La Junta tribune., 1916-10-28
WHITE WAY PROBLEM
One Alderman Gives Reasons for
Opposing Ornamental Light Sys-
tem-ToO Expensive


One OF the aldermen has request
ed space in the Tribune to give his
reasons for opposing the installation
of the proposed ornamental lighting
system, and they are herewith pre-
sented for the edification of our
readers, as follows:
Editor Tribune: In the issue OF
October 2lst there appeared an ar
ticle in regard to the action of the
city council on the proposition as
submitted by Mr.. Milliken to install
an ornamental lighting system on
Santa Fe AMI Colorado avenues.
from First to Fourth streets. includ-
ing the cross streets. in which the
action OF the three aldermen who
opposed It was severely criticized.
There were also some misstate-
ments made that could Just as we'll
have been left out No one stated
what the cost to the city would be
In one hundred or one million years
but the writer must make II appear
as ridiculous as possible to be ON an
even footing with the proposition.
One alderman did state that the diff
ference In cost to the city would be
approximately" $4,000 for ten
years.
Now as to the basis OF the prop
osition rs viewed by the three alder
men that need working over" and
In making the comparison We will
use the present ornamental lights
around the court house park to de-
termine the difference In cost. The
present system OF street lighting
land the electric light people paid
for the installation) is only costing
/ the city fraction less than IN
cents per candle power per year. or
nominal" 1000 candle power per
arc light. $50 per year. There are
twelve posts around the court house
park with nominal 200 candle
power per post. 400 candle power
In all. Four OF these posts are "au
night" lights-s0O candle power
The other eight posts I.GN
candle power) only burn until mid
night. which Is equivalent to a I. 500
candle power all night service. For
this service the city is paying $3.50
per year-30 cents per candle power
per year-and the city aud county
paid for the installation.
Mr.. Milliken painted the increased
efficiency %. the ornamental sys-
TEN In glowing terms He dealt on
"ciyic improvements" and the bene-
fits that would accrue To the city
from the advertisement II would
get as an up To date city by the
white way" on our streets-men-
TONED In way befitting the period
through which We are passing. lie
even suggested turning out seven Of
OF our ornamental lights on First
street to partially offset the in
creased cost OF the new system.
Happy thought Cit. beautiful
Where do we need the ornamental
lighting system II not where the
travelling public first see the city?
For several years the citizens Of La
Junta have been working for cheaper
electric current. Several city cleo
iions have been fought out on that
Issue. Municipal ownership has been
advocated teven by the editor
solely because the citizens OF La
Junta thought they were paying too
much for electric current. The Pub
lie Utilities Commission was called
TO La Junta TO investigate the rates
for no other reason than that users
Of electricity thought they we're pay
Ing too high a rate.
In view Of this agitation that has
been going on for years that un-
doubtcdly shows the sentiment Of
the people OF La Junta. Are We.
"th" council men that need working
over" expected 10 pay more than
eight and one-haif times the rate
per candle power that the city IL
now paying for electric current 10
iight the streets Just because the
efficient and energetic manager OF
the local light plant asks ua to- II
II worth more to furnish electric
current when the citizens bear the
expense OF installation than II II
when the electric light company In
stalls the SYSTEM
Some people seem 10 think the
ornamental lighting system Ia vast
ly superior TO our present arc lights.
Perhaps II II. II II worth Increasing
the rate from az TO 30 cents per
rn n dia oa~aey