The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-05-20
CITIZENS COUNCIL MEETING
Was Held Monday Evening When The
Lighting Situation Was Discussed

Lighting Situation Was Discussed
Monday evening upon invitation ex-
tended by Mayor Thomas A. Gender
to a number of the citizens and tax
paying residents of Oakland, joint
meeting OF the people and the Mayor
and Town Council was held in the
city hall for the purpose of discussing
the electric lighting situation as it
now stands.
Mr.. Fred A. Thayer was chosen as
chairman Of the meeting and upon
assuming charge of the gathering he
stated briefly the condition of affairs
with reference to the street and house
lighting condition now and what one
may expect when the cold weather
comes and the gas pressure becomes
so low that it will be impossible to
secure sufficient quantity for domes-
It's uses without considering the COM
mercial use of the supply, pointing to
the fact that during the past winter
the town was in darkness most of the
time.
At the recent session of the General
Assembly bonding bill carrying an
appropriation of $4,000 for the cree
ton Of a municipal electric lighting
system, and with referendum at
tached, was passed and signed by the
Governor. This measure was deemed
necessary on account of conditions
now confronting the town and its cit
liens, as the present electric light
company will not guarantee service,
except during the spring and summer
months because of the shortage of
gas with which to operate the power
plant. The situation is made all the
more acute by the Northern Natural
Gas Company's letter to Mayor Con
der under date of May 10th, in which
Mr.. Thomas, general manager of the
company took occasion to say:
There is little or no likelihood of
our being able to give you an adequate
supply after November 1st. The Pub
lie Service Commission of West Vir-
ginia has already passed an order pro-
hibiting the use of natural gas for in
dustrial purposes after that date, and
under the circumstances we would
hardly be in position to sell it in
Maryland points unless our supply
was very greatly increased, for which
there is very little prospect at this
time We shall know more definitely
what the situation is about July LIST,
but if the matter has to be decided
at present, would recommend that you
make arrangements for other fuel
after the date mentioned"
Mayor Gender spoke briefly saying
that the Oakland Electric Company
would dispose of its plant and all APP
purtenant thereto for the sum of
$4,000, but this plant would be of no
use to the town should it be unable to
secure the gas with which to operate,
hence it would be out of the question
" NO4lolutI It's pun Cldot
Several others spoke favoring an
increased rate for electric service so
that the local established plant would
be in position to equip the plant for
fuel other than gas.
Mr.. Gilmor S. Hamill suggested
that the chair appoint an advisory
committee with full power to investi-
gate various methods of securing
supply of electricity for the town and
to make its report to Council on June
4th, at eight o'clock P. NJ As this
committee Mr.. Thayer appointed the
following: Messrs. D. NJ Dixon, J.
W. Hart, c. N. McIntire, DR.. Fleming
Howell and Edward H. Sincell.
These gentlemen will meet a water
engineer between now and the day
they are to report back to Council
and investigate the possibilities of
obtaining sufficient power for the OPP
Grafton of a plant driven by water
in the Big Youghiogheny River west
of town. A preliminary survey of the
horse power that can be developed at
a point between the two bridges west
of town would indicate that such is
feasible and it may be that the water
engineer to be consulted will agree.
Every resident of the town who is
at all interested in the future as well
as in the present conditions that sur
round Oakland, are urged to be pres
ent at the meeting to be held on the
4th inst, when the committee will
bring it's report into Council