Evening journal., 1900-07-17
ELECTRIC SERVICE
UNSATISFACTORY
No Attention Paid to Street
and Sewer Department
MANY LIGHTS ARE OUT
Directors Tirel Of Being Put Of by
Poor Excuses From Wilmington
Electric Company

Members Of the Street and Sewer De-
partment are disgusted at the action Of
the Wilmington City Electric Company |
regarding complaints made to it of the
miserable condition Of electric lights in |
various parts of the city. The following |
letter has been addressed to the electric
company and it is probable that unless
prompt action be taken by the company,
the Street and Sewer Department will
act
Wilmington. Del. July H. 1900.
Wilmington City Electric Company, VII
mmgton. Delaware.
Gentlemen-We beg to again call your
attention to the fact that globes in are
lamps throughout the city have not yet
been cleaned. These dirty globes SER
iously impair the illumination from
lamps. many Of which do not appear to
be furnishing candle power Of even
nominal rating. Lamps in various loca
tons have been reported to you as ont
and not burning night after night, it be-
ing manifest that snch lamps are either
of bad mechanical construction or not
properly attended, and your oft repeated
excuse and explanation Of the cause he
ing from crooked carbons cannot be
longer accepted as good and sufficient
reason lNf Nutl ilVWUlts AutNhutNttht
lamps receive no attention whatever.
your people not even attempting to make
an inspection. and the only time such
lamps are visited is when it is reported
10 you that the lamp is broken or the
elements have broken your line. The
candle power Of such lamps being given
as "A is reduced ON account of this mat
tention to an average of not more than $
candle power. This practice from COM
mercial business standpoint would be al
most criminal to private business interest
if allowed 10 continue. particularly So
when You remember that yOu inform
consumers of current that the yitiated
carbons in incandescent lamps consume
maximum amount of current without
producing the minimum illumination I'M
less the minimum illumination be con-
sidered nil
We have now arrived at a period when
we feel that unless this service is rem.
dered first class and within the provisions
of your contract. Immediately, we vii
replace every incandescent lamp witt
gas service. and if necessary extend thii
change to are service in locations mos
complained or Finally we would cal
your attention to the fact that duriu,
the past three months we have reporte'
amounting TO 500, OF which number 2S
were arc lamps. These statements cal
hc easily verified and with little troubl
and we feel that your immediate atten
ton will be to eur mutual advantage.
Yours respectfully,
Board of Directors Of the Street an
Sewer Department,
HARVEY J. WILEY, Sec'y.
In reply 10 this communication, the di
rcctors received a letter from the com
pany saying that it would give the sub
Ject its attention at once.
That's the same old stereCtyped an
swer," said President Simmons. ian
! it's not satisfactory We have hear
that many a time, but yet the compan
4 makes no effort to remedy the trouble
That reply is not satisfactory, and
move that the secretary be instructe
TO notify the electric company that
no more attention is given to CON
plants to this department regardin
lights its bills will be held up TIL
motion was adopted. A greater part {
the complaint regarding poor light
comes from residents of South Wi
mingtun. Time after time residents
that portion of the city have complain
ed of poor light service. The Sire,
and Sewer Directors have also con
! planned to the electric company, bl
! have been put off with promises.
ROUTINE BUSINESS.
Considerable routine business wa
transacted at tO-day's meeting. III
proposed ordinance regarding II
width of certain streets and footway
was given a frst and second readinl
The ordinance regarding the change
! names of Ha2let and various Cthi
streets was laid over. letter fro
HOffecker, HOffecker e Ward alto
neys for W. H. Ramm, of st. Loui
regarding the placing of rubbish recel
tacles in the city was received, rea
and referred. The regular weekly pa.
rolls were allowed