The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-04
CT TO Be Assisted in Determin.
= ing Best Arrangement
FOR STREET ILLUMINATION
Consolidated Company Agrees to Con-
tinue Present Contract Pending De-
cision by the City as to What
1t Desires.

Dissatisfaction with the city's present
street lighting was expressed by city
, councillors and citizens alike at con-
, ference over proposed new contract at
the council rooms last night. at which
Nice-President Sands, General Manager
Larrabee and local Manager c. c. Millar
OF the Consolidated Lighting company,
holder of the expiring contract, and
Supt. Wharton of the Peoples Gas COM
pany were in attendance. For three
hours the matter was discussed.
4 While the nature of the conference
was inquisitorial and the questions were
somewhat pointed good feeling prevailed
and Vice President Sands OF the new
Tenney syndicate went so far as to vol
unteer to bring lighting engineer to
Barre to assist the municipality in de-
termining the most practical lighting OF
the city. and at the same time he ex-
| pressed Willingness to continue the pres
ent lighting agreement at the same rates
| pending the decision of the city as to
what it desires.
| In the first place, the council and per-
haps the citizens present had some men
tai cobwebs swept away concerning the
lcandle-power of the present street lights
Prior to the present contract, the city
had been buying candlepower lights
acknowledgement" was the term used
The information came when City Clerk
Mackay asked General Manager Lara
bee:
Are we getting l2oo-candle- power
lamps, as guaranteed to which Man
ager Larrabees reply was:
'lou are not getting l200-candIe. power
lamps; you are getting 6 $40 ampere
lights, which run from 375 to 400 candle.
power"
The candle-power lamps were
a misnomer," continued Manager LARA
bee, "and the term was used in former
days because they had no means OF
measuring the candle-power and some
one made a guess that the lights were
OF that capacity" He explained further
that several companies got into trouble
by using that term. when prying citi-
2cns. under new method of measuring
the lights, found the lights were not
giving anywhere near l200-candle- power.
Now the lights are designated BY am
peres. just as Barre's are O and CLIO
and Montpeler's and l-55.
1t was determined that Barres pres
ent contract used the designation of am
pere
City Clerk Mackay continued few
questions:
DO you consider the present service
efficientf"
Answer; Yes"
"Do you consider that care Of lamps
makes difference in their lights'
Answer; yes"
"Do you think that Barre's lamps have
been given proper carey"
Answer, Yes" qualified by the as
sertion that some time ago there was
trouble. which was remedied. Later on,
Manager Larrabee expressed his belief
that 30 per cent. Of Barre's lights are
in good adjustment.
Statement by vice-Pres. Sands.
At this point Vice President Sands
took place in the discussion. stating
hat his company was here for business
md wanted to treat Barre well enough
10 encourage continued patronage and
increased patronage. He said that one
rouble seemed to be the poor distribu-
ion OF the present lamps, some 800 feet
way others 600 feet apart. He thought
hat the lamps ON Main street should
,e placed about 250 feet apart to light
he business district properly and that
ONE arc lights on back streets should
,e replaced by incandescent lamps.
Mr.. Sands said that he first learned
hat day that fault was being found
With the street lights. and he then sug-
ested that a lighting expert be brought
n Ia L.,
cgar,iing the placing of lights saying
hat his company would bring the ex-
ert here without expense to the city.
Ie said that his company has no desire
} force an unsatisfactory arrangement
n the municipality; they were here to
ltisfy the city.
President II. A. Phelps of the Board
( Trade expressed the opinion that Mr..
ands' company is honest in its endeayor
, serve the city as well as possible, but
: cnnveved to its officials that great
had been found with the
rect lights. lie added that the Board
Trade wants Main street better light
|. perhaps from Granite street south
ly to a point beyond she postoiiice. He
ought the city was anxious for all
chit. every-night lighting instead OF
e present midnight. moonlight schei-
.. lie considered that the city council
as not Just prepared to state what Il
want and eeunscled postponement Of
finite action. as did Homer c. Ladd.
Gas Discussion Introduced.
At this point Alderman Dawson Thought
ey had had enough electricity and
eded little gas; 50 he called on Supt.
harton to speak for the gas company.
r. Wharton expressed the opinion that
fore giving ont a $4,000 contract the
n ought 10 know Just what il was
iting. He said that the measuring Of
Icient service bv 30 many amperes
~ be al right. hut what the citizens
Nv want to know Is how many lineal
{ the lamps win light. lie then went
to discuss recent demonstrations made
the gas company on North Main
eef. whereby BE- considered the Gas
hts had shown their superiority over
electric lights. a. they east they H.
nination along toe street. rather than
itinr the trees aud the heavens.