suggests. we car
hardly use so many as 500 lights to
| good advantage now. If necessary
| for a while, we can get along beau
! ticuiy with 400 or 450 lights.
Briefly. to analyze a few other fig
ures, 1t might be stated that Mr.. Stew
art has estimated for three 200 horse
power boilers, $4,000. Two boilers
are sufficient. The third one woul6
be simply an emergency boiler; and
furthermore, Joseph Bro1nich has
l - ~; 4,
kind for $500.
| The State Journal is not satisfied
whether the ST. Joseph system is ths
| best system or not.
| It is inclined to believe that there
is better system for less money, bu
| this is one Of the things that only &
| commission can decide after careful
research and expert opinion.
There is this to be noted In pass
| ing: That what is known as the mag
| and another eastern city, is the pc
system of Mr.. Sunny. Woe presiden
and general manager of the Genera
| Electric company, who also happen.
to be the vice president Of the Tope
ka Railway company, thus a partnel
| Of Mr.. Myers, who Is both with tn,
| Edison company and the Topeks
Railway company. Mr.. Sunny may
possibly, az a friend Of Mr.. Myers b.
willing to charge the city of Topeka
more for magnetic lamps than 1
| would be willing to furnish the sam,
lamps to st. Joseph. Supt. Good
rich who is thoroughly familiar will
the Topeka situation, Is Of the opin
ion that 1t would require less thar
$4,000 to fully equip and man ou
plant to produce 500 lights and pu
the 500 lights in place. The city coult
h. 1Irf 10
The action of the Edison compan.
in connection with municipal lighting
is often exasperating. Do the peopl
of Topeka realize that the city is pay
ing the Edison company today SIS Pc
| Ia mn per wear for the thirty-two lamp