San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-12-22
THE ELhCrRiC LIGHT.
a.. post.Masier OF Philadelphia Brings Forth
Testimony In Favor OF the Superior Econ.
omy Of the Electric Light over Gas
fnr purnnscs Of Illumination.
for Purposes Of Illumination.


TITS fortunate for the public interest
that the Postmaster OF Philadelphia has
brought forward the official testimony
IN favor OF the superior economy of
the electric light over gas for purpo ses
Of illunaination, for prior to the publ
cation of that testimony it has been ex-
tensiyely believed that although the
electric light was indisputably superior
TO gas burners and oil lamps in brillian-
cy. vet that its cost was much the same
rs gas, if not indeed rather more. In
the case of the Postmaster here is a
high public official, bound by the
stringent Obligations of his Office to
administer the finances of the services
faithfully, who states explicitly that
during given period of time the use
of the electric light in the postof1ice
caused saving of $4,000 as compared
with the use of gas during a previous
corresponding period. This furnishes
a very forcible answer to the invariable
accusations of jobbery made against
every attempt of Councilmen to intro
duce the electric light into common use
for the illumination of our main high
ways, bridges, and public places. 1t is
far from being creditable to the intelli-
gence of this metropolis that so great
an improvement as the electric light is
still regarded by large numbers of per
sons merely as scientific curiosity or
q doubtful experiment, instead of being
in reality an agent calculated to work
as mighty as revolution in the illumina
ton of cities, public places and high,
ways as that accomplished in travel and
trade by the substitution of railways
for ordinary vehicles drawn by horse
power. When Illuminating gas was
first introduced into Philadelphia, it
had to encounter an opposition much
more formidable in intelligence and in
huence than that now arrayed
against the electric light; and as the
latter has lately been subjected to the
accusation of being liable to sudden
and alarming danger as cause of fire,
it may be worth while to recall the fact
that the opponents of gas in olden
times conjured up dreadful apprehen-
sions that in case of fire the gas pipes
in the streets might explode aud set
fire to the whole town. In point OF
fact, while it is true that steam, gas and
electric lights are all liable to dangers
of some kind, they are no greater than
those arising from the most ordidary
arrangements and systems, and it is
therefore absurd to permit the exag'
gerated fright resulting from or con.
nected with the Landenberger catas.
trophe to be used for the general dis
couragement of the use of the electric
light. So far as the illumination OF
the highways of Philadelphia is con-
cerned, the bill of expense for gas and
oil is not only large and serious, but
is liable to an increase every year.
because the number of lights required
multiplies rapidly with the building up
of our suburbs and environs. 1t Is
therefore worth while for Councils to
consider whether by the use OF electric
lights on the principal highways and
bridges we cannot accomplish solu-
ton of the problem of how to light the
city better without additional expense
Aside from the problem, we would
mention that it has been said that the
cost of gas for the departments now in
the Penn. Square City Hall bids fair
to equal is not to exceed the amount Of
money saved to the city treasury by
the removal of the departments from
rented quarters to the Public Buildings
If this if so, Councils cannot too soon
take into consideration the propriety
of introducing the electric light into
the great edifce for purposes of illu-
mination. AS to the accusation of job
berry, it is idle to attempt to disprove
it, as it is made glibly against every
description of public improvements
without the slightest reference to the
character of the persons actively NOV
ing in favor of such enterprises. 1t Is
therefore manifest that these accusations
are made recklessly, carelessly, and