Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-21
SAVANNAH ENTHUsED WITH
TIE RLEcERIC LIGHT.
The streets CrOvvded-A Gala Time
The Electric LIght Display
Great Success.

Not since the centennial celebration, In
1879, have the streets in Savannah present.
ed such q sight as was witnessed last even
ing, and Bull street, from to 10 O'Clock,
resembled the famous Broadway on a small
scale. The occasion OF this general and
universal turnout aud congregation OF the
people from all quarters OF the citv,on Bull,
Broughton, Congress and Whitaker streets,
was the anticipated display of the electric
light at the several stations In the streets
mentioned. Il became known during the
afternoon that the difficulties which en-
eountered the company on Saturday even
ing had been overcome, aud that
arrangements had been made 10
work the machine with the powerful en-
CINE at Wilcox, Gibbs & Co.'s, on Bay street,
near Whitaker. Hence st an early hour In
the evening the streets began to fill with
people, and by eight o'clock, in the locality
mentioned, the crowd was dense. Every
BODY was on the Qtfi Uire for the display, and
on Bull street, in Court House square, there
were probably over thousand persons as
sembled. About half past eight O'Clock the
battery commenced working, and In an In
slant the electric light flashed forth from
the several stations, brilliantly Illuminating
the streets, and causing the juvenile por-
ton Of the crowd. In their intense delight,
to give vent to vOciferous cheers, adding to
the excitement which prevailed every
where.
For some minutes there was slight flick
eriug in several Of the lights, natural, under
the circumstances, IN getting regular speed
for the engines, and as usual there were
several crOakers who began 10 predict that
the display would prove failure, but their
gloomy predictions were not to be realized,
as the result proved entirely satisfactory,
and in 9 short time steady aud beautifully
soft light was cast from the stations, st the
intersection of Congress and Whitaker
stree s, 10 Court House square aud on
Broughton street in front of the Marshall
House. The effect was grand,
and among the hundreds of promenaders
on the street were heard expressions OF
pleasure and satisfaction, the universal YER
diet being that 1t was grand success, and
could be adopted readily for lighting the
streets There sre now 595 street lamps,
and it is estimated that seventy-fye Of these
lights judiciOusly placed would be sufficient
to light the entire city. The MORNING NEWS
counting room, the stores Of Mr.. John
Lyons and Simon Gazln and
the saloon OF Mr.. F. ). Ruekert
were similarly lighted, and were
packed with curious people to note the eff
feet. In the spacious dining room st the Sore
ven House were placed two lights, but so H.
tensely brilliant was the effect that It was
decided that one would answer all purposes.
The lights we're kept up until IL O'Clock,
the success of the experimental display be-
ing fully assured. The company have re-
ceived more applications for the light
already than they can fill st present,
but the necessary arrangements will BE-
made without delay to secure the requisite
steam power to run all the stations that may
be desired. There Is now but one opinion
on the subject, and that Is, that the electric
light is 8 big success.
Savannah, in this progressive movement,
leads sll Southern cities, and it will be seen
By our telegrsphic dispatches from Charles
ton that the announcement that our streets
were lighted with electricity created pro-
found sensation in the stsid "CitY By the
Sea-"