Evening star., 1897-03-06
ELECTRIC LIGHTIN G
The Amount Appropriated by Congress Not
Sufficient for All the Lamps.
Some VIII Have to BE Cut Out-Spec
ulatiOn as to the Probable Ac-
tiOn to BE Taken.

Problems of electric lighting no longer
engage the attention of the Commissioners.
The appropriation bill has solved the entire
question. There are yet, however, several
matters of detail to be decided. The eX-
penditure of the $4,000 which Congress
appropriated for electric lighting will not
be sufficient to light all the lamps now
maintained, and when the new fiscal year
rolls around number of lamps will be cut
out.
Although an opportunity has been pre-
sented to the Commissioners to enter into
a contract with the United States Electric
Lighting Company for the lighting of its
existing lamps, for the remainder Of the
fiscal year. there is no likelihood that they
will accept the proposition. Capt. Burr, the
engineer officer in charge of the division of
street lighting, has recommended against
it, basing his adverse report upon the fact
that only three months remain of the pres
ent fiscal year, and that the service at the
present time was working satisfactorily.
1t will be recalled that when bids were
opened last June for lighting the streets
the United States company did not make a
formal bid, claiming the work under the
appropriation bill The company, however,
entered into a day-to-day contract with
the Commissioners at the price stipulated
in the appropriation bill, and has been 90
ing the work ever since. Recently propo-
sition was made to enter into q formal con-
tract, but the Commissioners, as stated
above have practically declined.
The situation next year will be interest
ing At the present time the District mann
tains about 505 electric arc lamps. But tnis I'M!
is done with an appropriation sof $oo,on.
When the Commissioners sent thelr estl-
mates to Congress they asked for an ap-
preparation of $97, GOO for electrip arc light
irg This was reduced by the House to
| $55 600, and the Senate insisted upon fur-
ther reduction, the conferees finally agree
| ing upon $4,000. With this meager sum for
electric street lighting, a number of exist
| ing lamps must be discontinuefIat the be-
ginning of the next fiscal year., and 1t Is ex-
pected that not ever 415 will be maintaine
during the next fiscal year. With an appro-
rriation Of $50. 600 the authorities could have
| lighted nearly 100 additional
1t has been definitely decided IN appor
| tioning the lighting next year to contract
| first for those lamps that were maintained
at the beginning Of the present fiscal year,
upon lamps in accordance with the sched-
ule sent to Congress. This will permit the
| lighting of some of the lamps erected ad-
| jacent to the rapid transit roads. 1t has
been figured out that 348 electric lamps ex-
| listed at the beginning Of the fiscal year
| OF this number 1924 are operated by the
| United States company ana "a by the Po-
| tom6c company west of Rock creek. The
additional 157 have been erected since that
time and are divided between the two com.
| panies.
| Whether the Commissioners will be per.
mitted to invite bids for this service after
the close of the fiscal year Is an open ques.
| ton. 1t Is claimed that the language of the
appropriation bill prohibits this action.