Evening star., 1900-09-26
THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
REPORT OF OPERATIONS OF HIS DE-
PARTMENT THE PAST YEAR.
Street Lighting Service and Other
Matters Touched Upon-The Inn
pOrtant Extensions Made.

Mr.. Walter c. Allen. the District elec-
trical engineer. this afternoon submitted
| to the Commissioners a report covering the
operations OF his department during the
fiscal year ended June 30. 1900
AS result Of the successful trial OF
Welsbach street lights. the appropriation
for this purpose was increased from 81 .0OC
40 5000. OF the double and single burners
experimental with the latter were chosen
as the most satisfactory. One hundred and
four lamps were added to the flfty-seven
already in service, nine Of these being
naphtha. During the year gas main was
extended to reach these lamps, and lney
were changed therefore to gas. An orna-
mental lantern Of the boulevard globe pat
tern Is used in this service, which has
proved very satisfactory.
The electric light company was given
an opportunity to experiment with incan-
descent lamps as substitute for this serv-
Ice. and one cluster OF three lights and a
single light were tried in two different Ian
terms but with results not so satisfactory.
Owing to the thickness of the foliage in
the trees the lamps had to be placed so
low that satisfactory diffusion of the light
could not be obtained. The Welsbach serv-
Ice has proved so entirely satisfactory that
l recommend that the amount set aside for
this purpose 1e increased from 5000 to
SIS, ,OOO
Naphtha Lighting.
Referring to naphtha lighting of thor
oughfares, Mr.. Allen says to insure the
use of satisfactory lantern and to enable
the new contractor to more readily enter
into his contract, the department purchased
all the lanterns used by the former con-
tractors The question of the purchase by
the department Of the tanks, burners and
pipes has also been raised. but 1t is not
deemed by Mr.. Allen advisable that this
part Of the equipment should belong to the
District. Far better service. he thinks,
can be secured II each contractor supplies
his own equipment The candle power re-
quired to be furnished was reduced from
twenty to sixteen, but has been raised for
the year 1901 to twenty.
Mr.. Allen says several important extern
sions were made during the year to the in
candescent electric lighting service. Pri-
vate parties have been maintaining lights
in Cleveland Park at their own expense for
several years. but the dedication to the
District of certain roads in that subdivision
and their acceptance as public highways by
the District enabled the department to as
sumo the maintenance Of the lights. Twelve
were added to the number already main
tanned.
New Clause Suggested.
To meet the objections raised by an opin-
ion Of the attorney Of the District, Mr..
Allen recommends the following clause be
inserted in the next appropriation bill:
Provided, That the Commissioners of
the District Of Columbia are hereby author
lied to permit the erection of such poles
and the stringing of such overhead wires
outside Of the fire limits and east Of Rock
creek as may be necessary for the maiq-
tenance Of public incandescent electric
lights; said wires and poles to be used only
for public lighting purposes"
Speaking of electric arc lighting, Mr.. AL
len says he regrets to report that this serv
ice during the past year has been the most
unsatisfactory since his connection with
the District The greatest trouble was ex-
during ia nf
and January, when the lighting plant at
14th and B streets was heavily loaded.
Extensions Prevented.
Extensions to the system were prevented
by the attitude OF the company in the mat
ter Of rates. The clause in the approprta-
ton act for this service stated that not
more than 25 cents per lamp per night
should be paid. while an amendment was
inserted providing that the company should
not charge rate exceeding S72 per lamp
per annum. OF the two rates mentioned
In the act the company claimed 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 agree
ment was finally entered into between the
the latter was to furnish the necessary
service at $72 per lamp per anmum until
Congress should decide which rate should
be paid.
AAC SOAAliiSoioilSiS d&Tecu on In0lr part
to reserve a sufhcient balance on the ap-
preparation to pay for the service at the
higher rate. This prevented any extern
sfons to the service, as the appropriation
was just sufficient to pay for the existing
lamps at the higher rate. The additions
were, therefore. held up until June, when
Congress adjourned without any expression
Of opinion as to the proper rate. As 1e-
suit of this conflict of rates a balance OF
over $4,000 remained at the close of the
year, and no extensions Except the addt-
ton OF four lamps around the new post
office building) were made.
The engineer goes into details In all mat
tiers over which he has supervision.
Lamps In Use.