The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-05
MOVE MADE TO
IMPROVE CITY'S
LIGHT SYSTEM


Wire and Abolishnent Of
Troublesome Loop
A petition presented by W. D.
Hart and A. N. Richardson Of the
Illinois Northern Utilities company
Of Dixon. requesting q direct wire
route into Aledo and adjustment
Of the troublesome Aledo loop to
which is attributed SO much Of the
company's difficulty in furnishing
efficient electric lighting service in
this city, was heard by Mayor G.
A. Beers and members Of the city
council at its regular meeting last
evening. The matter was referred
to the ordinance committee which
will report alta special session to
be called next week for final deci-
sion regarding the company's petit
ton.
Spirited discussion marked last
evenings meeting Of the council
which continued until nearly mid
night. The company's request as
presented by Mr.. Richardson, evok-
ed pointed comment from several
members of the council whose
memories appeared painfully fresh
regarding past procedure on the
mart of the Dixon company.
The petition appeared to have
been brought about as the result Of
a written protest lodged by J. w!
Edwards of Aledo. Mr.. Edwards
complained about the frequent in-
terruptions in electric lighting, the
same occurring principally on Sat
urday nights and involving accord
ingly q considerable financial loss
to Aledo merchants and business
men. In response to Mr.. Edwards
protest, the state commission, sent
engineers to District F., Of which
Ale6o is part to investigate the
condition Of the l. N. U. company's
equipment here. The report which
they submitted to the commission
is now in the hands of Mayor
Beers. Excerpts from it were read
to the council members last even
ing and effectively used to refute
certain statements made by the /.
N. U. representatives.
Due to the protest Of represents
tive Aledo men, the light company
seems. to be faced with the propo-
sition' of furnishing more efficient
lighting service in this district. The
company representative stated last
night that present routing Of the
$4,000 high volt tension wire IN
volving as he does the three and
one-half mile loop around Aledo. is
not compatible with good service
This is due, they say, to higt
hedges and overhanging trees al
several points along the line, which
the company has been refused per
mission by the owners to cut down
Mr.. Richardson declared that higf
tension wires are peculiarly sensi
tive to any contact with trees Of
hedges. That such contact causes
Interruptions in light service unit
they are found and eliminated.
The Illinois Northern Utilities II
its petition requested the city o
Aledo to permit It to bring its hfgl
tension line directly into the cit.
from the east. II this was permit
ted the loop around Aledo would o
course be abolished. Members o
the council declared themselves a
iunalterably opposed to allowing tn
company to bring its high tension
wire into the heart Of Aledo by wa.
Of East Seventh street. The pro
lposal which IS now being consider
ed, however, involved the routin
Of the high tension line from tn
Rock Island Southern depot
through privately owned parts Q
, the lumber yard in that vicinit
west to the alley between Sixth an
Seventh streets in back Of the Mer
chants hotel from thence south
Sixth street and west on Sixt
street to College avenue and stil
, further on Sixth street to the CON
pany's standby plant
, According to city officials, Aled
. is keenly DESTROYS OF better electri
, lighting service. 1t is realized ais
they say that the adjustment {
the loop around Aledo would IL
crease materially the efficiency {
good service. But due to the az
tons Of the company in the past
which advantage was taken Of pri,
; ileges conferred upon it by the cit,
.. members OF the council last nigf
! were reluctant to grant the con
pany further privileges whic
might be taken advantage Of by th
, abolishment Of the standby static
, Of the company in AledO, thereb
j removing all projections from TIL
city in case of emergency involvin
Z an interruption Of light service
{ Aledo. The company appears vi
willing to make further agreemen,
t or to give satisfactory pledges n
Z garding the maintenance Of a
t emergency plant in Aledo for tt
! protection of the city.
i The new power line to Milan hi
benefited local service considerab
and the company officials declal
}. that with the direct high tensic
route into the city the service wi
be made practically 100 per Gel
efficient. The matter was referrt
to the ordinance committee and Il
city attorney, who will consider
report at next weeks special NEE