The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-20
FURTHER PROBE FOR
 ELECTRIC MONOPOLY FAVORED BY COUNCIL
information Desired on Great Disparity Between Vaue of Property for Taxation and its Ya.ue as Source of Pro:it--fulI Taxation of Companys Property Re- duced Rate for Public Lighting and Protection For Private Consumers Are Objects Sought.

acceptance of the reduced price for lighting at the expense of discontinu- ing the inquiry.
 Persons claiming to represent the company have been interviewing all dermen and urging them not to in vestIgate.
 For some mysterious reason cer- tain local newspapers are urging that the mantel of darkness be thrown over the affairs of the monopoly and that the concession on the price or lights be accepted
 It is believed that as result of the investigation an even better price , will be obtained so far as public lighting is concerned.
 It is also believed that such facts will be discovered as will enable a reduction to private consumers to be
 A monopoly is not permitted to discriminate in its charges as be- tween one customer and another of an offense is forfeiture of the charter of the offending company
 No investigation of the affairs of any monopoly is complete without a full inquiry is made upon this point
 It is true. however, that the new light which the company proposes to furnish to the city is better light. It is also to be furnished at cheaper rate provided the city immediately erects somewhat larger number of
 
 on a. light
 But the most recent authorities say that the new type of lamp is from sS to $1O per year cheaper to operate than the type which the company is now operating
 The lamp is known as the Mag netite. It is manufactured both by the General Electric and the West inghouse company. The main differ ence between the two lamps is that one company puts the negative cleo trode above the positive electro while the other company does the opposite.
 The lamp takes it's name from the fact that oxide of firon,-''magnetfte" -is largely used in the construction of the negative electrode. This cleo trode. instead of being made of car bon is usually steel tube into which is tightly packed the oxide of iron. mixed with oxide of .titanium and oxide of chromium The steel tube conducts the current.@t the gxide of iron assists in this off1ce, the oxide of tftanium furnishes the illuminat- ing element and the oxide of cl.rom- ium is added to give the electrode a long life.
 The positive electrode is usually made of copper, or copper mixed with current to operate than the. lamps now in use, although it furnishes more light But it's chief economy consists in the long life of the neea- IlNG eieCtrOOe- "A VWeANe men eiec- tr cde will burn. without being trim med or replaced. from 150 to ITS hours The cartoons fin the present type of lamp have to be replaced ev- cry day
 By continuing its investigation the city stands to gain much and lose nothing Without the necessary knowledge it cannot deal either just ly or intelligently with the company.
 Et is not hardship upon the com n ha i'm tal T- states the company would be required to report annually most of the facts upon which the city needs knowledge. This would be the case in Springfield because the state of Massachusetts requires very complete .nual reports from its companies engaged in cleo trfc lighting.
 The Springfield electric light com pany is valued for purpose of taxa ton at a very much higher figure than the local company.