The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-12-08
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

pos.-uaster of Philadelphia Brings
- Testimony in Favor of the Supe-
-,or Economy of the Electric Light over
Gas for Purposes of illumination
his fortunate for the public interest that
n, Postmaster of Philadelphia has brought
E,,warl the official testimony in favor of
n. superior economy Of the ectric light
I,,r gas for purposes of illumination, for
[.ior 10 the publication of that testimony
/, has been extensively believed that
IAbough the electric light was indiS-
|ntably superior to gas burners and oil
|,mps in brilliancy, yet that its cost
Is much the same as gas, if not in
Esed rather more. In the case of the Post
Iaster here is high public official, bound
X the stringent obligations ofhis office to
the finances of the services
fstblully. who states explicitly that dur
|ns given period of time the use of the
[sctrlc light in the poStotlico caused saw
|os of 50 coo as compared with the use of
IL dnring previous corresponding period.
|his furnishes q very forcible answer to
III invariable accusations of iobbery made
taiust every attempt of Councilmen to in
{Sluce the electric light into common use
IN the illumination of our main highways,
Ridges, and public places, 1t is far from
Seng credtable to the intelligence of this
metropolis that so great an Improvement as
Ehe electric light is still re-
Iarded by large numbers of persons
S,prelvas scientific curiosity or a doubtful
trperiment, instead OF being in reality an
trent calculated TO work as mighty rev.
Hinton in the illumination Of cities, public
IIaces and highways as that accomplished
4 travel and trade by the substitution of
<lways for ordinary vehicles drawn by
IOre.power When Illuminating gas was
frt introduced into Philadelphia, it had
n encounter an opposition much
Ilore formidable in intelligence and in
fuence than that now arrayed
Igainst the electric light; and as the latter
| As lately been subjected to the accusation
4 being liable to sudden and alarming
anger as a cause of fire, it may be worth
Mile to recall the fact that the opponents
| gas in olden times conjured up dreadful
Ipprehensions that in case of fire the gas
Miles, in the streets might explode and set
Ia to the whole town. In point of fact,
Mile it is true that steam, gas and electric
k.hts are all liable to dangers of
.bme kind, they are no greater than those
Rising from the most ordinary arrange
hents and systems, and it is therefore alb
hrl to permit the exaggerated fright re-
hitting rem or connected with the Lar
enberger catastrophe to be used for tie
eneral encouragement of the use of tie
kectric light. So far as the illumination of
lie highways of Philadelphia is concerned,
he bill Of expense for gas and
/ is not only large and serious, but is liza
"a to an increase every year, because the
8hmber of lights required multiplies rap
Ey with the building up of our suburbs and
&yirOns. 1t is therefore worth while tor
councils to consider whether by the use of
Nectric lights on the principal
7 ghways and bridges we can
n accomplish n solution OF
b problem Of how to light the city better
n thout additional expense, Aside from
IS is problem, we would mention that it has
ZEN said that the cost of gas for the de-
&rtments now in the Penn Square City
all bids tair to equal is not to exceed the
ount of money saved to the city treasury
the removal of the departments
BIN rented quarters to the Public
bildings If this be so, Councils cannot
d soon take into consideration
II pjpriety of introducing the electric
|khtinio the great ediiice for purposes of
nomination. As to the accusation of job
IN, it is idle to attempt to disprove it, as
made gibly against every description
n neutrality-suspicious. without the slight
reference to the character of the persons
iyelymoving in favor of such enterprises,
is therefore manifest that these accusa-
hs are made recklessly, carelessly, and
Enetimes malicously, without anything
stantial on which to base them.-Phila-
Ephia North American.