Evening journal., 1910-02-15
The
LIGHT AWARD
Company Informs Street and
Sewer Directors Conditions
Are Unsatisfactory
OPEN NEW BIDS
FOR SERVICE ON MARCH /.

The Wilmington city Electric Com
pany has declined to accept the con
tract for city lighting awarded by the
Street and Sewer Directors last Wed
nesday. In a letter read at the Street
and Sewer Directors weekly meeting
this morning. the company explains
that il would be impracticable 10 ac-
cept a year contract for incandescent
lighting with only one year for arc
lighting. but agreed to take the award
at the figures quoted by the directors
with 5-year contracts for both modes
Of lighting
After accepting and filing the letter
without comment. the directors in
structed the secretary to advertise for
bids for arc and incandescent lighting
to be opened on March l at IL a. m.
Director Gray was not present.
The electric company's letter follows:
Wilmington, Del, Feb. -
Gentlemen: Referring to the matter
of award made by your department on
February Q, 1910. to this company. con-
sisting of incandescent street lighting
for period of five years and arc light
ing for one year beginning April IL.
1910, we are very sorry to advise it is
impractical to accept same on basis
rendered for the following reasons.
'Incandescent lighting is practically
all located in extreme suburbs, miles
beyond the center of distribution. where
there is no other lighting system svail-
able and no other demand for light or
power; cost of expensive lines and
their maintenance are consequently TO
be taken care of from the revenue OF
widely scattered street lights of low
earning power; rarely are these lines
used for other purposes.
This condition makes incandescent
4 lighting expensive TO maintain and bur-
dens it with fixed charges entirely out
of proportion to the revenue; and at
any figure which you would favorably
consider incandescent street lighting by
itself would be supplied at a positive
| loss 10 the contractor.
Prices Of street lighting areusually
based on the assumption of supplying
all the electric service. thereby divid-
/ ing fixed charges and other items.
From the foregoing YOU viii kindly
note should we accept a FIVE year con-
tract for incandescent and a one veal
contract for are lighting, IT is easil'
possible that one year hence we woul,
be under contract TO maintain the IN.
/ tcandescents at loss, with the ar
lighting supplied from another source
II would be manifestly unfair that thil
company should be placed i'm position
where this condition would be such al
easy possibility.
For these reasons We cannot accep
and will not make n contract for in.
candescent lighting unless the arcs arr
included for the same period.
we will. however, accept a contrac
for both the arc and incandescen
lighting for FIVE years. using the ar,
system as now installed at the ratei
quoted subject 70 a proper contract anC
with the distinct understanding tina
action is taken within ten days from
this date.
our tenders OH the incandescen
lighting anticipate installation of th'
most modern and satisfactory system
extant.
Trusting TO have made ourselves en-
tirely clear and thanking you for you
consideration we are
Your respectfully
Wilmington City Electric Co,
ID. L. OFT, superintendent
After the meeting President Spark
Of the Street and Sewer board drectel
attention 10 the fact that the figure
quoted by the directors to the Whining
, ton City Electric Company had been s.
, favorable 70 the city that the compan,
could not accept them.