New York, 1895
First Meeting' of Long Island Women's Clubs and Societies.
The advisory committee of the Long Island council met Monday at Mrs. Charles Kirby's, Jamaica, to fix a program for two sessions. Council will take place in Jamaica May 3. The morning will be devoted to the reading of club reports. The afternoon session will be filled by addresses by Mrs. J. C. Croley, Mrs. Helen H. Backus, Mrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson, Mrs. William Tod Helmuth. The executive committee of the New York State federation will hold a session in Jamaica on the same day.
Town Board Meeting
The town board of Jamaica held a meeting at the Town Hall on Monday. Supervisor Everitt presided. Justice Lester was absent through illness. The board decided to sell at auction on April 15th, the buildings on the Herzog, Denton and Everitt properties, lately purchased by the town or Town Hall purposes. The town clerk was appointed a committee of one to arrange with an auctioneer to sell the property.
The petition of residents of Hollis for 100 lights in a portion of school district No. 2, at a cost not to exceed $21 per year for each light, was granted, and the contract for furnishing the lights was awarded to the New York & New Jersey Globe Gas Light Company, at $21 a light per year, lights to be of 18 candle power.
The town clerk was directed to notify the highway commissioners to make a report of their receipts and expenditures for the year as required by law.
The following bills were ordered paid: Hugh J. Swift, services as constable, $55.20; Jamaica gas light company, gas furnished Town Hall from February 25th to March 27th, $39.75; James P. Clark, services as excise commissioner, $33; N. F. Waters, stationery for election purposes, $13.17; Samuel Searing, carpenter work in Town Hall, $16.85.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, April 5, 1895, p. 8.
Showing posts with label utilities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label utilities. Show all posts
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Favorable Figures
New York, 1895
The Village May Build Its Water and Electric Eight Plants.
The water and electric light service of the village of Jamaica costs $16,000 yearly. Recently the village Trustees appointed a committee, Messrs Van Allen and Twombly, to ascertain the probable cost of a water and electric light plant to be owned by the village. The committee directed Engineer Evans to make an estimate of the probable cost. This he has done, and his report is now in the hands of the trustees.
By the engineer's figures a water plant of a capacity to supply 25,000 inhabitants, or 1,500,000 gallons of water daily, with 18 miles of pipe, 200 hydrants, stand pipe 40x80, fire proof engine house and house for keeper, would cost $100,000. An electric plant of 200 arc lights, 800 candle power, would cost $15,000; incandescent light, same number and power, $40,000. The committee thinks that would be a big saving to the village to own its own plants. Bonds could be issued for $150,000 at 4 per cent, making the interest on the debt $6,000, a saving of $10,000 yearly, to which is to be added the water rents from private consumers, which would more than pay the cost of running both plants.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 15, 1895, p. 1.
The Village May Build Its Water and Electric Eight Plants.
The water and electric light service of the village of Jamaica costs $16,000 yearly. Recently the village Trustees appointed a committee, Messrs Van Allen and Twombly, to ascertain the probable cost of a water and electric light plant to be owned by the village. The committee directed Engineer Evans to make an estimate of the probable cost. This he has done, and his report is now in the hands of the trustees.
By the engineer's figures a water plant of a capacity to supply 25,000 inhabitants, or 1,500,000 gallons of water daily, with 18 miles of pipe, 200 hydrants, stand pipe 40x80, fire proof engine house and house for keeper, would cost $100,000. An electric plant of 200 arc lights, 800 candle power, would cost $15,000; incandescent light, same number and power, $40,000. The committee thinks that would be a big saving to the village to own its own plants. Bonds could be issued for $150,000 at 4 per cent, making the interest on the debt $6,000, a saving of $10,000 yearly, to which is to be added the water rents from private consumers, which would more than pay the cost of running both plants.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 15, 1895, p. 1.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Electric Light Talk
New York, 1895
THE COMPANY ASKS FOR A CONTRACT FOR FIVE YEARS MORE.
