The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-17
Lighting the City with Electricity.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journai:
The writer has just returned from trip to
Detroit, and the marked contrast between the
public lighting there and the wretchedly dark
streets of our city is painfully apparent. At
Detroit about one hundred and twenty towers
like that in the Circle, light every nook and cor
ner clear to the city limits in every direction
just the same as though there was a
full moon. Some few heavily shaded
sections have an occasional pole light
bat in drive of two hours in every quarter
was amazed to see how beautifully and brilliant
~ everything was illuminated. could see
through an entire block back of the buildings
alley, yards and the backs of houses were all
treated to this artificial moonlight / was told
that the cost was much less 30 the city than
lighting by gas and naptha; that while gas and
naptha formerly cost about eighty to ninety
thousand dollars for lighting only seven or eight
square miles, and with many streets in that
limit unlighted. the towers distributed over
and thoroughly illuminate in every quarter nearly
twenty one square miles. at an expense of only
$1,000 Vehicles and persons can be easily seen
block distant in any quarter of the CITY, In the
suburbs where the houses are small and the
trees sparse, the light is much stronger, since
one can scarcely find spot where score of
towers are not visible. and which, with adjacent
ones all contribute their rays.
a high price to remain longer in panoply of
darkness when at a less expense she might share
those advantages possessed by Detroit. If our
electric-light people have not the means nor the
enterprise to provide with such q system,
other business men ought to gather other CAPT
tai and see that Indianapolis shall no longer pay
a bonus for being In darkness Apathy and in
activity the part of local electric
lighting company may, as it seems to be
here, the means of depriving us
of the great advantages of thorough lighting
system, such as Detroit has, for others, seeing
their apathy, may, and likely to. conclude it
is because the field presents no inducement to
investors. Detroit is live city, and nothing at
the present day thoroughly advertlses ner
spirit and her enterprise the fact, at once ap-
parent to all visitors, and the notoriety of which
is already universal, that she is the most bril-
lantly and beautifully lighted city in the world
and at the same time pays for it far less pro
rata for the area covered than Indianapolis pays
for few scattering and widely separated gas
and naptha lamps. The Detroit towers exhibit
their lights every night and all night every day
in thu year, regardless of the moon, from sunset
to daylight / hope this matter may be stirred
up until the local companies new company
may give to our people what we want and must
have. In talking with many of our people since
my return, find the opinion to be general that
the time has come for agitation upon this sub
ject. Let Us be lighted as Detroit is. The ex-
preston of the will will assure the result. "Let
there be light, and there was light"
INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. Is. A LAWYER