La Junta tribune., 1912-04-20
in kekems, Ind.
BY o. NJ. seoher

kokomo. with a population Of over
manufacturing center OF northern In
diana whose merchants apprec ate
the commercial advantage derived
from an ornamental and efficient
street lighting system. They at once
see that such Improvements reflect
credit upon their city. please the
people and Indicate very decidedly
their city's prosperous condition and
progressive spirit.
The kokomo. Marion and Western
Traction Company. which operates a
central station IN kosomo and serves
the people with electrical energy. was
quick 10 gra p the situation enhanced
by the public desire Tor better street
illumination and Immediately directed
the efforts OF the new business de.
partmeut" 10 making special study
OF the various systems OF modern
street illumination and TO selecting
fixtures which should secure 10 the
fullest measure possible modern ideas
both Ia construction aud 10 the mat
ter Of artistic effort
The solicitors OF the company called
on the most important merchant Of
each block and outlined the benefits
to be- derived from a comprehensive
..-N..... - ..r...,,.,..aI 1I.bfIuv This
merchant was asked to serve as trus.
toe %: his respective block and to call
upon his ncighbors for their support
with very few exceptions each mer-
chant asked to serve AS trustee will
ingly accepted and did all he could 10
forward the movement In this man.
nor cooperative force was organic.
ed and put in the field to secure the
names Of the remaining merchants
benefited by the Improvement The
following method was employed In IL
nancing the installation:
The municipal authorities were
asked to prepare an ordinance en-
bodying the citys agreement to pay
for maintenance and current costs for
n period Of five years. provided the
merchants were willing TO pay all
Installation costs The ordinance
passed the common council by a
unanimous vote.
The city was asked to pay main
tenance and energy costs because
otherwise those who might not be
directly benefited by the improvement
would sooner or later withdraw from
the list. thus creating a deficit In
the central stations monthly rcve-
nue.
The posts ar. OF cast and pressed
steel and represent an interesting
development IN ornamental street
lighting spccial,ics Each post sup
ports one l0o-watt and four so-wa'
tungsten lamps luclosed within spec
ial dlffusing globes OF sixteen inch
and twelve inch diamcters respec-
lively. The posts are placed on both
sides OF the street In a parallel posi-.
ton and at intervals OF eigh,y.fiye
feet. Connections are mad. by means
OF stccl.,aped lead cable contain
ins three No 10 double Insulated cop
per wires which is placed In the gut.
ter few inches beneath the pave
ment A pair OF switches Is provided
for controlling each half block, these
being placed at the alley intersections
and operated by the nisht patrolmnn
The thrcc.Nirr arrangement permits
the larger lamps to burn entirely In
dependent OF tho smaller lamps Al
lamps burn from du1k until n
O'Clock. the ioo.wau lamps burn all
night
The monthly revenue per lamp. In
cludlng maintenance. realized by the
central station is aa follows:
-Four n O'Clock Go-wati lamps s. 60
ono allnlght i0o.watt lamp .. i.i5
lutAl mohthN rev ffuu't post ~ '"'
Tho pric" charged the merchant, 10
cover the installation costs was si.li
per front foot
Foriy.tWo Of these standards have
already been Installed The mer.
chants are except, onally well pleas
I'd with the pedestal scheme OF light
ing. the property owners feel that 4,
,s a good Investment. and evidence Of
further contrac, for three or four nd'
ditional squares. II is hoped In the
near future to ii.ht Kokomo's en.
tir. business section In the name II.
fectivc manner.
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