Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-14
ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT
ANNUAL ESTIMATES SUBMITTED TO
THE COMMISSIONERS.
Increase In salary Asked for an In
spector@The Appropriation
for Arc lighting.

Mr.. Walter c. Allen, the District cleo
trical engineer. today submitted to the
Commissioners the estimates for the cleo
trical department for the fiscal year end
ing June 30. 1902 In the item for salaries
but one new position is asked for, that of
draughtsman.
1.-THE necessary work Of this nature"
states Mr. Allen, has been done in the
past by the several inspectors. A large
number Of maps are unfinished and consid-
cradle of the field notes of conduits, wires.
lamps, ETC., yet unpiotted. The additional
work entailed upon the department in pre-
pairing plans and specifications for the
electric wiring of the various District
buildings require the services OF such an
assistant.
IAN other positions estimated for are al
ready filled by men either on the regular
roll or paid from the various appropriations
for the department"
An increase Is asked for in the salary Of
one position, that of inspector Of lamps
formerly the superintendent of lamps).
crease has been urged yearly by the Com
missioners since 1894 Two men now en-
ployed as skilled laborers do all the clerical
work OF the department. which has In
separation Of the department., too. from
the engineer department, where all COM
munications and records were kept, has
thrown added work upon the clerks.
Additional Force.
Three new telephone operators have been
employed since the installation Of the new
central station apparatus at fire alarm
headquarters, as the entire time Of both
the regular telegraph and telephone opera
tors is now taken up with receiving and
transmitting alarms. leaving no time for
attending to the equally important teie-
phone service Of the police department.
These operators are needed for this latter
service, we'll as that for the schools and
other branches Of the District government.
They are required to work every day
throughout the year, and the compensation
asked for their services seems to Mr.. Al
len but reasonable.
The laborer at $1.75 per diem looks after
the five horses and the five wagons be-
longing to the department. and is on duty
constantly.
1.-THE salary asked for Is the same as that
paid other laborers performing similar
duties. The telephone messenger Is en-
gagged In receiving all telephone messages
In the office Of the Commissioners and such
other work in connection Herewith as may
be necessary. The amounts paid these per
diem men are as much as the state of the
appropriations will stand. More would be
paid now If it would not cripple the main
tenance and extension of the service.
1.-The increased amounts, says Mr.. Alien,
asked for the gas. naphtha and mean
descent lighting services are based upon
the actual necessary extensions required 10
cover the improved sections of the District:
1t Is recommended that the amount OF
5000 set aside from the general appropl!aa
ton to be used for lamps of a higher candle
power be increased 10 $4,000. as the serV-
ice maintained under this clause is highly
satisfactory and can well be extended.
Extension Of Service.
"An increase In the appropriation for cleo
trio arc lighting and change in the word
ing of the appropriation was recommended
in order to provide for the extension OF the
arc lighting service on such SUBURBAN roaos
as Brightwood avenue, north OF Fiorloa
avenue, where rapid transit lines exist, ana
which are main thoroughfares into the city.
II Ia recommended that these lights De
maintained by means of overhead wires, as
the building of conduits in such a section
would be too expensive.
and telephone service an increase or $5Vw
is asked. For the last two years there mas
been a deficiency In this appropriation, ana
il is absolutely impossible to MAINTAIN the
present service and provide for those extern
sfons and repairs incidental thereto, which
are demanded each year. without an IN.
crease in the appropriation. ihere is great
demand for the extension OF the telephone
service In the schools, in the police depart
ment and In the general offices OF the DIS
trict."
from s6. 600 to $4,000 asked for for the I'M
foreground construction be favorably rec
commended. This work, he explains, Is the
greatest improvement yet made IN the tel
line with the policy OF Congress to remove
all wires from the street. The off1ce mas
already made very good showing with the
amounts appropriated, but the extensions
are necessarily limited by the small
amounts
New Fire Alarm Boxes.
The estimate for 100 additional fire alarm
boxes submitted last year Is renewed. to-
gether with 5000 for the erection Of the
same No additional boxes it is stated,
can be erected until this provision has been
made. In addition to the work contem-
plated in the appropriation for this service
for the present year, provision has had to
be made for connecting the new engine and
truck houses provided for elsewhere in the
bill.
No special provision was made for the ex-
tension Of the fire alarm service to these
buildings, the cost of which has materially
curtailed the extension of the fire alarm
system.
Owing to the necessary provisions now
being made to connect the new tenth pre-
cinct station house with headquarters and
the rearranging and establishing of addi-
tional patrol circuits In that precinct, q
number Of boxes In other precincts, which
would have been provided, have been
omitted. No provision was made for the re-
wiring and connecting of the new precinct
station, and the amount necessary for this
purpose has been taken from the S., 900 ap-
propriated for the extension of .-.e patrol
service.
ut is earnestly hoped" says Mr.. Allen,
that the amounts estimated for will be
granted by Congress. The work of the de-
partment Is progressing most satisfactorily
with the funds on hand. but much more i'm
portant work and many needed improve
ments could be made with more liberal ap-
prOprfat iOns."
Summary of Estimates.
In the item appropriating funds for the
electric arc lighting service, Mr. Allen
recommends the insertion Of the following
clause:
provided. however. that the Commits
sioners of the District Of Columbia are
hereby authorized to permit the erection of
poles and the stringing Of wires thereon
outside Of the city of Washington, as in
their judgment may be necessary, for the
maintenance of public arc lamps; such
poles and wires to be used only for public
electric arc lighting"
Summary Of Estimates.
Salaries, $2S, 500 increase of So 223. 5Ol;
gas and naphtha and incandescent lighting
services, $4,000 increase Of $4,000; cleo
trio arc lighting service, SO, 700 increase of