Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-22
WATER AND LIGHT
ANNUAL Report Made by Assistant
Commissioner Burr.
SUGGESTION CONCERNING METERS
An Increase in Estimates for the
Street Lighting.
THE PARKING COMMISSION

Captain Edward Burr, first assistant en-
gineer commissioner, in charge of the wa
ter and street lighting departments. as we'll
as several minor branches of the District
government today submitted to the Com
missioners statement of the estimate of
appropriations required for the proper con-
duct of his Office during the next fiscal
year. 1t is in substance follows:
Water Department.
Two additional inspectors are necessary
for the best efficiency of the service The
number of inspectors authorized for 1889
was six, the present number is eight.
Since 1889 the receipts from water have
doubled and the number of houses supplied
have increased 80 per cent.
An increase of $500 in the pay of the
superintendent (EMgineer McFarlandD is
asked Tor. As an argument in favor of this
he calls attention to the fact that the pres
e .h salary OF the officer is much less than
the Importance of the position warrants.
He is the responsible head of a department
of Importance, and is subject for duty at
all hours of the twenty-four.
An additional Waterman, at a salary of
$50 per annum, is estimated and an in
crease of $500 is asked for contingent ex-
penSe5.
Relating to Meters.
Perhaps the most important feature of
Captain Burrs estimates is that relating
to water meters. 1t is as follows:
For continuing the extension of the
high service system of water distribution
to include all necessary land machinery,
building mains and appurterances and for
the purchase, erection maintenance and
inspection OF water meters; for the extern
sion of the water meter system to ali
classes of consumers, so much as may be
available in the water fund during the
fiscal wear 1899, after providing for the ex-
penditures hereinbefore auth orized is here
by appropriated
1t VIII be seen at a glance that it is The
purpose of the Commissioners to extend
the meter system to all classes of cousum-
ers Heretofore the great trouble about
setting UP water meters has been the cost
IL the new appropriation bill permits the
expenditure of the uneXpended balance
from the water receipts, it will be possible
for the department to give each consumer
a meter. Their purpose in making this es-
innate. ii is understood, is not to increase
the revenues of the department but to
limit the enormous waste which is daily
going on, and which amounts to so much
as to deprive number of citizens living in
high areas of proper water supply.
An increase OF $500 per annum is recon-
mended in the salary of the superinten-
dent of lighting and electricity, and new
clerk for that office, at salary of 81 900
per annum, is submitted necessary.
Street Lighting Service.
Coming. now, to the street lighting ser
vice. Capt. Burr asks for an appropriation
of $1,000, which is an increase of $50 700
over the current appropriation A provis-
ion is inserted in this item which requires
all lamps to burn every night from forty
five minutes after sunset. to forty-five min
utes before sunrise. Capt Burr says in
connection with the subject of street light
ing:
LAS the item for street lighting for some
years past has been worded, the Commits
sioners. in the erection of street lamps
have been restricted to the use of either
the low candle power gas lamp or he
very high candle power arc lamp. For
many residential streets the arc lamps are
not desirable by reason of their Object ton
able character to the residents, and of their
light being much INSTRUCTED by the trees
at the curb.
"At the same time more light is needed
than is afforded by single gas lamps, par
ticularly in rapid transit streets Tn
doubtedly an excellent service can be had
by lamps OF medium high candle power
more satisfactory in many respects than
either gas or arc lamps and at less cost
tfan the latter. While it is not desirable
to remove from the entire item the re-
striction as to cost per lamp and character
of burner. a relatively small sum should
be available for purposes of experiment de-
signed to improve the service.
Arc Lighting.
Another item of Importance is that:
For electric arc lighting, including neces-
sary inspection in those streets in the Dis
trict of Columbia now provided with un-
foreground conduits for the reception of
wires for electric lighting purposes, sos. 600.
This is an increase in the appropriation
of $43,GOO and Captain Burr says, by way
OF explanation:
The wording OF this item is recommend
nh tn oht
any street III the District of Columbia now
provided with conduits for the reception
OF electric lighting wires may be lighted
with arc lamps. AS the law is now word
ed no street in the county can be so light
ed, although at least two of them, 1Ith
street extended and Columbia road are oc-
cupied by rapid transit lines and py cleo
trio light conduits. The same conditions
exist within the city in streets not now
lighted by arc lamps as the law requires"
Building Inspectors Office.
The only new recommendation in this
branch Of the service is an estimate for
three additional assistant inspectors at
salary of $1,000 per annum each.
An assistant inspector of gas and meters
at a salary of $500 per annum is recon-
mended.
The Parking Commission.
Under this branch of the service it is esti.
mated by Capt. Burr that $4,000 is neces-
sary to properly conduct the department
during the next fiscal year This is an in
crease OF $4,000, which, Capt Burr points
out, Is needed for the proper maintenance
of the trees of the city and their appur-
tenances. A casual examination of the
trees. many of which should be replaced by
reason of their old and ragged condition. or
OF their undesirable character will Indicate
the reasons for asking for this increase.
win the present amount of the appro-
prlatlon, it Is not possible to replace all
to keep them in condition necessarv to
make them one of the chief beauties of
W ashington, credit to the CITY and one ~
its distinctive features -