Admitting that it Never Lived Up to Its Agreement and that Its Plant Has Not been Improved Since the Arbitrators Fixed the Power or the Light.
The village Trustees held a special meeting Tuesday evening. President J. Tyler Watts presided. Trustee Mills was absent, as usual. President Watts said he had called the meeting at the request of John N. Williamson, superintendent of the electric light company. Mr. Williamson and Mr. Schwencke, secretary of the company, were present. The latter said the ultimatum of the company was that they would like to furnish the light for the balance of the two years' contract with the village at $80 per light. If the village would make the contract for five years more the company would furnish the light for $75 per lamp. At the expiration of the contract the village, if it wished, could purchase the plant at an appraised value. The company, with its present plant, could not give any better light than they were giving at present.
Trustee Downing said that when the trustees made a contract with the company, it was for an 800 candle power light. Now the company confesses that it has not and cannot give such a light. Mr. Williamson said that if the company did not furnish lights of 800 candle power under a new contract, they would not ask pay for 800 candle power. Nevertheless, the company was still putting forth the light as of 800 candle power. It was a fraud on the village.
Mr. Williamson replied that some experts declare that they are 800 candle power lights, while others say they are not. The manufacturers, from whom the company purchased the machinery, still claim that the lights are of 800 candle power. Whether they are 300 or 800 it costs the same to produce it. The lamps are run up to their full power.
President Watts remarked that the company contracted to give the village 800 candle power lights, but had not done so, and therefore could not expect pay for 800 candle power.
Trustee Wyckoff—"You come here now (to Mr. Williamson) and say that you cannot fulfil the contract. Have the Amphere meters recommended by the arbitrators been placed in the engine house of the electric light company?"
President Watts said they had not.
Trustee Wyckoff—"Then we do not know whether the company are living up to their contract or not. We have not done as the arbitrators told us to do. The matter was submitted by both the Trustees and the company to arbitrators in good faith. This board has not tried to revoke the company's contract. I must confess that I do not see what we are here for."
Mr. Williamson—"Mr. Watts asked me what the company was going to do in the matter, and I asked him to call a meeting and have the matter talked over."
Trustee Wyckoff—"The company are entitled to their full pay under their contract until the board says that they are not fulfilling their contract."
Trustee Twombly—"I am satisfied with the light now."
Trustee Higgins—"The lights are much better than they were."
Trusteee Downing—"I will admit that the lights are much better now than they were three months ago. I do not want to take one cent from this company, but I do expect the company to live up to the contract. If the Ball electric light company sell this company a plant for 800 candle power lights, and it is not what they represent, their redress is with the Ball company."
President Watts—"Mr. Williamson, has anything been done with the plant to bring it up to the requirements of the arbitrators?"
Mr. Williamson—"I don't know as I should answer that question."
Trustee Twombly—"We are wasting good time here. This thing has been in contention long enough. It should be settled now. I will vote to annul the contract. Let's have it settled."
The following resolution, offered by Trustee Wyckoff, was adopted, Trustee Twombly voting no:
Resolved, That the recommendation of the arbitrators to place two Amphire meters, or testers, in the engine house of the electric light company, be complied with, and that President Watts be a committee of one to attend to the matter.
Trustee Twombly—"We have but one Ampere meter. It will cost $60 or more to buy another. I shall never vote to pay for it. We don't want it."
In the matter of the assessment of church property for the Shelton avenue improvement, on motion of Trustee Wyckoff, Counselor Monfort was requested to give an opinion whether or not church property within the assessment district was liable to pay its share of the assessment.
The bill boards of Charles Wood, on the Duryea property on Fulton street, were reported to be in a dangerous condition.
A communication was received from President Hart, of the Long Island electric railway company, asking that their franchise be amended so as to permit them to use cobblestones instead of granite blocks; to put in a switch on Washington street; have a stand at the corner of Washington and Fulton streets, and lay a single track on New York avenue.
When the communication was read, Trustee Wyckoff said that he was an interested party, and could not act in the matter as a trustee. He was excused and left the room.
