The Portland daily press., 1899-12-06
Light Committee Trying
To Better Matters.
Hopes To Have Dark Sections
Lighted by Old Co. Tonight.


tefs that the city would be lett In total
darkbs after the lights Of the Consofi-
dated Electric Light company were shut
of were not verified last night. The
lights Of the old company ceased TO burn
at five o'clock yesterday morning and
when darkness settled down upon the
city again they were net turned on. The
transition from brilliant illumination.
which was the result when the Consoli-
dated, the Portland and the Welsbach
companies were each contributing to-
wards the city lighting, to only about
two.tLirds of the service Of the new com-
psny with the Welsbaoh lights was OF
course noticeable but to the disappoint-
ment OF many the city was not plunged
in total darkness. The contrast from the
brilliant illumination Of the past week
IN ads the streets which have been 80 very
well lighted seem darker than they had
been before but, Tearing this In mind,
there was not much to complain about.
Some tf the streets that n representative
OF the PRESS took the trouble to visit
last night were rs we'll Lighted rs usual
as far AS could be seen. Speaking In
general way that section of the CITY on
the north OF Congress street from Grove
to Washington streets was fairly well
lighted. In fact with the Welsbaeh
turner's illuminating what have always
been very dark places the lighting seemed
T., be better than it was before the gas
LAMPS were lot reduced. In this section
of the city where the llghts of the new
company are not all in service as yet
there was little to complain Of. Munjoy
hill from Mountfort and Washington
streets eastward was in total darkness,
excepting the welstach lights. There are
not a great many of these lights on Nun.
10y hill and SO the streets were Of course
unusually dark. On some Of them there
were no lights at all and 1t was pretty
hard work TO get about on the sidewalks
which on all of these streets sre not In
the best of repair. But though many OF
the people in ward one were talked with
regarding the situation there were no
complaints heard. The people OF waru
one have reason to complain II any OF the
citizens have for they were lighted not at
all while the streets In most other SIC
tions of the city had at least the Weisbach
burners In many places.
Coming down from Munjoy hill, Fore
street below Monument and to India
street was well lighted with the arcs OF
the new company and the gas lamps.
India street was as we'll lighted as ever
and the corner of India and Commercial
was not 90 badly OF as the GRAND Trunk
railroad maintaius some priv ate lights on
Its vharyes which helped out here not
little. The rest OF Commercial street was
as black as the plackest night. 1t has al
ways been poorly lighted street anyway,
b-s last night 1t was in total darkness.
York, pleasant and the south west section
of the city was no better lighted.
From Grove, street west ward excepting
for the welsbnoh lights, the streets were
not lighted at all. The only bright spot
being about Railroad square, where the
lights Of the West End hotel helped out
great deal. There was one cluster of In
candesoeuts In front Of the Union station
and two arc lights. Libbytown was as
dark az 1t could be.
There was one electric light on the
Western Promenade near the Maine Gen.
sral hospital, but this was all. There
were NO electric lights found In the Sec
ton bounded by the Western promenads
and Brackett street. but here and there
were found few welsbaoh burners.
Spring street was pretty we'll lighted
east OF Brackett street. State street was
very dark bstween Spring and York
streets. Thars were no lights at the ap-
proaohes to Portland bridge and travel
ers found It q very dangerous section to
travel. The dArkess section Of the city,
excepting Commercial street was on
Cushman street between Clark and
Emery where thers wasn't a light OF any
description. The Consolidated company
continued to furnish the lighting for
city hall. Only inoandescents are used
here and they are on q meter service.
Mr.. Brown, the manager Of the Port
land Electric Light company said last
night that owing 70 an open circuit forty
lights on Munjoy hill were cut on lass
night, making . little. more than loo
which were burning out Of the $40 re-
ouirsd by the contract. These forty lights
viii be In service tonight 30 Mr.. Brown
says.
On the whole the situation was not as
bad as was predicted and was far better
than many people expsstsd. Those who
vsrs heard discussing the situation
,esmsd to be wall satisfied with what was
being done and perfectly content to Ges
around In the dark for while until the
nsu company has had time to ges It's
lines into shape.
The COMMITTEES on lights hsld another
mr. otraotsd messing yesterday after
noon. 1hsy met with the mayor at four
O'Clock and foe some time discussed ths
lighting OF the city In those sections