Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-11
LETTHEWINDBLOW
And the Clouds Scatter Snow
II the Lights Burn Low.
UP MUST GO BRAVE IRIMMERS
Unpleasant and Dangerous Work Per-
fosnsd 70 Keep the City Lighted.
The Tower Lighting system

fOflf toWeIss one nuuuIeO euu uxby
swAying. szzllng, creaking. blinking
Tampa ~ the top and each lamp must
be trimmed ~ least once each night
and many of them oftener. Perhaps
the wind a blowing forty knots an
hour and the tower 10 clad with sleet
and ice- IL makes no difference II
Old boreas hAs unclaimed his hercest
and icyest blast the night trimmer OF
the Electric Light company must
mount the 100 feet of iron framework
and DO MA work.
In calm weather the mode OF ascent
IS by wayof the iron cage hung within
the framework of the tower. then IL is
easy to do the work; but when the
wind blows ss II does now nearly every
niznt. the cage swings so frlghtfully
thalit - extremely dangerous to at
tempt 10 reach the summit of the
towers IN this ~ay. On one of the
three perpendicular corner posts of the
tower may be seen small projections
Of iron To serve As steps, 800 Of them.
one above the other. In stormy
weather these furnish Q safer but more
tedious way OF reaching the lamps.
One not accustomed TO the work would
hardly consider this mode of ascent
very pleasant. The steps may be
covered with sleet and ice and
the wind may be blowing until an
owl could hardly keep his perch. but
up the trimmer must 60. He reaches
the towers by means Of . horse snd
wagon or sleigh, and after . ride in
the cold for an hour he 10 not IN the
best condition for trip up the towers.
Other Lighsing Appsratus.
Besides the LOO lamps on the towers
there are l62 low Tampa. which have
been placed In tho center Of the city
and At corners where the committee on
lamps think they are most needed.
There 10 not . meeting of the council
that the committee 10 not beseged by
various citizens for more light. not
outstanding that the city government
claims that the city 10 better lighted
than ever before, considering its
decreased area. some portions of
the city are uos 90 we'll lighted IS
formerly. but the entire city Was never
supplied 9th ~ much light ~ 1T pres
ent-
lighting the Alleys.
An important Improvement Was the
placing of low lamps in the Monroe
street alleys Few burglsries were
committed from the front OF the stores
located on the main streets, but in the
extreme darkness Of these alleys the
pstrolnsn might have passed within
few feet OF . suspicious character and
not have seen him. There are doubt
less other places where more low lamps
could be placed 10 advantage and y
half dozen more towers would 90 .
long way toward improving the light
already furnished, but the prospects
are that no more towers will
be erected the coming year.
Those who objected strongly to the
tower system the first months OF their
existence here have ceased .'kicking."
snd If they are not entirely satisfied
have at least found complaints " be
in VAIN. Those residing in the far
away suburbs are we'll pleased with
the towers. for while u does not give
them q bright light. 10 casts . glow IN
the arr that enables the beiated subur.
bsnss 10 ind the keynote with very
little trouble. There 10 1T lexst not .
placs in the city where IL 10 absolutely
pitch dark which could scarcely have
been said under the old system of
lighting. The reflection fromths clouds
and tue buildings throws some faint
rays OF hight into the darkest corners.
The appointment of . city electrician
20 test the candle power Of the light
seems to have, hsd some effect.