Trustee Downing—"It is my opinion that this railroad company have not acted in good faith with us."
Trustee Twombly moved that the communication be laid over until the next meeting, and it was so ordered.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 1, 1895, p. 1.
THE COMPANY ASKS FOR A CONTRACT FOR FIVE YEARS MORE.
Admitting that it Never Lived Up to Its Agreement and that Its Plant Has Not been Improved Since the Arbitrators Fixed the Power or the Light.
The village Trustees held a special meeting Tuesday evening. President J. Tyler Watts presided. Trustee Mills was absent, as usual. President Watts said he had called the meeting at the request of John N. Williamson, superintendent of the electric light company. Mr. Williamson and Mr. Schwencke, secretary of the company, were present. The latter said the ultimatum of the company was that they would like to furnish the light for the balance of the two years' contract with the village at $80 per light. If the village would make the contract for five years more the company would furnish the light for $75 per lamp. At the expiration of the contract the village, if it wished, could purchase the plant at an appraised value. The company, with its present plant, could not give any better light than they were giving at present.
Trustee Downing said that when the trustees made a contract with the company, it was for an 800 candle power light. Now the company confesses that it has not and cannot give such a light. Mr. Williamson said that if the company did not furnish lights of 800 candle power under a new contract, they would not ask pay for 800 candle power. Nevertheless, the company was still putting forth the light as of 800 candle power. It was a fraud on the village.
Mr. Williamson replied that some experts declare that they are 800 candle power lights, while others say they are not. The manufacturers, from whom the company purchased the machinery, still claim that the lights are of 800 candle power. Whether they are 300 or 800 it costs the same to produce it. The lamps are run up to their full power.
President Watts remarked that the company contracted to give the village 800 candle power lights, but had not done so, and therefore could not expect pay for 800 candle power.
Trustee Wyckoff—"You come here now (to Mr. Williamson) and say that you cannot fulfil the contract. Have the Amphere meters recommended by the arbitrators been placed in the engine house of the electric light company?"
President Watts said they had not.
Trustee Wyckoff—"Then we do not know whether the company are living up to their contract or not. We have not done as the arbitrators told us to do. The matter was submitted by both the Trustees and the company to arbitrators in good faith. This board has not tried to revoke the company's contract. I must confess that I do not see what we are here for."
Mr. Williamson—"Mr. Watts asked me what the company was going to do in the matter, and I asked him to call a meeting and have the matter talked over."
Trustee Wyckoff—"The company are entitled to their full pay under their contract until the board says that they are not fulfilling their contract."
Trustee Twombly—"I am satisfied with the light now."
Trustee Higgins—"The lights are much better than they were."
Trusteee Downing—"I will admit that the lights are much better now than they were three months ago. I do not want to take one cent from this company, but I do expect the company to live up to the contract. If the Ball electric light company sell this company a plant for 800 candle power lights, and it is not what they represent, their redress is with the Ball company."
President Watts—"Mr. Williamson, has anything been done with the plant to bring it up to the requirements of the arbitrators?"
Mr. Williamson—"I don't know as I should answer that question."
Trustee Twombly—"We are wasting good time here. This thing has been in contention long enough. It should be settled now. I will vote to annul the contract. Let's have it settled."
The following resolution, offered by Trustee Wyckoff, was adopted, Trustee Twombly voting no:
Resolved, That the recommendation of the arbitrators to place two Amphire meters, or testers, in the engine house of the electric light company, be complied with, and that President Watts be a committee of one to attend to the matter.
Trustee Twombly—"We have but one Ampere meter. It will cost $60 or more to buy another. I shall never vote to pay for it. We don't want it."
In the matter of the assessment of church property for the Shelton avenue improvement, on motion of Trustee Wyckoff, Counselor Monfort was requested to give an opinion whether or not church property within the assessment district was liable to pay its share of the assessment.
The bill boards of Charles Wood, on the Duryea property on Fulton street, were reported to be in a dangerous condition.
