Show STREET MGHTIXG AGAIX As a sample of the impudent assump Hop of ourmorning contemporary an article appeared in its columns on Thursday in which the suggestions of The Herald made several weeks ago are dished np as a novel idea bordering on the sensational The Tribune claims the proposition as itsbwn and endeavors endeav-ors to create the impression that it is something new and for which it ought to secure a patent anil receive the thanks of the city council and the gratitude grat-itude of the public But the truth is the matter was discussed last fall and the city engineer made a survey of the ground and examined into the feasibility I feasibil-ity of the plan the cost the saving and all the rest Of it The street lighting question has been discussed repeatedly in The Herald for more than a month The project to light the streets and public buildings by a plant owned by the city was placed before the public in th se columns col-umns and the various propositions of the city council on the subject have been explained and commented upon by The Herald amid silence and darkness dark-ness from our neighbor The present spurt is an assumption characteristic of its methods As to the main questionthe lighting of the city bv a municinal plant there I is a difference of opinion among men who have given the matter long consideration con-sideration Some think with The Herald Her-ald that the city could establish its > own plant as it owns abundant waterpower water-power and could utilize it at a cost which would soon be covered by the amount saved from the present rate Others and with a good show of lea on think the city can secure a cheaper and better system than that now in operation without the outlay necessary to procure the plant There is much to be said on both sides of the argument But the great end in view is to light the streets arid public buildings efficiently at as low a cost as possible If that can be done by a private company there are God reasons why it would be preferred In the first place the city has no money with which to buy and erect the plant and has reached the limit of its borrowing power To obtain the necessary funds it would have to closedown close-down all street lighting for months and leave the city in total darkness at night In the next < Place experience shows I that public works of all kinds cost more to operate than private works That ought not to be but it is Further the city could not go into the business of furnishing illumination but could only provide light for public purposes and a private company which furnishes house illumination could afford af-ford to supply the city < with lights for public purposes cheaper because of its extensive operations and supplies under the one plant Then there is the prospect of more than one or two competing companies the introduction of natural gas and the utilizing of great water power for electrical elec-trical purposes all of which may change the aspect of affairs and give as ample illumination at a much less cost than the present rate The reduced price 10 per lamp is still too high But that is a step downward down-ward in cost It may be lowered still further It certainly will be when competition com-petition sets in Perhaps even now if the proposed 300 lamps are contracted for a better rate than 10 can be obtained ob-tained In view of the lack of money and the absolute need of public lighting we favor as a present proposition contracting con-tracting for a limited period at as low a rate as can be obtained for 300 lamps the amount agreed upon not to be due until the fall As soon as the law allows al-lows assess a special tax for street lighting on the whole city making it one lighting district or include the necessary nec-essary sum in the general tax for the year That will keep up the lighting of the streets which is a public necessity it will do away with the need to push some very unpopular methods in contemplation con-templation it will provide the money when the taxes of 1895 come in and it will give the city council time to settle upon some definite plan for the future whether it be by a plant owned by the city or by obtaining proper rates from a private company We hope the city council will not continue con-tinue the present poor policy of leaving a large part of the outer regions of the city in outer darkness and that there will be no clinging to crotchets or indisposition in-disposition to adopt what is best because be-cause of previously expressed opinions The city should be lighted That is a public need It is a public expenditure and should be supplied out of the pub ilc funds as it has been from the beginning be-ginning Let us have light |