Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-12-17
SO PCT. RAISE IN
STREET LIGHTING
RATE DEMANDED
New Schedule For Com
ing Year Is Handed
To Council

Notltlcat1on was received by the
city council last night from the
Americas Lighting company that an
increase of about so per cent would
be charged the city during the COM
ing year for current and street light
ing. The notification came in the
form of new contract, rendered
for signature by the city, to take eff
feet January, when the present con-
tract expires. In the blank contract
new schedule of rates for various
types and sizes of lamps was set
forth which, City Engineer Tiede-
man announced after comparing with
the preesnt contract, constituted vir-
tually fiat increase of SO per cent.
The alternative proposed by the
company, which probably will be ac-
cepted by the city because of it's ina
bility to do otherwise, was that the
rate be fixed by the state railroad
commission in case he city objected
to the offered rate.
The city under the existing con-
tract is paying more than $4,000 per
year for street lighting, and under
the new contract as offered would
pay more than $4,000, it is esti-
mated.
In discussing briefly the proposal,
Mayor Sheppard suggested that the
committee. in considering the pro-
posal, give attention to the possibil-
ity of the citv obtaining it's current
from some other source. That this
probably will be impossible, however,
was the opinion, in view of the fact
that the transmission lines are own
ed by the company and not the city.
Against Raise Now
Alderman Allison declared himself
against an increase at this time, when
the general tendency of prices is
downward. 1t was brought out that
coal can now be bought reasonably,
he city within the last few days hav-
ing refused to contract for steam
coal at $3.75 per ton at the mines,
which is not far above the pre-war
price.
The offered contract was referred
by the council to the water and lights
committee, of which H. B. Mashburn
is chairman, with power to act.
The old rates for street lighting
and the new proposed rates follow:
New Old
Rate Rate
For 81 lamps 800 c. p
per wear, each .----.--$84.00 $3.50
For 3 lamps $50 c. p.
per year. each -------- 54.0O 1888
For 144 lamps, 250 c. p
per year, each ..-..-- 54.00 $500
For lamps, 100 watt,
per year. each -------- 21.O0 1900
For / lamp, 60 watt, per
wear .......-.........- 1900 1900
For A lamps, go watt, per
wear each ................ 1900 900
New Conditions Imposed
The conditions of the contract in
clude: The lights are to burn from
dusk to daylight; current for Light
ing city hall, fire station, etc, shall
he charged at 6 cents per XVIII; the
citv shall maintain the lamps. A rev
condition is that all additional poles,
lights and wires, shall be located,
erected and maintained by the city.
In a letter to Mayor Sheppard Sc
companving the proposed new con-
tract. Manager w. F. Rogers, of the
Americus Lighting company, stated
that the present rate is below cost
and has been unincreased for five
In the discussion of relations be-
Grafton.
In the discussion og relations be-
tween the city and the Americus
Lighting company it came out that
the city now owes the company for
various electric current charges
about $4,000 net, accumulated bills.
President J. C. M. Lucas, of the COM
pany, writing from headquarters in
Baltimore, asked whether it would
not be possible for the city to pay
half of this amount by the first of
the year and the balance by April 1,
stating that the Americus Lighting
company was badly in need of funds
The council passed a resolution de-
claring it's intention of paying one
half of it by January 10 and the re-
mainder By April 10, and instructed
Mavor SHEPPARD to so notify Mr..