Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-23
PUBLIC LIGHTING
Proposed Change From Electricity to
Gas in lexington.
DELEGATION VISITS COMMISSIONERS
Question Referred to the Citizens
Association Interested
AS RESULT OF HEARING

-S
The proposition of Commissioner Wight
that the number of incandescent electric
lights in lexington be reduced and the
number of gas lamps be increased, was the
subject of a hearing granted today by the
District Commissioners to those interested.
In making his recommendations Mr.. Wight
explained that he did SO ION account of the
unsatisfactory service rendered in lighting
lexington with incandescent lights, ow-
ing to the absence of any street designation
on the lamps, also the fact that the lamps
are so high above the pavement not to
diffuse the light properly, and the still fur
ther and more important fact that, when
anything happens to the current, all the
lights are eXtinguished."
The president of the Potomac Electric
Power Company, Mr. George Truesdell, and
other interested parties, were notified that
they would be granted hearing before the
Commissioners finally acted in the matter,
and they were present at the hearing to-
day.
Each Addresses the Commissioners.
Mr.. Truesdell and Messrs. w. R. Server,
j. F. Bancroft, Irwin B. Linton, and w.
c. Henderson, of the North Capitol Street
and lexington Citizens Association, each
addressed the Commissioners, protesting
against the proposed change in the light
ing of the streets of Eckin6ton as did Miss
Huddleston, while Messrs. T. V. Mcintosh,
jr., and L. NJ. Saunders submitted a petit
ton bearing forty signatures of people in
West lexington, praying either for Wells
bach lights or more incande5cent lights.
Mr.. Wight explained that the Commission
ers desired to ascertain the real sentiment
of the people interested in the matter, stat
ing that if the people in the section in
question desire the retention of the pres
ent fncandescent electric lamps, the Com
missioners would not make the change.
Mr.. Truesdell, explaining that he appear
ed both as a property owne.' in lexington
and as the president of the Potomac Electric
Power Company, which supplies the cleo
tricity in lexington, stated that the COM
pany is prepared to do all in it's power to
meet the wishes of the Commissioners in
the matter. If the lights are now too ele-
waited, they can be lowered, and he eX-
pressed the belief that the streets can be
well designated on the lamps He referred
to the fact that he sold the lexington
electric plant to the Potomac company, and
that as the streets of lexington had been
lighted for number of years without cost
to the District, 1t would hardly be fair to
the company to remove its lamps, when the
company Is receiving compensation there
for. He admitted that electric lamps go
out, but asserted, upon information that
the electric lighting plants of the District
are not inferior to any elsewhere. He
stated that he has never opposed the intro
duction of gas into the section, but had
Years ago advocated it, believing that the
people of lexington should be permitted
to make choice between gas and electri-
city.
People Do Not Want Change.
Mr., Server said he could not imagine
what had induced the Commissioners to
think of making the change The people of
Ecklngton have not asked for it, he said
ana Will not, being perfectly satisfied with
present conditions. Indeed, he had SUP
posed the matter was finally settled some
time ago, when the same question was
brought to the attention of the Commits
sioners. The people of lexington, he
stated. believe that electric street lighting
Is superior to gas lights, and as they are
supplied for about the same price he could
not imagine why the change should be
made The other members of the North
Capitol Street and lexington Citizens As
ssociation agreed with Mr.. Server, and
Miss Huddleston said that as a house
keeper she much preferred electric lights
u gas. Or Manafee, principal of the Wash
lngton college, also spoke against the pro-
posed change, declaring that SO far as he
has learned no one in lexington has asked
for the change. the people desiring the
electric lights and nothing else, and being
prepared to fight against their removal.
Commissioner Wight stated that he pro-
posed the change, because he is opposed to
overhead wires. in the first place, and be-
cause the street designations can be better
shown on gas than on incandescent cleo
trio lamps. The Welsbach lamps cost $50
year EACH he said, while gas cost but
80 He referred to the fact that there are
in lexington 160 incandescent electric
lamps, and that between January l. 1899.
ana September 30, II of them were reported
out by the police department the hours
they were out being 4,247. In the District
said Mr.. Wight, there are 5000 gas lamps
ana during last year but SO of them were
reported out. OF the 2, 700 incandegcent cleo
trio lights In the District 1892 were report
ed out.
Referred to Association
Mr.. Wight said the people of lexington
undoubtedly desire their streets well light
ed and designated, but if they are satisfied
with present conditions there he thought
there was nothing to fight over, and felt
sure the Commissioners would make no
change If they should be convinced that
the people of the section desire none. He
asked that the matter be brought to the
attention of the citizens association at its
meeting tonight. adding that the Commits
sioners will undoubtedly abide by the de-
cision of its members
General Manager Leetch of the Washing
ton Gas Light Company said his company
has no desire to interfere in the matter
being we'll satisfied to meet the wishes of
the people of lexington and the Commits
sioners In the matter His company he
also stated, has no desire to fight the cleo
trio company, although 1t stood prepared to
light the streets If the people and the Com
missioners so requested