Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-01-11
Electric Iliu nination.

EltGNElC
Los Angeles has now had some weeks
trial Of tho Brush Electric Light system
Of public illumination. That when the
proper distribution Of masts has been
secured, it will be highly satisfactory,
we do not think admits of doubt
In company with Mr.. Rowland, who
has introduced the system here, we
have made careful inspection Of the
Illuminating results thus far obtained.
The city now has seven nasts, and there
may be some question as to whether
they have been judiciously distributed.
That portion Of Los Angeles which
clusters around the hill and tho State
Normal School-that Is TO say, from
Fs.sssss s.ss Stree. TO The Normal school-and
First Street itself, seem to have been
treated with IN exceptional degree of
municipal favor. Taking the lights on
top Of First Street hill, on the corner Of
First and Rose streets, and that on
Boyle Heights, at the terminus Of First
street, that thoroughfarc has been
splendidly provided for.
The seven masts which constitute the
basis of the city's present system Of
illumination, are located as follows, In
front Of the st. Charles Hotel, Main
Street, on Main Street between Sixth and
Seventh, at tho top OF First Street hill, on
the corner Of First and Rose Streets, on
the hill adjoining tho State Normal
School. on Boyle Heights at the term.
mus Of First Street. and in East Los
Angeles. OF these, the mast in front Of
the ST. Charles Hote! and that adjoin-
ing the State Normal School, have four
lamps, of throo thousand candle power
each, the remaining five have three
lamps Of three thousand candle power,
making q grand Illuminating coup d'oeR
Of sixty-nine thousand candle power.
The night upon which, in common
with several well known citizens, we
madc our circuit Of the city, was hardly
adapted to the purpose for the reason
that the heavens were specially lumin.
ous being studded with innumerable
stars. The electric light shows to best
advantage on dark nights. Ascending
the hill by Temple street we found that,
though tho light could only penetrate
by oblique angles, there was ample light
to drive by on that thoroughfare. 1t
was on gaining the crest of the hill,
however, that a perfect food of radiance
surrounded ono on every side. We
should judge that residents on the hill
would avelittle difficulty in reading at
midnight, so strong and dazzling is the
illumination. Tsat portion Of the city
which lies within considerable radius
from First street hill and the State
Normal school was bathed in aea of
Light, and we have no doubt that there
are many roofs in that neighborhood
from which the householder could pick
up u pin in the darkest night. All this
portion OF the city was one mass Of cor.
ruscatins and scintllant glory, veritable
billows of light, which brought out the
colors and delicate tracery of tho foliage,
throwing into bold relief every tint OF
paint employed in the decoration of the
houses, surging everywhere
In order to test the power OF the
lamps Of the First street and Normal
school masts we drove out to Adams
street, on Figueroa, For fully mile
and quarter from Sixth street a very
strong shadow was cast by the vehicle.
The hoofs OF tho horses caught the eye
at every step, and the smallest obstacle,
such as stone orrut, could easily have
been deserted on the roadway. No
doubt the illumination would have ex-
tended clear to Adams street had it not
been for the dense foliage of the euca.
lyptus and other trees which aligned the
roadway, Returning by Main street,
very clear and pronounced light was east
as far as the Washington Gardens by
the hill masts--the distance being quite
two miles.
Having trayersed the city thoroughly,
the conviction was borne in upon us |
that thus far, the experiment has been |
very satisfactory. The light itself is
clear, mellow and beautiful, OF soft |
blush white. and II is served ont with a
steadiness and uniform brilliancy which |
emphasize the advances Brush has
made in giving fixity and softness to
what was at first harsh, garish and |
hickering illuminator. Not the most
brightly polished facets OF the diamond
ever threw off "a more dazzling radiance
than does the Brush Electric light.
There are, OF course, some drawbacks
TO this pleasant picture. Just in pro.
portion to the brilliancy OF the illuminn.
tion, on the unobstructed lines, is the
depth Of the shadow where the light
does not reach. To remedy this defect
the City Fathers have only to supply
more lights. 1t thus becomes altogether
q matter of comparative expense as be.
tween gas and electricity, and Mr..
Rowland claims that no can do the work
OF illumination by electricity far moro
completely than ii can be done BY gas,
and at a smaller outlay We should un-
doubtedly have had to extend our gas
service shortly, md that would have
involved an additional expense, As to
the lighting up OF portions Of the city
not hitherto supplied with gas, the cleo.
trio lamps, quostionless, are q great gain,
as on many of the streets leading from
the city their Illuminating power ex.
tends for miles. Tho fact that they
can be seen at Santa Ana, town thirty.
five miles from Los Angeles, speaks
volumes as to the intensity Of the light
The workshop on Alameda street will
well repay visit of inspection. I'm
der Mr.. Warren's clear expositions,
the Brush Dynamo Generator becomes
thing of hearty and interest. A new
machine has been lately added to the
establishment, which is intended to sup.
ply illumination to private citizens and
business houses. Mr.. Rowland claims
that he can sell electric light to the citi.
zens at a figure equivalent to gas at three
dollars q thousand feet The small
lamps intended for the business house