Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-01
Bids Opened for Lighting the Streets
of the District.
NO PROPOSALS FOR GAS OR ELECTRICITY
Unsatisfactory Result Of the Attempt
to Reduce the Cost.
OTHER INTERESTING ITEMS

lighting for the streets in the District For
a long time past there has been a feeling
that the District was paying altogether too
high for its system of lighting, and that 1t
was paying a good deal more than other
cities of the same size were compelled to
pay. The fact, however. that the law linn
tied the time of contracts for lighting to
three years has been sufficient to prevent
much outside competition for IT was not
thought worth while to establish new
plants or systems here for such compare
lively short periods.
Washington in one thing is far behind
the times. 1t relies on the moon for light.
This is fairly satisfactory when the moon
shines, but the light of the moon is by no
means certain. There are here nearly
5000 gas lamps which burn 1900 hours in
the year, allowing about SOC hours for the
moonlight. The cost per lamp is s2Leo a
year. The appropriation for gas lighting is
sl46, OOO and for electric lighting; $4,000 The
price of an are light Of 1000 candle power
is $50 per year.
In Cleveland, a city Of about 100000 popu-
lation, the lights burn 3.760 hours in the
year, no allowance being made for the
moon. The price per lamp is $l1.SS year.
and it is said that in other cities of about
the same size the price Of lighting is con-
siderably less than it is here.
In the last District appropriation act there
was this proviso: That the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia shall investi-
sion of the Fifty third Congress what re-
duction may be made for gas and electric
lighting, both for annual, five-year and ten
year contracts, and that they be authorized
to invite proposals for supplying light at
reduced rates. and in this they are not
limited to any one system or company.
1t was in accordance with this pro-
vision of the act of Congress that the bids
opened this afternoon We're called for. II
was hoped that encouraged by the chance Of
getting the contract for such a length Of
time as ten years some big corporation or
company interested either in electric light
ing or gas would feel called upon to make
bids based upon the establishment here of
new systems of their own. In way the
calling for bids at this time was but a ten
t tau measure straw tha6 w| I'D ,ndieads
somebody to light Washington at an eco
nomical figure.
If this was the hope it was doomed to
disappointment. There were no bids from
electric or gas companies. The Washing
ton Gaslight Company, that nov mas the
submit a bid. Instead. it sent a l.:tter stat
ing that in the absence from the city of
the president of the company no bid could
be made at the present time One of the
leading electric light companies In the
country sent a letter stating that in view
of the existing stringency in the money
market II did not feel in a position to con-
slider the matter just now, but intimGting
that IT n light later.
Inc Only DlUS received To-Day were Tor
lighting by oil and naphtha. TGsre were
bids OF this sort received from only two
companies Nicolai Bros and tn. Wheeler
sassas based C o1 the d h
the cheapest. of course. being for
We're also based on the number OF lamps to
be cared for. not less than s.ooo. not less
than 5000 and not less than 500. The
most favoraSle terms. to e on the on
desirable. the shortest term and smallest
number Of lamps. The figures volunteered
for oil lighting Were. on the WI rather
more satisfactory than obtain 70. the same
service at the present time.
The Inspector of Flour.
James H. WEIGH, the inspector of flour
for the District. has reported to the Com
missioners that the amount of flour in
spected in his department during the fiscal
year ending June 80 1885, was lls6i2 barrels
He states that there is a falling off in in
spection from year to year. owing to the
fact that nearly or quite one half Of the
sacks. which. the receiver claims, is not
subject to inspection.
Work to BE Done.
The Commissioners made the following
orders today:
That a water main be laid in the center
of LIST street west. between n and . streets
southwest, at an estimated cost including
l.,
the work to be done at once.
That SS feet of 6-inch water pipe be laid
in the center OF 9th street extended, from
Howard to Lincoln streets, at an estimat ted
cost of sl,U13. including the erection of two
ire hydrants.
That sewers be laid in the alleys of
under the provisions OF the compulsory
permit system.
That the lamppost on the north side of
n street between 18th and 18th streets be
moved back from the curb line.
That the pavement of lIth street between
and d streets, be repaired by putting
in new asphalt with 6-inch concrete base
That the roadway of Ohio avenue between
18th and 18th streets be repaired.
That the sidewalk on both sides of A
street southeast between 9Th and 9Th
streets, now being paved, be relaid under
the provisions of the compulsory permit
system on account of the change of grade
due to paving street.
That the following work be done under
the provisions of the compulsory permit
system:
Laying and relaying sidewalks-stb street
west side 4 to F streets; 18th street west
side, NJ to streets; 18th street, both
sides, . to p streets; 9Th street, east side.
from missouri avenue to alley; - street
south side. from North Capitol street To
list street; 10th street, both sides, from
PENNSYLVANIA avenue to G street W street.
north side. from 18th to 18th street; list
street. west side, from ID street to North
Carolina avenue; 18th street east side.
thie .ah s,r ssen9 9eon to als
u street northeast, north side between LIST
and I'd streets; Kenyon street. north side
between 18th and 14th streets; Park street
Mount Pleasant in front of lot 3. 3lst
street. both sides, NJ to streets: Bladans
burg road west side, from Florida avenue
to Lewis street.
Lights Needed on Dunn ba rton axeuu.
A number of residents of West Wash
ington have petitioned the Commissioners
to place at the lower end of Dumbarton
avenue, in the vicinity of the Intersection
or 18th street two gas lamps one on the
Dumbarton avenue. They say that as this
Is public highway and much Travelled
the nghtS are very essential to thu, com,
fort and safety of the residents in the vi
cinity.
The Reform school Estfmates,
President A. J. Falls Of the board Of
trustees of the reform school has submit,ed
to the District Commissioners the esti-
mates for that institution for the coming
fiscal year. These estimates are practt
cally the same for the present wear
which will expire June 80 next. An asdi
superintendent and S100 for the assistant
superintendent. These additions We're asked
at the last session of Congress, but were.
not granted. The amount asked for is
$15.362 for salaries. and $4,000 for supnort
of inmates. The report then continues as
follows: as
Heretofore $500 has been allowed for
teachers. An additional $500 is asked.
Some years since additional teachers were
required. but no appropriation was made
Tor their salaries, and the salaries of other
officers were reduced in sum agprega tin o