American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-18
For The Rallimote CIipper.l


Mes"s Editors: was highly gratfed in
peruslng the observations IN your valuable
journal of Wednesday last, OH the subject OF
lamp light; and my pleasure was enhanced by
the assurance that the attention of hls Honor,
the Mayor, had been called to the subject, and
that he had determined, as far as his power ex.
tended, to remedy the evils 30 long endured.
There are, however, some incidental matters
connected with the subject, which have not
been noticed, mcriling the attention Of the pi o.
per authorities, and which have been strangely
overlooked for n series of wears.
graf man proclaimed the axiom, that
9TH" blessings Of government, like the dews of
heaven, should fall alike upon the rich and the
poor" and can perceive no reason why the
blessings oflamp-hght, which afford security to
the persons and property Of our citizens, should
not be dispensed in u liberal manner, equally
impartial. Such is, however, the present NAL
arrangement Of our public lamps that tho
thing is absolutely impracticable. have fire.
quently expressed, years ago, my astonishment
That whole ncighboIhoods, passively, without
remonstrance, submitted to the glaring absurd
ty oil having the lamps arranged-some-
times two or three, or more, ON the same side
OF the street, instead of ranging them, in regu-
lar order, diagonaIy on opposite sides of
street, and thus oqutably dlffusing light to the
residents.
Such is the fact in nearly MI tho streets in
our city, with perhaps single exception, Bal
tlmore street. As, however, our city commits
sloneTs, whose province, believe, it is TO at
tend to such matters, or at least to make sug-
gestons upon the subject to the Mayor, may
satisfy themselves of the truth of my state
ment, l will direct their attention to a few To-
cations which they can examine for them
selves, without much trouble.
In the widest part Of Gay ST., south Of the
Independent Engine House, the lamps are
nearly all on one side of the street.
In German, between Charles and Hanover,
there are three lamps on the South side and
none on the NOrth-and in Hanover St, from
Baltimore to the Market, several instances Of
similar encouragement occur; a also in Charles
street, South OF BaltImore; and in the same
street, between Baltimore and Lexington, there
are four lamps on the East side, whilst between
the latter street and Saratoga there are three
Oh the West side.
In Lexington st., from Liberty to Charles,
there are four lamps, all on the South side.
In Calvert street from Lombard to Pratt,
lheTe are three consecutivelY arranged on the
west side. In fact could fill an entire column
OF your paper with similar cases in every part
OF the city; but enough has been detailed to
attract the attention of those whose business it
ID eqnitably 10 ''diuide the light from darkness"
All the crossing Of streets should be provided
with two lamps, placed dlagonally opposite
each other; and the most of them are in that
condition; but there are instances where a re-
medy should be promptly applied, viz the in
tersections of Lombard and Sharp, Howard and
Eutaw, have but one lamp, each, whilst the
more contracted intersection of Liberty and
Lexington revels in the luxurious refaIgence of
three.
In fact there should be general reform in
the arrangements throughout the city; and the
subject should be presented for the action of
the Councils at their ensuing session. An i'm
proved regulation in lighting the lamps should
also be adopted, affording light during the
whole night when the Moon is below the no.
rizon, similar to the plan adopted in Phadel-
phia and in other cities. There, if the Moon
rises an hour or two after night, the lamps are
lighted, untll'hor silver disc appears, when the
lights are extingulshed; and if the Moon sets
early in the night, the lamps are also lighted;
thus, SO far as light is concerned, "the Prov
ling thief, the burglar and the incendiary" are
likely "to be foiled or detected in their evil
designs.
Objections may be intorposed on account of
the additional burden such a reform would inn
pose upon the taxpayer No one will doubt
that additional security will be conferred upon
the persons and property of the citizens. These
objections may be obviated by an additional
reform, viz: by reducing the number ofofiicers
OF the Watch to a single set, and giving them
reasonable additional compensation; for it is
obvious if a Waterman can attend to his more
arduOus duly eusry night, the officers ought to
submit TO similar regulation, and there are
hundreds Of honest, capable, able bodied men,
who would accept the appointment upon such
conditions with alacrty.
Respectfully yours, YIAroR.~