Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-11-29

Mr.. Larner stated that this vas already pro-
vided for, ana he proceeded 70 state that the
one thousand lamps would be about ssO00O.
instead of $50, 600, as some had claimed There
were now bu. 4i0 lamps In the CITY, for the
lighting of which the city was looked TO for
lights were hardly needed, and sent to the sec
retsry's table the following communication,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s, 1851
Noble D. Ldrner, ESQ Common Couacl'
DEAR SIR: In reply TO your inquiry OF the
23d instant, / respectfully inform you that
there never was a contract between the Corpo-
ration and the Gas Light Company concerning
the lighting of the street lamps. Mayor Maury,
in 1853, fixed the number OF hours he would
have the lights TO burn, the size OF the burners
10 be used, and the amount the company should
receive tor lighting, cleaning and extinEuish-
ing each lamp. The net price OF gas at that
ume was 3s cents per 100 cubic feet, and the
NUMBER OF hours which the lamps were 10 be
Ignted was ,296 per annum, being II nights
per month, and only following the moon, /" as
i Was tnen the practice in nearly all the large
ciues: "A Tour feet burner being used, would
give S2570 year, OF S2I4 per month as the
wnoie cost OF each lamp, being for ,lsi feet OF
gas, 81 80 cents, Sls70, ana Sc for lighting,
cleaning and exunguishng
This fixed price per lamp has continus ed with
the consent OF the several Mayors ever since
but as the price OF gas was reduced from time
TO time, the number Of hours of lighting was
Increased, so that the Corporation always re-
ceived the full benefit of each reduction as will
appear by the following table, made up from
the M books OF the company s.r-s .ou,.,.
IS cents. l,296 5,lSi
ssls" 1883 1883 s,ssi ssa
The amount received for lighting, &c, Sc a
year per lamp, has never been changed, al
though we now pay fifty per cent more for
the same work than in ls63.
do not believe there is a gas company on
q ont thnfN Nn-
lighting the street lamps, unless il may be
Philadelphia, where the cost is about $40 a
year for each lamp, though the expense of
manufacturing gas is at least 20 per cent. less
than in Washington. ! am certain that we
have lost many thous and dollars by supplying
the street lamps with light.
1t has been about eleven years since there
was an effort made to light the city lamps with
gas, or rather TO erect posts for this purpose,
and during that period there have been AIS
lamps erected for the Corporation, being an
annual average of about 40. At this rate, il
would require thirty years to light the streets
and avenues in which gas mains are now laid.
The expense Of lighting each lamp under the
act OF April IL, 1o6I, (twenty-touT nights per
month, from dark TO daylight would now be
about 8 %, instead Of 50 II, each month. 1t is
proper, however, l should state the fact that
this company has for eighteen months past
been furnishing gas al a ruinOuS loss, and intend
again 10 apply TO Congress for an increase in
the present rates OF charge, fixed two years and
a half ago. Our application 10 December last
having been defeated in the House OF Repre-
sentatives, mainly, believe, in consequence OF
the protest OF the Corporation against any
increase in the price of gas, outstanding
their knowledge of the then great advance Us
per cent? IN the price Of labor, coal, and every
other material since July, 1862 The advance
is now over 100 per cent, and trust the Coun-
ellis will not do similar act OF injustice, bUE
remember that
"Whilst it is glorious TO have giants strength,
Yet it is tyrannous to use it like giant"
am, &C, J. +. BROWN.
Mr.. Moore offered an amendment limiting the
lime OF contract for one year. Agreed TO.
The resolution was passed. Adjourned.