The times., 1899-10-24

his views were given as a propertyholder
as well as a representative Of the light
ing company. He regarded the proposed
change as a very bad one and he could
see no reason why il should be made. The
substitution of gas for electricity. he
claimed, would be a great hardship TO the
people in that section of the city, and
would be an injustice TO the company fur
uishing the power for the lights, as we'll
When lexington was first built, the speak
er continued. the streets were paved. sew
ers were laid, and all Improvements were
made at the expense Of the individual prop
erty-owneTs. The suburb was unique IN
that it was entirely constructed laid out,
and improved by private means. The cur
rent for supplying the lights was brought
all the way from Georgetown to lexington,
involving an enormous expenditure, be
cause the gas company had refused TO lay
gas mains through the streets.
lexington had outgrOwn the farm stage
and was now becoming a factor in the
city. Colonel Truesden thought it only
fair 20 the people who have made the town
that their ideas should be carried out. With
regard 70 the illumination furnished by
electricity. the speaker did not think the
sas lamps gave more light, and WAS con-
fdeut that the electric light was steadler.
The current was sometimes inteTfered
with he said, and sometimes the lights
were extinguished. This was through no
fault Of the company however, and it was
so in every large city where electric
lighting is used. He was told few days
ago that Washington has, perhaps better
electric lighting facilities than any other
city in the United States, and he hoped
that the Commissioners would see their
way clear to continue the present system
IL ard
the lighting OF private residences in case
street lighting should be discontinued,
Colonel Trussdell said this would continue
in the same manner as heretofore. Some
of the citizens were afraid the discontnu-
ance of the street lighting would prevent
their obtaining current for their houses.
The company would be put to great eX-
pense if they were deprived of the con-
tract for street lighting, but they would
continue supplying the current for private
I residences nevertheless.
Colonel Truesdell was followed by Pres
ident Server OF the lexington Citizens
/ Association, who spoke in the same strain.
/ He said he had made several Investigations
and had found that electric light was bet
/ ter than gas number of other citizens
! then spoke A petition was presented
which had been circulated among the cltl-
I Zens Of lexington requesting the Com
miSsiOneTs to change the mode Cl hBhIlhs
/ from electricity TO gas. The petitioners
wanted incaudescent gas lamps. Commis-
/ sioner Wight explained that the reason OF
( fhe proposed change was that the gas
! lights were steadier and would admit the
+ placing of street signs on the lamp posts.
The placing Of incandescent gas lamps,
he said. was totally out Of the question
as the cost of this kind of light was one
+ and one half times more than either OF the
+ others.
4 In support of his argument the Com
missioner produced a table Of figures show
ing that the street lights in lexington had
been extinguished for various causes be
fore the time for burning had elapsed
almost three times as often as the gas
lights in the entire District had been put
! ont