The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-06-14
LIGHT LIGHTM

n
Give him but light. and Ajax asks no more"
Our only purpose now is, to make few
general observations respecting the dark
ness of Washington. A father once de-
tected his son boring holes in his barn,
whereupon he inquired what the urchin
was about. The characteristic reply Of the
boy was, why father, I'm letting out the
dark" The chief object we have in view
now is. to see if we cannot by some means
let out the dark from Washington.
We know not whose fault it has hereto
fore been that Washington is, of night
time, the darkest city OF its size on the
Continent; or if it is not, we know of none
more so. We do not care, however, to
challenge comparisons, and can only say
if there be city where darkness reigns
more entirely then here, we commisserate
the dcnizens of that locality.
We say we do not know whose fault ii
Isl We know, however, it cannot be that Of
the gas company. They, doubtless, are
DESTROYS to furnish all the gas that is called
for, and are fully able to furnish it in
quantities equal to the demand. If it we're
the fault of the city officials who have
been superseded by a new set, we are
willing, so far as the old Boards are con-
cerned, to let them alone, as advice to
them or complaint against their course
would do no good. If things continue as
they are we shall not spare either the newly
elected municipal officers nor the gentle
man who serves the general Government
as Commissioner Of Public Buildings.
The system and mode Of lighting this city,
under which we have lived for several years
past, is one, to draw it mildly, which will
be more honored in the breach than in
the observance"
We know the plan upon which it is
agreed that Washington shall have the
benefit of gaslight, which plan is both
novel and unique. We don't know
whether anybody has taken out a patent
for it or not 1t has this one important
recommendation, viz 1t is based upon
science, astronomical science and here the
moon comes in and sheds her silvery
beams, that is if she can, there being no
storm, no intervening clouds to balk her
good intentions. Of course there are SC
NOOK MigNgFvj" nef hight: The almanac
says so, and it must be SO. The inventor
of our Washington system must have beer
an accurate student of the almanac, but
unfortunately he had not given sufficient
attention to Prof EsPY's laws OF storm,
and his system, therefore, takes on
too much Of the type OF cast-iron. Had
he read attentively Prof EsPY, he might
possibly have seen the necessity of vary
ing the plans q little, and would have
given to his system more of that India
rubber character which in these days is
SO essential to success in the various az
fairs of Government and business.
But seriously, why should not the city
have light everywhere, and have it when it
Is needed? When there is q moon and NO
intervening clouds to obscure its beams,
and If it is sufficient, let the gas refuse to
shine, but never otherwise. Our citizens
who never have occasion to be abroad at
late hours know but little Of the inconve-
nience that those experience who live in
remote places on dark streets and are
obliged to go to their homes even in the
wee hours of the morning. The dangers
that encompass them they know not. Ger
tainly it is not the most comfortable re-
Election one can entertain as he plods
his weary way through the dark streets of
sleeping city-not even excepting the
watchmen of that same city-that be may
be assaulted, knocked down, and even
murdered, with no one near to tell the tale
If light was all about him he might see his
assallant, and that same assailant might
hesitate before he struck the blow.
We have had some experience in these |
morning walks; our duties often requir-
ing us to be at our Office till one and some
times two o'clock in the morning. When
we have complained, we have been told to
go armed, US though our being armed and
shooting somebody, or that somebody
shooting us would excuse this neglect on
the part Of the Government to give us
light, We don't go armed; we only
carry Il cane, and we travel on our muscle.
Give us light enough to see the vilalin
who may mean to harm us, and if he
come within the reach Of our right arm we
will risk the rest
But word to the wise is sufficient, and
we trust our new city fathers will, with
General MRcHLER, soon adopt measures to
obviate this difficulty of which VIC now
complain
FINANCIAL