New Lighting Contract Wanted

NEW LIGHTING CONTRACT WANTED

By Terms of Which City Will Be Lighted Earlier

Considered by Council and Lighting Committee and Mayor Will Take Matter Up

The assault upon Miss Nellie Newkirk Sunday night brought forcibly to the attention of the entire city the inadequacy of the street lighting and the council Monday took action to remedy the situation. The city clerk was directed to order the electric light company to turn on the lights as soon as it becomes dark, regardless of the "moonlight schedule," and the chairman of the lighting committee was requested to call a meeting of the committee to confer with the mayor and the superintendent of the Electric Light Co. in regard to a permanent contract more satisfactory than the one now in use.

The street lighting subject drew out an animated and lengthy discussion, the most effective talk being given by Judge Newkirk, who addressed the meeting in the capacity of a private citizen.

"I have thought of this matter for a month or more," he said, "and last night I had it brought to m mind more forcibly than I want it brought to the attention of any of you gentlemen. I am entirely convinced that if the city had been lighted yesterday as soon as it became dark that negro would not have attacked my daughter. If help had not by the greatest good fortune arrived at the critical moment my daughter's life would unquestionably have been sacrificed. As I believe that nothing of the kind would have happened if the street had not been dark, you can readily realize how strongly I feel on the question.

"The Electric Light company say that they are perfectly willing to turn on the lights when the city wishes it done, and that they have in the past fulfilled their contract, so we have no complaint of them. What we need is a new arrangement whereby our streets will be lighted as soon as it becomes dark. If you gentlemen want a petition, I can bring you one with a thousand names, and if you want the sentiment of the city as expressed at a mass meeting that, too, can be arranged.

Ald. Johnson made an earnest appeal for immediate action and in the course of his talk implied that the electric lighting company is to be blamed for the darkness of the streets in the early part of the evening.

Chief of Police Kelsey championed the company's cause, stating that they have always turned on the lights on or ahead of schedule except in certain instances when an unavoidable accident had occurred to prevent.

Ald. Coon suggested that the chairman of the lighting committee or some other city officer call up the company every night when darkness came on and direct them to turn on the lights, but Ald. Johnson declared the plan impracticable and again urged a more satisfactory schedule.

Ald. Fischer advised that a new contract be drawn up and President Walz said that he did not doubt that the company can be shown to have invalidated the present agreement.

Ald. Schlenker has urged temporary action, as the contract has only one and a half years to run, but Ald. Fischer moved that a meeting of the lighting committee, the mayor and the superintendent of the company be held to frame for a more satisfactory contract. The resolution was carried and then on the motion of Ald. Johnson, the clerk was directed to secure immediate betterment of the situation by ordering the company to light up the streets as soon as darkness comes on, regardless of the schedule.