Section 18-C. The common council in all cities of the third class shall have the power, upon application, in writing, of the property owners, owning at least two-thirds of the number of feet fronting or abutting upon the street and along the line of any proposed improvement for the construction of an improved system of street lighting, to establish such special lighting district or districts for the proposed system of street lighting, and from time to time may alter or extend the same, with full power to order such construction and installation and to enter into a contract for lighting in such district or districts so established or extended as they may deem proper or expedient

The  amount  of  any  such  contract that may be entered into for such
  special lighting, pursuant to the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall  be
  assessed,  levied and collected upon and between the taxable property in
  said city and the district or districts respectively, in the same manner
  and by the same officers as city taxes, charges  or  expenses  for  said
  city are now assessed, levied and collected.
    The  common  council  shall, by ordinance, apportion the expenses that
  shall be borne by the property fronting or abutting upon the street  and
  along the line of the proposed system or systems, and the city at large;
  but  in no event shall the property fronting or abutting upon the street
  or streets along the line of the proposed system or systems  be  charged
  less  than  fifty per centum for such charges or expenses, nor more than
  the per centum specified  in  the  application  and  agreed  to  by  the
  property owners.