The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1914-07-28
COMMERCIAL BODY
TAKES STAND FOR
ORNAMENTAL PLAN
Haas, Jordan and Seidel Pro-
pose Standards to Be In
stalled at Expense of Ben
efitted Property.
Bavis Declares Such Action
Would Nullify All Pro-
gress and Require Begin
ming All Over Again.

ming ALI Over Again.
With the Commercial Club public
improvements committee members
standing firm for an ornamental stand
ard lighting system for Main street.
Fort Wayne avenue and North E
street. and Mayor Robbins and men,
bers of the board of public works ap-
parently resolved on lighting those two
business districts with lamps attached
by brackets to trolley poles. the joint
meeting held at the city building last
evening ended practically in dead
lock-
1t was spiced by several sharp pass
ages at arms. The entire time was
devoted to the discussion of this topic
and the expected reading of the COM
parative statistics on the bids sub
mitted for the new lighting system was
left off the program.
City officials frankly admitted that
the placing of ornamental standards in
the business districts was to be desir-
ed, but President Bavis of the board
bluntly stated this plan could not be
considered If the entire expense was
to be shouldered by the city because
the city lighting plant did not have the
funds to provide it. This system re-
Quires the placing of wires in conduits,
which would cost approximately ten
thousand dollars, plus the cost of the
standards, about $2,400.
Haas Suggests Plan.
1t was then informally suggested to
the board by Chairman E. M. Haas
of the club committee, by Secretary
Jordan. President Seidel and others
that the city might provide such a
system under the public improvements
laws, the benefited property owners
being assessed the cost for additional
lamps and equipment. Mr.. Haas made
1t plain that this was only sugges-
ton and not recommendation Qf the
committee, which had never consider
ed the plan. He said, however, that
City Attorney Bond had told him that
the city could, under this law, order
the ornamental lighting system in
stalled in the business districts as a
necessary public improvement; that it
had been done at Anderson, Ind.
Mr.. Bavis last night was apparent
ly not impressed with this suggestion.
In the first place, he said, Mr. Bond
had never advised the board to this
effect, and he then added that If such
action was taken it would nullify all
the proceedings SO far taken. including
the opening of bids for street lamps.
He complained that if the decision
was reached to provide the ornamental
standard and conduit lighting system
in certain districts, the board would
have to initiate new proceedings which
would bring about a delay of several
months in providing an improvement
the public was insistantly demanding
should be installed without further de-
lay, especially in the residential dis
tricts.
At the close of the meeting Mr.. Haas
asked point blank whether the board
would consider plan from the
Commercial Club looking to additional
lighting in the business districts, the
additional cost being assessed against
the benefited property owners.
I'VE would be glad to receive any
recommendations from your club, pro-
viding it will facilitate and not delay
the installation Of the new street light
ing system" replied Mr.. Bavis.
To Canvass Merchants.
Mr.. Haas then said his committee
would make canvass of the business
men to ascertain whether they desired
the ornamental lighting post system,
the approximate cost to property own
ers to have it installed, and then in a
few days report to the board. The
meeting then adjourned.
A few sparks flew at the opening
of the meeting. In explaining the
city's position. Mr.. Bavis said:
"This question has no place for pea
nut politics and personal selfishness.
Already there has been injected into
1t some animus for the purpose of
merely criticising and not advising"
II hope your remarks are not intend
ed to cast any reflections on the Com
bristling. Nothing of that nature has
been considered by the members Of
this committee or the club directors.
You ask us if we have any plans. Per-
haps it would be better for us to wait
to learn what the boards plan is.
can say, however, that we are unani-
mously opposed to suspending lamps
by brackets to trolley poles in the
business districts. AS to the kind of
lamps to be adopted, we are awaiting
the boards action"
Oppose Pole Brackets.
Mr.. Bavis made no statement as to
whether his remarks had been ad-
dressed to members of the Commercial
Club, but many were OF the opinion
that he made reference to a local news.
paper.
Particular stress was laid on the
fact, by Commercial Club representa-
tives, that the establishment Of brac-
ket-trolley pole system in the business
districts would not only present a
cheap appearance but continue the ur-
desirable overhead wiring system
in fact, provided for more wires. Mr..
Jordan also added that the city by
such action would enter into a part
nership with the Street Car company,
which later might prove embarrassing
to the city in the event the city ever
desired to have the company remove
Its poles in the two districts.
Mr.. Bavis admitted that an orna-
mental post system was very desirable