Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-24
THE BIG BRIDGE LIGHTED.
The Brilliant illumination Watched by
ThrOngs in Both Cities.
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The siXty-fOur electric lamps which dot
the Brooklyn Bridge at intervals of 100
feet were lighted at 1:15. O'Clock last
night as an experimental test. They
were not very bright at first, and word
was sent to the United States Illuminat-
ing COmpany's plant, at and Elm
street, whence electricity was furnished,
to increase the current. The lights then
became much brighter, but they did not
seem to be as strong as those in the
City Hall Park. From the City Hall
stationFEOf the elevated RAILROAD the
rows of lights could be seen on either side
of the bridge. They were of uneven brill
liancy. Some were quite brilliant, while
others were dull and yellowish. The en-
plOyes who were on the bridge could be
seen in the distance as black as charcoal
figures. Passengers crowded the ferry
boats to secure a view of the spectacle
from the river. Knots of people who
hadn't the inclination or couldn't afford
the luxury of such observation, gathered
on the corners of South street or went out
on the edges of the wharves and gazed up
at the lights.
The lights did not throw the outlines
of the giant structure into bold relief.
Instead, it looked shadowy and indis-
finct. while the cities seemed joined by an
arch of blazing jewels. A mile away the
lights appeared held alOft by invisible
means. They glimmered against the
misty sky like a string of big stars. AT
times some of the stars went out, and
others burned dull and lustreless. The
RAYS flecked the river with silver that
paled the moonlight, when the moon sud
denly tried to start an opposition llluml-
nation.
At 10 O'Clock the electricians in Elm
street were busy testing the resistance OF
the circuit, as il was feared there would
be grOundings. Eugene L. Lynch, the
President of the company, personally SUI
pervised the operations.
alt is a very difficult piece OF practical
electric lighting" he said. There is no
air circuit anywhere; nothing but IRON or
masonry. The greatest care had 10 De
taken to avoid grounds. The wires run
every which way, and are encased in gas
nine, Around each abutment there are
four elbows IN the gas pipe, through
which the wires have got to be carried
The wires are No. 3, one size larger than
those used in lighting the streets. Inc car
hons are of the same size as the street car
bOns, The electricity is only Temporarily
furnished from the Elm street plant.
When All the arrangements are completed
there will be four twenty-light dynamo
machines on, the Brooklyn side under
Prospect arch. They will be worked by
two fifty horsepower Corllss engines.
There will be two distinct circuits on the
bridge. each furnished by two OF the
dynamo machines and one of the engines
Each circuit covers alternate lamps, 50
that if machine or an engine gets 9ut 1 ~
order the bridge will still be lighted, TO
onard AGAINST further accident, there Will
6e cnt-off boxes at the Elm street plant,
so that inside of fifteen minutes the cleo
tricitv can be furnished from IT,"
Mr.. Lynch said that he was well
satisfied with the trial. The lamps were
10 be kept lighted till dawn