The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-10-15

are paying. Inc WenalCHee ElSCulC
Co. has about 100000 invested in
buildings, boilers, gas and steam en-
gines, and develops electric power
with coal.
Councilman R. T. King called upon
J. G. Fritz for statement Of his views
upon the proposition. Mr.. Fritz said
he was in favor of lights. A few years
ago the business men Of Leavenworth
could not get sufficient light, and that
of poor quality. Now no city, small or
large, had better electric light than
Leavenworth. Fifteen hundred dollars
might or might not be too much for
the city to pay at this time. That was
a matter for the council to decide. He
thought street lights were more impor-
tant than some other things for which
expenditure of city money was made,
and suggested pruning here and there
to secure money for lights. He had
'hollered'' light, light, ever since he
had been here, and thought $500 not
too high for city of 1000 inhabitants.
Mr.. Fritz suggested, as a well lighted
town needed less police protection than
dark one, SOS a month might be
saved on this item by employing one
policeman instead of two as now. This
sum would go long way toward pay
ing the lighting bill.
Councilman Woldenberg said it was
the duty of the city to get as good a
contract as possible from the company
Leavenworth could, perhaps, afford
$500 for lights unless the city should
go dry some fine day. That con-
tingency would cut off $1,000 a year
and leave the town high and dry in
more ways than one, but not light.
He was satisfied the price was too high,
and stated further objections as follows:
Paragraph l consider weak for the
reason that it seeks to bind a future
town council to contract, the terms
and conditions of which are dictated by
the present council.
Paragraph l object to for the rea-
son that the price of the lights is too
high.
Paragraph object to for the reason
that it binds the council to pay for a
pole line extended beyond a distance
of 200 feet from the circuit wires, and
does not state who shall own such pole
line.
Paragraph binds the town to no.
tify the company in writing through its
marshal daily before noon of any lamps
not burning the night before. This
should be looked after by the com
pany, as the town needs its marshal
for other purposes. The condition,
also, that the company shall use due
diligence in replacing or repairing such
lamps makes the time Of doing SO too
indefinite.
Paragraph 7 contains the following
clause: The town agrees that it will
give said apparatus, etc., such police
protection as may be necessary to keep
such apparatus in good repair and
working order" Objected to for the
reason that the police are appointed for
the purpose of protecting the life and
property of our citizens impartially, and
not to discriminate in favor of any in
dividual, firm or corporation. Itmight
also be construed by a court that the
town would be liable for damages on
account of failure to give proper police
protection.
Paragraph 8 should state that if cleo
trio current is interrupted for 10 days
continuously or more than six times in
any one month the contract may be
cancelled by the town.
Paragraph TO- The company should
give at least 10 days notice of discon-
tinuance Of service for any cause.
Mr.. Jacobsen explained that the
new contract corrected some of these
objections.
Right here it will be we'll to say that
any taxpayer may see and read the pro-
posed contract by visiting City Clerk
Hamilton or Mayor Nelson.
F.S. Jacobsen answered Councilman
Woldenberg and stated the position of
the company. Three thousand dollars
would be invested in machinery
and installation, and it would require a
fve-year term for the company to break
even. The company would insist on
the time agreement, and had made
close figures on cost OF installrnent and
maintenance, so that it would change
neither the fve-year limit nor the price
per light. Other provisions in the con-