Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-01


The number OF lamps in service on July l, 1887,
was 4,547 The number in service July /, 1883,
was 4,71O. Number new lamps lighted during
1. Number discontinued during year, I45. Dur,
Ing the year the lamps were burned ., 65S hours,
an excess OF 50 hours above the contract time.
weather OF last May. Again, feel 1t may duty 10
express In the strongest possible manner my con-
he ncre se IN, ,re, . % 70 y, S
the cost would be small compared with the benef1
to be derived therefrom. During the years 1887
experiment was made OF lighting some or the alleys
OF the city with o-lamps, and II proved successful
There are many alleys and suburban localities
where the gas mains have not yet been laid, but
which are In need OF street lights. In these places
It has been decided 10 use the Oil lamps Posts and
lanterns are erected as for gas lamps, and a con-
care Of the lights In tine same manner as for gas.
The appropriation for gas lighting for 1888 o is
S105,O 1000 For the year 1sS9-9O this should be In
idly that new lamps are in constant demand. II
the lamps are TO burn 1000 hours this should be
increased to S13S, 900.
ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
appropriation for 1873 10000 Number OF
arc lights OF 900 nominal candle power in service
July l, 1887, 40; number OF new lights added
during year, IS; number in service June 30 1858
1Oo. Price pad during the year Is cents per light
per night These electric lights were lighted from
sunset to sunrise and burned during the year 2se
tract hay been entered into with the United States
Electric Light Company to maintain 40 lights
The price to b. paid is nifty cents per night pei
light The lights on Pennsylvania avenue and
| 18th street from 1st street west to Washington
Circle, on New York avenue, and 14th street, are
| to be maintained by underground wires, all the
others by overhead wires. During the past yeaI
the lights on Pennsylvania avenue west from gu
street TO Washington Circle have been maintained
by underground wires The practicability OF doing
| this successfully is demonstrated beyond ques
ton Electric arc lights can only b, used advan-
tageousy on these streets and ayerues OF the city
where there are very few trees, no this mus
limit their use TO very small portion OF
the city. II electricity is to be substituted
the city 1t must in general be done by substituting
tncandescent lights for the gas lights on all resi-
large trees. The city would be lighted In an ideal
manner II the main business streets and wide
business avenu-s, wharves, &C, were supplied
with the arc lights now in use and on all other
streets an incandescent electric light OF 40 or 80
candle power were substituted for each existing
gas light OF 16 candle power To reach this ideal
all work should be directed, and with this In view
siraoility OF the city owning and operating its
own electric works In many cities after
long, painful, and unsuccessful experience
with private companes the authorities
operating their own works, with eminent success
| In every respecr, financially and otherwise The
works should be operated not only for public but
for private lighting and for power. Then there
would be no wires in the streets used for these
purposes except these belonging 10 the District,
and the vexatious questions or overhead and
underground wires would be far on the road TO
final and definite settlement for the chief stum-
bling BLOCK the pocket or the tockholder, would be
eliminated. would recommend that the same
amount be appropriated for the year 1889 80 as
was appropriated for the year 1SSS-9 namely
500 OOO and in addition thereto that the necessary
SUN be appropriated, laws enacted and steps
taken to enter upon the business Of furnishing
electricity for light and power on q broad and
liberal basis.
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND ESTIMATES