Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-11
DARKNESS PREVAILED
The Inconsiderate Moon Started Work at
Ten O'clock.
Before That Hour the City Was Dark
as Inlx-Last Nights
Experiences.

There was more illumination Of the loose
methods in vogue in the District in the
matter of lighting the streets last evening.
There was little enough illumination on
anything else, however, for more so-called
economy was being practiced, and, though
the moon did not rise until shortly after 10
o'clock, and was not very bright until near
midnight, not gas lamp was lighted, and
the city was dark once more for at least
three hours. This was the result of another
order received by the gas company from
the District buildings to the effect that
there should be no lighting, because, for
sooth, there was moon billed to appear.
There was apparently no consideration
paid to the fact that the moon was not
scheduled until after 10. or to the additional
fact that from to 10 o'clock the streets
are very much used by the people, and In
the absence of both moon and lamps are
very dark. The combination is not pleas
ant one at any time. but it is a particularly
bad one when there are suspicious charac-
ters in and all around town.
1t was wrong of the moon not to rise
earlier, of course, and it showed lack of
consideration on the part of her lunar ma
1esty. However, she has a supreme way OF
ignoring the wishes Of most folks, and SO
the responsibility must be placed else
where.
The Hour Question.
contained in yesterdays Star about the
need of economy, an eX-official of the Dis
trict government, who formerly had charge
Of the street lamp work, said today to
Star reporter that up to 1890 the city was
well lighted on basis of 1900 hours per
lamp per year. There was trouble with
the schedules then, for an effort was made
to accommodate them TO the state OF the
weather and the condition of the moon.
The reporters Informant went on to say
that with 5000 hours guaranteed there
ought to be an abundance of light In the
streets the year round, and that very
little care would be necessary to keep the
service within the appropriation. The diff
Guilty. he added, is that not enough pains
are taken with the orders during the moon
period of the month. The orders are given
to the gas company too early IN the DAY,
and there is not enough communication
between the officials and the gas people.
THE city," he went on, could be given
continuous service, that is to say, every
lamp could be lighted every night of the
year without reference to the moon, on
basis of $500 hours, an increase Of 800
over the present appropria ton. That would
be an increase of less than one-tourth or
the appropriation, and would give splen-
did service without the chance of there
being a complaint. l know it to be fact
that so much of this alleged economy was
exercised during the winter months of last
year that when the spring months came
along there was large surplus in pros
pect. and the lamps were lighted every
ant while 1t lasted. but the people had
dearly bought the good service of the
spring, when they did not need 1t so badly,
by an eXecrable service during the winter,
when they needed it the worst way. lit
tie more good judgment and foresight
would equalize this matter.so that steady
and reliable service could be given the year
round"