The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-27
AYEAR'SHORK REVIEWED
Operations of the Electrical De-
partment of the District.
Result of Experiments in Street
LirhtinE-Arc Lamp Service tnsnt-
isfactory - Poles and Overhead
Wires-Fire Alarm System Exten-
sion = Condaits and EIectroIysis.

Walter c. Allen, the Electrical En-
gineer, yesterday submitted his report OF
the operations of the various branches
under the control of the Electric Depart
nent, for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1900. With reference to street lighting
by gas he says:
''Of the double ard single burners ex-
perimented with, the latter were chosen
as the most satisfactory. One hundred
and four lamps were added to the fifty
seven already in service, nine of these
being naphtha. During the year a gac
main was extended to reach these lamps
and they were changed therefore to gas
An ornamental lantern of the boulevard
globe pattern is used in this service
which has proved very satisfactory. The
contractor furnished all the necessary
lanterns and equipment, except the posts
and lights, e1tinguishes, repairs, cleans,
and maintains the lamps for $50 each per
annum.
THE candle power required to be fur
nished was reduced from twenty to six
teen, but has been raised for the year
1901 TO twenty. The service was well
maintained, the average illumination
being Slightly in excess of that required
by the contract Wherever gas mains
have been extended in sections lighted
with naphtha. the lamps have been chang
ed to gas. on account of the frequent
outrages on the Benning Road, caused by
the exposed condition of the lamps, all
the naphtha lamps from Fifteenth and H
Streets northeast, along the Benning
Road and those in the subdivision Of Ben
ming and vicinity were discontinued and
incandescent electric lamps substituted.
Incandescent Electric Lights.
Under the head of incandescent electric
lighting, Mr.. Allen says:
Several important extensions to this
service have been made during the year.
Private parties have been maintaining
lights in Cleveland Park at their own ex-
pcnse for several years, but the dedica-
ton to the District of certain roads in
that subdivision and their acceptance as
public highways by the District. enabled
the department TO assume the main
tenance OF the lights. Twelve were added
to the number already maintained.
During June, 1909. an application for
an additional incandescen. light ON V
Street in lexington was received and
fayoTably recommended by the depart
11ent. In order to establish this light.
however, ii was necessary to erect a pole
and string Two additional wires, connect
ing them with the main overhead Line
on Fourth Street. The matter was re-
ferred TO the Attorney for the District,
who rendered an opinion to the effect that
the Commissioners are without authority
to4permit the erection of the additional
wire and poles. This stops the extension
of this system of lighting in that portion
Of the District east OF Rock Greek; west
OF Rock Greek such extensions are per-
mitted by joint resolution of Congress
passed July S, 1898. l would recommend
that this state of affsirs be changed by
inserting in the street lighting appro-
priatlcn the following Provs7:
Provided. That the Commissioners of the Dis
trict OF Columbia hereby authorized to per
nit the erection Of sscis poles and the stringing
OF such overhead wires oEtsi!e 81 the fire limits
and cast % Rock Greek May I've necessary
ior the maintenance Of pubic iEeandescent cleo
tTie lights; said wires and poles to be used only
for public lighting purposes
THE use of ornamental lanterns for
street designation purposes on corners
lighted by arc lamps has been found to be
very satisfactory. and especially so wheI-
arc lamps have been placed a: corners OF
small side streets. The lamps and signs
are of such size that they can be easily
read from passing car or vehicle. The
funds at the disposal OF the department
these lamps during the year. but 1t is
hoped that the coming year will see quite
q number Of them established, especially
around some Of the circles where the street
intersections are so confusing 10 strangers.
All the lanterns have been painted with
aluminium paint, greatly improving their
appearance and forming neat background
for the red letters In the signs. A two and
one bali foot gas burner is used: they are
operated at an annual cost Of $3.50"
Arc Lighting system.
Speaking of the electric arc lighting Mr..
Allen says: II regret TO report that this
service during the past year has been the
most unsatisfactory since my connection
with the District. Tho greatest trouble
was experienced during the months of De-
cernber and January when the lighting
plant at Fourteenth ard Streets was
heavily loaded. All the are lamps former
" maintained by the Potomac Electro
Power Company, as a separate corporation,
have. since the consolidation Of the two
been operated from she plant
Of the United States Electric Lighting Com
pany. The arc lighting machines in this
plant are belted to a jack-shaft, which IS
run By engines directly connected to In
candescent lighting generators. During
the winter months the demand for current
for private incandescent lighting was so
great that II taxed the plant to lis full
capacity.
Extensions to the system were pre-
vented by the attitude Of the company in
the matter of rates. The clause in the
act for this service stated
that not more than p cents per lamp per
night should be paid, while an amendment
was inserted providing that the company
cla put
per lamp per annum. OF the two rates
mentioned in the act, the company claim
ed that the higher one should be paid;
the District took the opposite view and
referred the question to the Attorney, who
decided that the lower rate should be paid.
An agreement was finally entered into be-
tween the Commissioners and the company
whereby the latter were to furnish the nee
essary service at s72 per lamp per annum
until Congress should decide which rate
should be paid. The Commissioners agreed
on their part to reserve a sufficient bal
ance on the appropriation TO pay for the
service at the higher rate This prevented
any extensions 10 the service, as the APP
preparation was just sufficient to pay for
the existing lamps at the higher rate.
The additions were, therefore held up
until June. when Congress adjourned with
out any expression Of opinion as to the
proper rate. As a result Of this conflict
Of rates a balance Of over So 600 remained
at the close of the year and no extensions,
except the addition of four lamps around
the new postoffice building, were made.
''The work OF laying and repairing cleo
trio conduits was supervised by this Office
and the records kept by II until March q,
1900, when it was placed under the control
Of the Sewer Department. Attention is
-