The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-08-03
LIGHT AND WATER
The Requirement and Operation of
Water and Electric Light Plant by
the Municipality Is Suggested.

the municipality Is Suggested.
In their report to the City CouncI
on Tuesday afternoon the Citizen
Committee comprising A. Queries
Leon, r. Smith and V. Grosjean, sug
gested and recommended that tn
city operate joint electric light an,
water plant, the cost of which is t.
be met by an issue of bonds aggre
eating about a million dollars.
The committee in its report, whil
Tefralning from a criticism of tn
statement of the electrical exper
employed by the city, pointed on
that the estimated cost of an electric
light plant at S3iO,579 could be re.
duced S47,927 by the elimination ot
certain items which are not strictly
necessary, and that first class up.
to-date electric light plant could be
erected and installed for 1862, ,752
and probably for less.
And the committee, appreciating
the needs of this community. re-
commended that the plant of the
Waterworks Company be acquired
by the city as soon as possible and
that an electric light plant be in
stalled and operated in conjunction
with the waterworks plant, through
which a great saving in expenses
would be secured.
1t is estimated that such acquire
mcnts, if secured, could be operated
under the superintendency of the
city in three or four years, and sug-
gtsted that the renewal of the con-
tract with the lighting plant be for
not more than four years or to the
limit of the term of the present
Council.
1t was also suggested that if neees-
sary or deemed expedient, that the
city lighting be continued without
specific contract.
There followed lively discussion.
1t was finally suggested that a con-
tract be entered into by the city with
the lighting company for six years
with the understanding that in the
event the city should erect and ope-
rate its lighting plant before the
term of six years that such contract
would expire at the time and when
the city plant would be in operation.
Il was believed that this suggestion,
which is fair, would have received
the approval of the lighting COM |
pany, but at the session held yes
ttrday afternoon the committee was
Informed that he lighting company
had declined to consider the propo-l
sition submitted on the part of the
Council by Mayor Eastman and
Commissioner Mccullough.
In brief, the lighting plants atti-
lude is that it will not contract with |
he city for lighting for six years |
except as signified in their PROPOSAL
now on file, to-wit: $62.50 for arct
lights and 8 i-2c for consumers, free
rom all reservations and exceptions.
And the company would fix its
charges for four years contract at
he rate now being enforced, s75.O0l
Tor street lights and 8 i-2c for con-
,umers of light.
The Citizens Committee met the
council by invitation yesterday af-
.ernoon when the decision of the
lighting company was submitted tol
hem.
The committees reply was that as
hey had once been ignored by the
'iectric lighting company they could
,nly deal with the city, and that on
'etiring they would consult and en-
leavor TO reach an answer, which,
hey would report as speedily as
,Cssible.
1t was stated that the Council was
nxious to close the contract for six
ears with the lighting company, as
he rate for lighting, S62.50 for elec-
ric street lights, would enable thel
ity to provide lights in places whereI
low needed. /,
During the conference it was sug-
ested by a gentleman of promi-
ence that the lighting company was
waiting the closing of the lightingl .
entract with the city as it desiredl /
} extend its service for gas and /
ght to the Cedar Grove addition,
ut he was interrupted by one of the ;
committee who stated that no i'm [
ediment was in the way of such ex- !,
6nsion and as the Cedar Grove ad- {
ition was two or three miles beyond /
he city limits the city could have I
o jurisdiction in the control Of {
uch extension. Another commit i
aeman remarked incidentally that |
e did not believe in such probing or /
rying and that he for one would /
ot stand for it. Is
One of the councilmen suggested /,