Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-25
LIGHTS IN THE PARKS
Reports of General Wilson and Colonel
Bingham.
Hnmpered by the Act of March 3, Pro-
hibiting the Laying Of COnduits-
Strange Condition Of Affairs.

Senate resolution Of May 10, calling for
certain information in regard to the cleo
trio lighting of the public parks Of the Dis
trict, forwarded reports on the subject
from Gen. Wilson, chief of engineers, and
Col. Bingham. Corps Of Engineers, in
charge of public buildings and grounds.
Col. Bingham, who reported to Gen. Will
son, says: Il have the honor to return
herewith the resolution of the United
States Senate, dated May 10, 1897, calling
on the superintendent of public buildings
and grounds to report whether he has ac-
cepted bids for park lighting at the rate Of
sol % per light and rejected others at rate
Of so per light per annum, which was re-
ferred to me from the office Of the chief of
engineers on May 20, and to report as fol-
lows:
1.-The officer in charge of public buildings
and grounds has not accepted bids for
park lighting at the rate of s91.25 per light,
nor rejected bids at the rate of $40 per light
per year. nor have contracts for such light
ing been entered into.
'.On April 20. 1897 proposals for lighting
with arc electric lights the following parks
were invited: Lafayette Park, six lights;
Franklin Park, nine lights; Judiciary Park,
nine lights; Lincoln Park, eight lights.
Bids were received and opened May TO-,
1897, as follows: United States Electric
Lighting Company. at SO per light per an
mum for twenty-four lights for the first
three parks mentioned; Potomac Electric
Power Company. at $9125 per light per
aEnum for the thirty-two lights in the
four parks mentioned. The bids were sub
mitted to the chief of engineers, May II,
1897, with the following remarks:
The lowest bid for lighting three of the
parks mentioned, viz, Lafayette, Franklin
and Judiciary Parks, is that Of the United
States Electric Lighting Company, which
In
Park, doubtless owing to the fact that its
conduits do not extend to that park. This
company has no conduits within the limits
Of the three parks which it proposes to
light at the rate Of so per annum and
under the provision contained in the act
making appropria lions for the government
Of the District of Columbia for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1898, approved March
3. 1897. 1t is believed that this Office has no
power to grant permission for the intro
duction Of additional conduits or overhead
wires within any of the parks under its
jurisdiction. This provision, which is also
contained in the sundry civil bill which
passed the House of Representatives, L. s.,
on March 10, 1897, and which carries an ap-
preparation for lighting the four parks al
luded to, is as follows: Until Con-
gress shall provide for a conduit system,
it shall be unlawful to lay conduits erect
overhead wires for electric lighting pur-
poses in any road, street, avenue highway,
park reservation, except as hereafter
specifically authorized by law: Provided,
however, that the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia are hereby authorized
to issue permits for house connections
and also permits for public lighting con-
nectio1s with cOnduits already in the por-
ton of the street proposed to be lighted
Should my construction of the law he
correct 1t Is recommended that the con-
tract he awarded to the Potomac Electric
Power Company as soon as Congress shall
have made the necessary appropriation,
that company now having conduits within
the four parks. which 1t is now lighting
rider it's contract of December ~, ls96,
which expires by limitation June 30, 1897.
The price bid by the Potomac Electric
Power Company, viz, 2o cents per light
per night, is the price mentioned in the
appropriation bill. and cents less than the
price paid the company under the present
contract.
ION May Is. 1897, the chief of engineers
authorized the acceptance of the bid OF
the Potomac Electric Power Company, as
not yet been accepted by this office because
the bill containing the appropriation for
lighting the parks mentioned has not yet
become law.
In forwarding this report to the Secretary
of War; Gen. j. NJ Wilson, chief of engi-
neers says that under the terms of the act
of March 3, 1897, making appropriations for
the government of the District of Columbia
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898,
am impressed with the belief that 1t will
be unlawful, until Congress shall provide
for conduit system, TO lay conduits, or
erect overhead wires for electric lighting in
any park or reservation.
wv lille for this reason I have authorized
the acceptance of the proposal of the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company, the high
est bidder and the only party having con-
Quits in the parks the award has not yet
been officially made to the company.
IF the law has been misconstrued by Col.
Bingham and myself, and further conduits
or overhead wires can be permitted In the
gvbo tc Inn lot tn thn
ton taken In the matter, and to award the
coOtract to the lower bidder.
THE proviso in the bill authorizing the
Commissioners of the District Of Columbia
to issue permits for house connections and
for public lighting connections with con-
Quits already in the portion of the street
proposed to be lighted was believed to be
for house and street lights, the public parks
lot being under the control of the District
Commissioners but of the officer in charge
of public buildings and grounds, and the
law apparently positively prohibiting the
laying of conduits or erection Of overhead
wires for electric lighting purposes within
the parks and reservations"