The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-12-24
Members Of Council Have q Long
Discussion Of Proposed Con-
tract for Lighting City
ALDERMEN PRESENT FIGURES
After Bitter War Of Words Considera
tion of the Matter is Laid over
Until january 11-Other
Council Business
(From Tuesday IS Daily

(trom Tuesday IS Daily
The City Council talked lights last
night when the regular meeting was
held at the City Hall and some Of the
talk was not couched in the most gem
tlemanly language For the first time
in several weeks the lie was passed on
the floor of the Council, but it did not
result in q scrimmage and after the
discussion was over the members Of
the Council decided to lay the matter
over until the second Monday evening
in January at which time a. special
meeting of the Council viii be held and
the entire time given to the discussion
of the lighting contract,
The matter was brought before the
Council by report from the commit
tee on gas and light, which recommend
ed that a five year contract be made
with the Kenosha Gas and Electric
company to supply street lamps to the
city for an all night schedule at a
rate of $72 a year. Alderman Pirsch
led the onslaught against the report
of the committee and he had several
figures from other Wisconsin cities by
which he sought to show that the price
asked by the Kenosha Gas and Elec-
trio company was too high. He made
a very vigorous argument against the
report of the committee claiming that
the people of the city had voted for
municipal ownership two years ago and
that it was up to the City Council to
give it to them. He also bitterly con
demned the electric light company for
it's short oomings in failing to put in
certain lights. ordered by the Council
and for the manner in which the COM
pany had left the streets of the city
after installing mains for the heating
plant He declared that Eau Glare
paid $564O, Superior $780, Oshkosh
$48.90, Appleton $65.0O and for this
reason urged that Kenosha should have
cheaper light. He got into a bitter
discussion with Superintendent R. N.
KimbaI of the company in which he
charged him with "lying" in regard
to the repair of certain paving in the
city. The superintendent did not take
up the matter further and evidently
decided that it was below his dignity
as the head of the company to fuss
with the alderman. Alderman Discl
also took throw ut figures giving
figures from Madison, GAINESVILLE
Green Bay and several other cities oil
the class of Kenosha and all Of these
cities are paying pretty close to the
price asked by the Kenosha Gas anC
Electric company at this time. Super
intendent Kimball urged action on TIE
contract as soon as possible and while
it is possible that a. majority of tht
members of the Council were in favor O
accepting the report of the committee
it was thought by all that further dis
cussion would not be out Of the way
The city attorney was directed to draw
up contract in keeping with the re
port of the committee and report it Il
the meeting called for the discussion
In the meantime the members of The
committee on gas and light were di
rected to send to every city of the
+ third class in the state and secure q
statement of the cost Of lighting and
the terms of the contracts under which
Che lights were being supplied,
With this data on hand it is expect
ed that the Council will be able to ar
arrive at decision as to the price
that should be paid in Kenosha. II
the meantime Superintendent Kimbal
OF the company has agreed to put il
such lights as have been ordered by
the Council at former meetings.
As to the repair of the paved streets
the committee on streets and alleys
was instructed to bring to the Council
at Its next meeting a full report on
paving that was in bad condition and
the companies responsible for it's con
dition will be forced to take it up and
relay it as soon as the weather win
permit such work.
The discussion Of the lighting dues
tion was the only question of vital i'm.
portance to come before the Council.
The committee named to confer
with the N. R. Allen 3 Sons company
in regard to the laying a water main
from the bayou at the Middle street
bridge to connect with the river at
the concrete bridge on Middle street
reported in favor of the project and
the ordinance granting the permission
was given its first reading.
a petition was presented asking
Ghat North Chicago street be extended
from It's present northern terminal to
the north line Of Division street with