Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-26
The Moons Side Partner.

When the moon shines real bright there are
no street lamps lighted in this city. The part
| nership which exists between the municipal
authorities and the moon began in the early
days Of the city. Prior to that period the moon
was alone in the business Of street lighting, and
the city fathers did not attempt to interfere.
But after awhile. when the population increased
and persons of evil minds and disorderly habits
found the dark streets extremely favorable to
their business Of waylaying citizens and rob-
bling them. the system which now prevails in
this city was inaugurated Jfhe city then de-
cided to supplement the efforts Of the moon,
and on the nights that the luminary
ported by astronomers not to be on duty it
ordered that the street lamps should be
lighted. This business relation between the
satellite of the earth and the local government
of the nations capital has been continued down
to the present day. The moon has expressed
no dissatisfaction with this arrangement as far
as the astronomers at the naval observatory are
aware. and they get closer to the moon than
any one else, but the town authorities and the
citizens generally have been for years extremely
opposed to further recognition of the moon as
factor in street lighting. However, members
Of Congress who are now the solons of the city
seem to have great confidence in the moon. In
fact, they are so fond of moonlight that
they won't listen to any proposition looking to
the employment Of any other source Of illumi-
nation. Why Congress is stuck" on the
moon, SO to speak, is a question difficult to
answer. But the fact remains all the same that
the appropriation for street lighting is each
year carefully pruned down as to allow the
street lamps to be lighted only on those nights
when the moon liz scheduled not 70 shine.
There is no city of similar Importance In this
country where the antique custom is observed
OF putting out the street lamps on moonlight
nights. The tickle character Of the moon was
observed and commented upon a good many
years ago. for even the fair Juliet was not so
far gone In the delusion Of love not to take
exception to the fervent protestations of her
lover based on the con5tancy Of this luminary.
But Congress Is above such suspicious and dis
plays a noble confidence In the good faith Of
the moon to perform faithfully its part in the
schedule of city street lighting. The result is
that when tie moon sulks behind a cloud, as
she frequently does. the streets of the city Re
left In darkness, much to the profit Of that sec
ton of the community which gnins u livelihood
by proving on the rest.
There is no doubt that the street lamps ought
to be lighted each night and every night, is
the case in all modern cities of any conse-
quence. Last year Congress was induced to
appropriate money for additional number
of hours during which The lamps can be lighted
and by II careful arr angement. by cutting of
little time in the early evening and early
morning. q margin of hours is gained which
makes it possible to have the lamps lighted on
nights when the moon. according to the astron-
nothing o. the sort. The ridiculous and anti
quated custom is still followed in this city of
lighting the lamps on evenings when the moon
is to shine and extinguishing them as soon as
the luminary rises. The absurd situation liz
prese.Ited of lighting the lamps, say at 6
q clock In the evening, and then extiuguishing
them an hour and half or two hours later.
On some nights the lamps are lighted after IL
O'Clock TO burn until daybreak In the an
nual report Of Capt. Lusk, who is in charge of
the street lamps, which has just been published,
be calls attention to this condition Of affairs.
1t Is not surprising to note a tone Of discour-
agement In what he has TO say on this sub
5ect, because he has made similar recommends
tons In former years. az his predecessors have
done. and Congress has paid no heed. Here il
what he says:
During the year the gas and oil lamps were
lighted 1000 hours each per annum. the mini
mum prescribed by law. This should be in
creased to not less than $500 hours per lamp
per annum, and better still to 4. 600 1t seems
idle to repeat the arguments in favor Of the
proposed increase 1t is, perhaps, sufiic to
say that, owing 10 the steady increase in the
number Of tall buildings and in the extent and
thickness Of the foliage, longer dependence
upon the moon for street lighting purposes ia
futile. At best the problem of lighting much
of the older portions of Washington and
Georgetown is pretty nearly equivalent to at
tempting to light an ordinary forest and to re- |
strict the necessary hours Of burning by one
fourth is economy difficult to justify"
All Washington is deeply interested in the
matter OF the thorough Lighting Of the city
streets, for it involves the safety of the life and
property Of every resident of the city.