Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-12-03
ABLAzE WITH ELECTRIC LIGHT.
A LITTLE GIRL PULLS 4 LEVER
AND STA UNION Is FLOUDED
WITH ELECTRIC LIGHT.

WAS enveloped in the murky clouds of a
gaInering rain storm, lever was touched
at Che Pump House and Staunton was in
stantly bathed in a white sea of electric
hight. Many who, understanding that 7
O'Clock was the hour fixed, were making
tnelr way to the higher points to witness
tne general effect, were surprised while
passing under dark electric lamp to see
IL Changed into spot of dazzling bright
1s'ass; and many more who did not know
OF the inSssded lighting were bewildered
with the sudden light. The people throng-
ed the streets in great numbers to see the
illumination. and there was general ex-
preston Of hilarious admiration. On Sat-
urday Mr.. A. F. Brooke, of the Thompson
Huston Electric Light Co., who has had
charge of putting up the plant, announced
that the light would be turned on Monday
night. AS dark came on, a number of per-
sons gathered at the Water Works where
the electric light plant is situated. Among
them were Messrs. w. P. Tams and e.
Bargamin, of the Electric Light Commit
tee, while Mr.. A. J. Butts, the third men,
Der, was down in the centre of the city to
witness the effect when the current should
be turned on. Mr.. John D. Crowle,
Chairman Of the Street Committee, was
also present. Everything was ready at 6
r. M, and the pleasant duty of giving
Staunton her new departure was gallantly
turned over to the ladies. Mrs. Clifford
Rarnopiu etartad tho angina and at R.d5
Miss May Crowie pulled up the armature
and Miss Ora Cosby { Mrs. Bargamin's SIS
teri connected the current Of electricity
with the street lines. In an instant the
building itself and the whole city were
hsaIing with light.
HOW THE CITY LOOKED.
A gentleman who was on his way to
Gospel Hill to take in the event from an
elevated point, was caught while passing
under the light at the corner of Main and
New Streets. The white light flashed. and
by the time he could turn around to look
at the long western stretch of Main street,
the lamps all along it were blazing. Sears
Hill on the South, to which there is
not an electric lamp nearer than two
squares off, had on 1t so strong light
that clear up to its top shadows were cast.
West End, suburb of the city, to
which there is no lamp nearer than quar-
ter of mile, had so strong light thrown
from the lamp in rear of Hou. A. Fl. q.
Stuart's, that the shadows we're plainly
perceptible in its streets.
THE STRENGTH OF THE LIGHT.
The popular mode of testing light by
its shadow was tried by two gentlemen
who walked from 10 front of the Lutheran
church, where there is d lamp, to the cor
ner of Church and Main streets-two
squares off-where there is another lamp.
Their shadows and even the shadow of
walking cane were visible all the way,
being either in front or behind as they
left or neared lamp. On the porch OF
Mr.. r. W. Burke's mansion, corner of
Church and Johnston streets, it Was easy
to read a newspaper and tell the time by a
watch by the electric light, though there
is no lamp nearer than square off.
COMPARED WITH THE FORMER
LIGHTING.
At the time the electric light was turned
on, and for some hours after, the street
gas lamps were burning. The effect was
that the gas lamps looked like little dull
red spots of fame. Later, the experiment
of turning the electric light off for a few
minutes while the gas lamps were still
burning was tried, and the contrast was
so great that it looked almost as if the
city had been plunged into darkness
again.
THE SINKING AND RISING OF THE
LIGHT.
There was slightly uneven emission of
light from some lamps. which gave the
doubters, who are always on hand at every
step of progress, an opportunity to say,
81 told you So" The fuctuating was
caused by the fact that a carbon, some
thing like lead pencil. is always more or
less uneven, some parts harder and some
parts softer. No way has yet been inVen
ted by which carbon can be made thor
oughly even. The fault is not in the
Sbk0dm VI ClCCUkISIGy WulCd vi luOOuuJ
night was steady as clock. The rising
and falling of light is coniaed to lndIyid-
ss1iaa dlas.a lamps and does not extend along the
line. st S~o'ciock Tuesday morning the
light was steady end brilliant; al the 9TH
er lights of the city, Ss S'lic and private
were out, aud under the steady glare OF
the electric lamps the city looked Ike it
was day.
RUNNING ALL NIGHT.
The electric lamps will be burned all
night, and not few hours. Moonlight
nights will be the only exception, and these
WILDE run by the sInoon table, The public
now have first class light and they want
it all night. To put the light out before
daybreak is TO lose one of the most impor.
tanJ of Its uses.
THE PLANT.
The plant cost the city 81 500, OR. that is
to say, that is what the city pays the
Thompson-H ouston Co. for the whole
thing, set up and run so days on trial. The
dynamo is of As light power. The engine
is a Bell nickie.plated so horse power,
though only rs horsepower is needed to
drive the present dynamo. The building
containing the plant was erected by Pun
kett Il Co.. stone work and engine founda
lions; FL. Wallace, brick work; j. NJ. vii
son, carpentefing and timing, and Ed, Jes
sup painting. The building viii be heated
by steam. The new DuDping engine for ths
water works, for which the foundation is
ready, will bo here about Deeem Der 18Th
THE NUMBER OF LIGHTS,
The dynamo has a capacity for As lights