This Day in History: April 29th, 1904

This Day in History: April 29th, 1904

PUBLIC SERVICE WILL LIGHT MILLTOWN

Contracts Awarded Last Night – Electric Lights to Be Installed.

MILLTOWN, April 29 – At a special meeting of the Borough Council of Milltown, held in Red Men’s Hall last night, it was decided to illuminate the place with electric incandescent lamps. The matter of lighting the borough has long been a cause of dispute at the meetings of the board.

It was deemed that the lights now in use are inadequate, as they are only stationed on the side of the pond known as North Milltown, while on the opposite side, where the population is as great, there are none.

The old lights now in use do not throw enough light to compensate for the expense of keeping them. This was a matter of dispute among the councilmen at many meetings, several of them believing that by purchasing an additional number they could be made to answer the purpose satisfactorily. A test was also made with gasoline, but as the results received from them did not meet the demands of the board, the question of installing them was speedily dropped.

It was then decided that the only lights which could give entire satisfaction were electric.

Figures for the cost of construction and power were received from Sayre & Fisher Company, of Sayreville, but after considering the matter it was determined to advertise for bids and get the figures of several companies.

The only bids received were from the Public Service Company for furnishing current, and Mr. Lansley, of Woodbridge, for construction of poles and wire. The contracts were both awarded to the two companies.

There will be three and one-half miles of wire and poles distributed about the borough, with about sixty lights, a number which is thought to be enough to light the place from end to end including the side streets.

There will be a very slight increase in the tax rate, as the surplus in the borough treasury is almost sufficient to meet the expenses which will be incurred by the construction of the line.

Great credit is due Mayor Riva and several of the council for their efforts in bringing the question to a satisfactory terminus, after months of arguing and disputing.


This Day in History: May 20th, 1911

This Day in History: May 20th, 1911

WILL PAY $4,100 FOR FIRE TRUCK

MILLTOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL AWARDS CONTRACT TO JAMES BOYD & BROTHERS, OF PHILADELPHIA THE RESOLUTION PASSES BY 4– 1 VOTE.


MILLTOWN, May 20 – The borough will pay $4,100 for a motor fire truck. It was resolved at an adjourned Council meeting last evening. The resolution to purchase the truck from Boyd Brothers, of Philadelphia, was introduced by Councilman George Crabiel, a member of the fire committee. When the call came for ayes and nays the vote was as follows:

Ayes, Councilmen Baurles, Kulthau, Morris, Crabiel.

Nays, Councilman Rappleyea.

Councilman Miller was absent.

The Mayor accompanied by council members last Wednesday were the guests of the Boyd Brothers and were allowed the privilege of going through the factory. A demonstration was given and it is said it proved highly satisfactory to the members on the scene.

Ordinance for Franchise Passed

An ordinance was introduced to give the New York Telephone Company the rights and privileges of operating and repairing their lines on all streets and thoroughfares of the borough.

Among the conditions named in the ordinance, were that two telephones were to be given free to the borough and that one telephone would be added for every fifty subscribers received after the one hundred mark was reached; that the company shall erect no poles in front of a property without the property owner’s permission; that the company shall trim no trees without the property owners permission; that the borough could use the poles of the company for its electricity light wires. The ordinance was unanimously passed on its first and second readings.

…the company shall trim no trees without the property owners permission; that the borough could use the poles of the company for its electricity light wires.

Robert A. Harkins is ill

For the first time in many years, Borough Clerk Robert A. Harkins, was unable to be in his chair last evening. The clerk sent word that he was too ill to be present.


Original Apparatus - this is what the Milltown Fire Department used to fight fires back in 1911. The 2-cylinder auto car was sold around 1931.
Original Apparatus – this is what the Milltown Fire Department used to fight fires back in 1911. The 2-cylinder auto car was sold around 1931.