The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-22
tSex York Tlmcs.l

iamp.posis OF corrugated iron, double The
height of ordinary s:reet.lamps, had been
set up In complete order for use at inter
walls OF a block, on alternate sides OF The
street. from the lower end OF Union
Sousre 10 opposite Delmonico's, and
10 give additional fcldt 10 the ilumna-
,ion. the Two large clustered gas-iets on
Madison Square were esch topped Dy a
Brush electric lamp, the volume OF lis single
light alone being equal 10 ten times that OF
the balf-dozen coal-gas burners below. Hall
past 8 had been fixed as the hour OF lighting
up, and long before that time all the neces-
sary preparations had been made, so that
nothing more was necessary than TO turn
the small wheel attached to the large gene
rs,or in the Tweuth.tifth street building,
and allow the electric current 10 complete
lis work. 1t bad been arranged beforehand
that Miss Hayes, the little daughter OF Mr..
A. A. Hayes, Jr., the secretary and trea-
surer OF the company, should turn IT at the
appointed moment, and a crowd had gath
cred at the headquarters building, No. 1873
west Twenty.fifth street, to witness the
ceremony.
1.-THE LAST MOMENT,
however, Mr.. Hayes changed his mind, and
il was thought best to let eam-Engineer
w. II. McGrath, who has supefintended the
putting up OF the company's steam appa-
raius, perform The duty.
At 5:27 everything was 10 readiness, and
Mr.. HAYES, who, with General-SuDerIntend-
emf r. j. Sbeehan and other officials had
stationed himself in the generating-room,
gave the order 10 "turn on" At the word
Engineer McGrath grasped the smal!-wheel
lever. gave ii twist, and almost instanta-
trs hn l,,.,o Iat olnnn RrO96-
way began 10 flame out like stars emerging
from the darkness. First, there was seen a
row of small white dots scattered along the
street. growing in size each instant until
.itef the lapse Of few minutes they had
developed iEto large, powerful electric Jets,
burning somewhat irregularly at hrst, but
soon settling down into q white, steady
glare, that neither increased nor diminished
ito size, but burned with equal intensity
through the hours OF the night. The ease
and accuracy with which the extensive cir
cult was completed, and
ALL TIE LAMPS WERE SET BURNING
simultaneously, was most noteworthy. The
souihernmost lamp is at the extreme SOUTH
ives, corner OF Union Square. An observer
10 the Office Of the company, at Broadway
and Seventeenth street, stood with stop
watch in his hand watching this light. A
few seconds after 5:27 the light Jared out in
the southwest corner OF the Square-4,OOO
feet from the generators in west Twenty
fifth street-and at the same instant every
Iamo along Broadway for three quarters OF
a mile appeared illuminated. The white
dots broke out, not one after another, but
ipstantaneously, as though long train OF
powder had been fired. The light not only
burned brightly and powerfully, but seemed
10 increase in intensity as the night wore
on. and the massive CorlisS engine and gem
orators in Twenty-fifth street were worked
up to their full power.
The impression made upon the passers-by
was varied, but generally favorable. The
fashionable shopping district was crowded
with thousands buying holiday presents and
gazing at the Illuminated shop-windows
store! with Christmas treasures OF all sorts.
Few persons apparently remembered that
the lights were TO be turned on, and the mo-
ment the
DAZZLING ELECTRIC SPARKS
appeared, there was general turning from
the sbop.windows 10 the lights. Exclama-
lions of admiration and approval were
heard on all sides, together with calcula-
tons rs to The effect upon the gas cOmpa.
MES, and the possible downfall Of these mo-
nopoles as The result. The best effect OF
the lamps was to be seen immediately under
them, where the ground glass OF the bot
tom Of the globes intercepted the intense
rays and created a comparative shadow,
fiom which the effect and brilliancy Of the
illuminated Gil Gle outside could be bet.
ter appreciated. From this standpoint,
as from cave, the effect OF the
intense light outside was most per-
ceptible. Horses, street-cars, omnibusses,
and passing pedestrians were lighted up
with o briliancy which, though by nc
means equal 10. the "Iight Of day." was
sufficiently strong for all practical purposes.
Signs on the stores could be read at great
distance, and fine type could be readily pc
Tused 100 to $50 feet away. The artistic
effects Of strong contrasts in light and shade
were numerous. A pair OF white horses
attached to an elegant private carriage out
side Of Tifiany's was illuminated with de-
gree Of brilliancy which, contrasted with
the deep black outline beyond, formed Q
picture.
THE GREAT WHITE OUTLINES
CT the marble stores, the mazes OF wires
overhead, the throDg OF moving vehicles
were all brought out with an accuracy anC
exactness that left little to be desired in The
matter OF strength. Like all electric lights
there was certain intensity about the
powerful white rays which, to unaccus.
TONED gazers and persons with weak eyes
somewhat detrscted from the pleasure u
the illumination. This, however, will bt
modified by time and by constant use, while
The possibilities of strengthening and soften
ing the lays by the use Of ground porcelain
or colored glass are such that almost any
effect may be produced. As 1t was last
night, the eye, after resting for q time on the
dazzling brilliancy OF the fierce white Jet
turned with relief to the mellow COLDER
color which the street lamps and shop win
dows assumed by contrast. On the grouped
burners In Madison Square, with thel row,
OF gas.lighis below, and the single electric
fame above, tbls contrast was particularly
impressive. Viewed from afar II suggested
circlet Of golden gems surmounted by &
dazzling white diamond.
At the Central Station, or Headquarters
10 Twenty 18th street, thirteen additiona
tights were burning besides the fifteen OF
Broadway, and five more elsewhere. Thi
was done for the purpose Of
FULLY TESTING THE MACHINERY
and running the engines and generators 4
their full capacity. There were TWO dyna
mo-elecirIc generators side by side, tie trs
of which supplied the Broadway circuit
aud the second the Fifth. Reg iment armor,
and the circle Of thirteen lights burning Ii
the building. There was also test lgh
attached TO the first generator which showes
tho exact degree Of intensity with whicl
the Broadway Jets were kept burning. A
the light irom each one OF the dozen oil
more Jets 10 the room was stated by th