Evening journal., 1911-11-03
STREET DIRECTORS EXPRESS VIEWS
ON LIGHTING FRANCHISE QUESTION

Wilmington and PhfaGelphia Traction
Co. that il would have been impossible
for him or any one else 20 have made
reduction throughout OF 30 per cent.
"Mr. Underhill stated that competi-
tion exists successfully IN PittsnLrs
and that he believed from infoi nation
he received that the average rate WAS
six cents as against &c already eN-
listing I'm Wilmington without cpm |
petition as per testimony Of Sir. Cips-
by and verified BY the Secretary Oh tAiS
Board. Moreover a personal invcausd' |
ton by this Board OF the maximum |
rates Of two Of said companies land u
there are more we could not locate |
them) now operating in Pittsburgh arr
lie and i2c per kilowdtt hour rcspec-
lively. One OF the chief assets md
arguments of MIR. Underhill was q saw
ing to this community Of from SloV,-
600 10 5000 900 per annum vhicn "os
based on a stated reduction thrpuShou'
of 80 per cent. ON approximately siCt,-
600. but when asked under oath, tol
reueat the above statement which h5d
been made previously TO the members
of this Board and inserted iu IL,
columns Of the city papers lie declined
|
made through the columns OF the CIT
papers that they could produce eiee.ilc
/ current at smaller cost than now be-
! ing generated, but when asked unQvl
oath what the cost of production b. his
company would he. he declined 20 an
swer saying that u was q matter W
the engineers. In connection WIN tas
assertion, many times u was stateu 40
advertisements that the present pisnl
was obsolete and when asked undtr
oath Mr.. Underhill declared that ~
had been 50 informed but the tresl-
dent of the Wilmington and Fnilauo,-
phia Traction Co. in reiutauoa o 4ile
statement when Questioned ny Sfne
Board, declared that their plant WAC
up 70 date and that they were now eA-
gagged IN installing an ADDITION al lre
cost of 100000 which Is 80 u 70 oets
that the machinery has not yet been
installed aud which made the sld''-
ment of Mr. Underhill. that they coulu
build a plant and begin operation -
$500 600, look somewhat dioiculous ~
the cost of installation Of an elee,r.s
lighting plant for the city OF Wii'
mineton does not stop VITA eieetti
generators alone, since buildings
wires, poles and conduits enter larSels
in the gross cost
I'VE most respectfully submit th'
above deductions to the citizens o
the city of Wilmington.
Mr.. Nails Plans.
Mr.. Wall. when asked after th'
meeting what his plans we're, state'
that he was working upon seyera
propositions that he proposed TO ~
corporate in a new resolution 10 b'
submitted to the Street and SeWe
: Department as soon as completed
:, Just when these would be ready b.
7 could not say, but i would take mn
g two or three weeks to complete ~
2 calculations and define his proposl
c ton. he stated that he had alreaa
S discussed the situation With larg
o number Of the most prominent BANK
y ers and business men OF the CITY, an
= Thought that he had ascertained ea
It actly the desire OF the public. Aman
Ie the things regarding which he mul
IA give thought and secure the advice
Of of his engineers, he said. were n
Id questions Of the extent TO which pol
is could be eliminated The question
" the restrictions that could proper
ad be placed upon the conduit syste
ia and the question Of the rate for ele
- tricity to be furnished 20 the ci
al after the expiration OF the prese
contract if the city should desi
= current from his proposed plant
Mr.. Wall said there were son
other questions he would not deil
further, as he did not intend 10 no
out any intimations of doing som
n thing until he had facts that wou
enable him to know that his intim
tions could be carried into the co
il, tract between his company and Il
ao city
He said he believed he would
at able TO formulate such terms as Won
no cause the Street and Sewer Depal
MS ment to accept them and the citize
I'D of Wilmington 10 approve Of the
ay very promptly. Mr.. Wall stated tn
~. he was convinced that the communi
If desired a competitive company I
'or small amount Of solicitation alrea
I'D made had produced $50 contrac
as signed by the consumers Of Wilmin
tai ton to the extent Of about seven
IN thousand (7o,OoO) kiiovatt hours ,
all month.