A communication was received from President Hart, of the Long Island electric railway company, asking that their franchise be amended so as to permit them to use cobblestones instead of granite blocks; to put in a switch on Washington street; have a stand at the corner of Washington and Fulton streets, and lay a single track on New York avenue.
When the communication was read, Trustee Wyckoff said that he was an interested party, and could not act in the matter as a trustee. He was excused and left the room.
Trustee Downing—"It is my opinion that this railroad company have not acted in good faith with us."
Trustee Twombly moved that the communication be laid over until the next meeting, and it was so ordered.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 1, 1895, p. 1.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Have Town Taxes Been Assessed Upon the Village?
New York, 1895
The village trustees held their regular monthly meeting Thursday evening, President J. Tyler Watts presided. Trustees Mills and Wyckoff were absent. A communication from the Jamaica water supply company stated that the water main had been laid on Willow street and the water turned on.
Resolute hose company was given permission to change its by-laws so as to impose a fine of 50 cents for absence from a working fire, and 25 cents for absence from a false alarm.
Complaint was made of the condition of the sidewalk in front of the Van Wyck property on the west side of Union Hall street, the snow and ice not having been removed. The Clerk was directed to notify the owner of the property to have the walk cleaned at once.
On motion of Trustee Downing, the following amounts were placed in the tax budget for 1894:
Hydrant rentals, $4,500; Sewer commission, $300; Lighting village, $10,500; Contingent expenses, $10,760; Resolute Hose Co.'s house, $1,500. Total: $27,560.
Frederick Range and Henry Pallet were granted honorable discharges from membership in Fosdick hose company.
The fire department committee were empowered to purchase gas fixtures for the house of Resolute hose company.
On motion of Trustee Van Allen, President Watts was directed to look at the assessment roll of the town, and ascertain if the taxes for town and county road purposes, and taxes for the town board of health, had been assessed on the village, and if so, to employ counsel in the matter. The village, he said, is exempt from such taxation.
The clerk was directed to notify Engineer Conklin to prepare an assessment map of Shelton avenue at once.
The street committee were directed to have steps laid at the Herriman, Clinton and Union avenue crossings of Shelton avenue.
On motion of Trustee Twombly, J. Fletcher Watts was appointed to take charge of the electric fire alarm system for one year from January 1, at a salary of $200.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, N.Y., Jan. 11, 1895, p. 12.
The village trustees held their regular monthly meeting Thursday evening, President J. Tyler Watts presided. Trustees Mills and Wyckoff were absent. A communication from the Jamaica water supply company stated that the water main had been laid on Willow street and the water turned on.
Resolute hose company was given permission to change its by-laws so as to impose a fine of 50 cents for absence from a working fire, and 25 cents for absence from a false alarm.
Complaint was made of the condition of the sidewalk in front of the Van Wyck property on the west side of Union Hall street, the snow and ice not having been removed. The Clerk was directed to notify the owner of the property to have the walk cleaned at once.
On motion of Trustee Downing, the following amounts were placed in the tax budget for 1894:
Hydrant rentals, $4,500; Sewer commission, $300; Lighting village, $10,500; Contingent expenses, $10,760; Resolute Hose Co.'s house, $1,500. Total: $27,560.
Frederick Range and Henry Pallet were granted honorable discharges from membership in Fosdick hose company.
The fire department committee were empowered to purchase gas fixtures for the house of Resolute hose company.
On motion of Trustee Van Allen, President Watts was directed to look at the assessment roll of the town, and ascertain if the taxes for town and county road purposes, and taxes for the town board of health, had been assessed on the village, and if so, to employ counsel in the matter. The village, he said, is exempt from such taxation.
The clerk was directed to notify Engineer Conklin to prepare an assessment map of Shelton avenue at once.
The street committee were directed to have steps laid at the Herriman, Clinton and Union avenue crossings of Shelton avenue.
On motion of Trustee Twombly, J. Fletcher Watts was appointed to take charge of the electric fire alarm system for one year from January 1, at a salary of $200.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, N.Y., Jan. 11, 1895, p. 12.
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