The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-07-17
WILL PROPOSE -FOUR PLANS
Making of New Contract Similar to
old-Appeal to Railroad Commission
Tungsten System and Installation
of Municipal Plant are Suggested.

M6MpefS OF the committee on gas
and light of the common council have
taken up with the Wisconsin Gas and
Electric Company the question of
future lighting of the streets of the
city. Tha contract of the company
with tie city will expire on August
26th and it is expected that by that
time the city Will have made some pro-
vision for the future lighting of the
streets. The committee is not as yet
ready to make it's report to the city
but in this report it will undoubtedly
submit four propositions. These are:
l. The making of a new con-
ract with the company along the.
same lines, but at reduced price
over the charges now made, the
contract to cover a period of either
five or ten years.
2. The changing of the system
in Kenosha from mixed arc
light, tungsten light system to one
composed entirely of the lungs
ten lights.
8. An appeal to the Wisconsin
Railroad Commission to make an
examination of the cost of furnish
ing light to the city and fix a rate
accordingly.
4. The installation of city
lighting plant in connection with
the water plant.
Of the -four propositions the one that
has met with considerable favor among
the members Of the committee is the
second proposition. A change in the
system now in use would undoubtedly
reduce the lighting bill of the city.
The cost of maintaining the tungsten
lights and furnishing electricity tc
them is only little over one-third
the cost Of the arc lamps. The light
given by the tungstens has been de-
cidedly satisfactory and with the re-
duced cost of installation and main
tenance a great many more of these
lights could be installed without ma
terially increasing the lighting bill of
the city.
The proposition Of making direct
appeal to the railroad commission to
fix a rate is the plan which has been
suggested by officials Of the Wisconsin
Gas and Electric Company. The of
fcials of the company have declared
that "Kenosha has the commission
habit" and if this is true it is posi-
BILE that this plan will appeal to the
council. However, the members of the
committee feel that if other councils
have found a proper figure for furnish
ing light to the city that this council
should be just as successful. Amy rate
that might be fixed in a new contract
would be subject to review by the COM
mission on the complaint of either the
company or the city.
The fourth proposition, building a
city plant, has not met with favor in
the past. Figures secured by members
of the committee indicate that the cost
Of securing such plant if it were
built in connection with the pumping
station would be in the neighborhood
of $4,000. To this must be added the
cost Of the aerial and underground wire
systems and the equipment Of lamps.
Under the law the council could make
a purchase from the existing company
at physical valuation fixed by the
railroad commission. 1t is thought
that the valuation of the equipment
at this time would be in the neighbor-
hood of twenty dollars per lamp
The committee will take no formal
action in the matter until after the
company has laid before it a PROPOSE
ton for the future contract.
1t is expected that the proposition
will be in the hands Of the committee
within the next ten days as the of
feials of the company have been
on the figures for several
weeks.
ENC GEMENT re ANNOUNCED