Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-03-15
SENTIMENT AGAINST
CUTTING our LIGHTS

II In doubtful II any move along
the lines OF saving money In the adj
ministration of the afEairs Of munie-
qualities In Utah has attracted more
attention throughout the entire
state than the decision reached by the
BOARD OF commissioners OF Salt Lake
City recently that Il is impractical
and highly unsafe for q community
to attempt to save money by cutting
out any part Of Its street lighting
system.
The question came up In Salt Lake
as to whether or not II would be best
for the city commissioners 70 save
$4,000 annually by cutting out a.
number OF street electric arc lamps
In the centera Of long blocks.
After considering the move from
every angle. and in the face Of . flood
OF protests against the cutting out OF
the lights. from citizens in every sec
ton of the city, together with vigor-
GUS protests from Juvenile court au-
\ thorities, police oflcers. church go
cieties, labor unions and fire depart
ment authorities, the city commits
sioners voted 90 retain all street
Tampa.
So great . protest was raised
against eliminating street lights 80 .
matter OF municipal economy that a
IL doubtful IL the question viii ever
come up again.
It was pointed out that street
lighting 10 used primarily for two
purposes, frst. the convenience and
safety Of citisens, particularly thoas
ON foot while ON the street; and, sec
ond, as an added police protection
and precautiun. II was shown that
the elimination of adequate lighting
increases accidents 20 citizens and
either increases crime ON the street
and burglArlaB In the homes. or ma
tertally increases costs OF poiioe
projection. 1t was plainly pointed
out that the email amount OF saving
to be effected BY any reduction In .
community street lighting system can
be very easily Offset by serious acct
ments to cttisens. and by increase OF
crime. burglary and increased cost Of
police protection.
A number OF weatern cities were
communicated with. In Seattle. spo-
kane. San Francisco. Los Angeles,
Denver and other places. and the
answers received indicated that the
authorities in charge OF municipal
AFFAIRS in those cities consider the
maintenance OF adequate street light
ing highly essential and that no move
to cut down the number OF lamps in
operation will be given considera-
tion.
Another point that created strong
impression was the fact that citizens
affected by > reduction In q number
of street lamps in operation do not
have their taxes decreased In proper
ton to the decreased protection
which they receive. -.
A particularly strong protest was
sent in to the Salt Lake City Board
Of Commissioners by laboring organ
!zations throughout the city. who
called attention to the fact that the
present 10 q time when all available
man-power is needed in every com
munity and. that the hours OF work
Of many laboring people necessitate'
their being on the streets at night
when decreased street lighting woult
constitute a serious menace TO theil
personal safetya
Reports from many states else
where In the country indicate tina
towns and rural communities ar
abandoning all thought Of . reduc
tion in street lighting as matter o
municipal economy and are directing
their attention to other things In a
effort to operate to the greatest I'D
vanage during war tiUa.
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