Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-05-28
COMPANY AND MAYOR DISCUSS LIGHT SITUATION
WERE NOT ExORBITANT OFFERS
COMPARISONS--LATTER POINTS OUT CITY'S
DITION AND SUGGESTS MUNICIPAL CONCERN.
The Company's Statement.

The Company's Statement.
We have SO frequently been called
upon for information as to the street
lighting situation in this city that we
feel that 1t is due the public and our
selves that q statement Of the facts
be published.
The impression has in some way
gained currency that the city and
company have been unable to agree on
rates and that owing to exorbitant
demands on the part Of the company
the city is unable to afford the service.
The facts are - follows:
In 1909 We entered into contract
with the city to light the streeta for
i've years-from January 1st. 1910.
to December 81st. 1914. At ratea
which were at the time mutually sat-
isfactory and considered low by the
city. particularly In view of the fact
that the company was compelled to
"scrap" q considerable amount Of its
street lighting equipment. replacing
1t at its own expense with an entirely
different type owing to the change
from arc to incandescent lights the
city desired made.
Contract Expired December 81.
This contract expired on the 31st of
last December and the city's attention
was called to the fact some time pre-
vious to that date.
No action was taken by the council.
and we were given to understand that
until notified to the contrary. the city
expected us to furnish the service at
the rates provided for in the old con-
tract.
On the goth of March, at noon, we
received a communication signed by
the city clerk directing that the serv-
ice be discontinued on and after that
date, and the lights were shut of ac-
cordingly.
Now we want to make this fact par
ticularly clear: that neither previous
to that time nor since has any mem
ber of the city administration dis
cussed with us or mentioned to us
the question of a new contract, rates
for street lighting or anything per-
tanning thereto, nor has any effort
been made to ascertain what rate
could be secured by the city for the
service, so it is apparent that our un-
lighted streets are not due to any at
tempt on our part to exact rates un-
satisfactory or unfair to the city.
Compares With Other Cities.
As to whether or not the rates pro-
vided for in the old contract were
high or low is, perhaps. a matter of
individual opinion. A comparison
with the rates paid in other Washing
ton cities may throw some light on
this subject. According to figures
given in the Electrical Directory for
October of last year the average rate
paid in 18 cities of this state was
higher, both for incandescent and arc
lights. than the rate paid by Olympia.
On arc lights seven cities paid
higher rate. six cities lower rate and
five cities the same rate. On incan-
descent lighting out of II cities
quoted eight paid higher rate. three
lower rate and three the same rate
paid by Olympia.
Bearing in mind the fact that our
rate was made nearly six years ago
and that these rates were for October
Of last year the comparison would in
dicate that at the time the contract
was entered into the city had received
a low rate, lower than the average
paid five years later.
The company has heretofore fur