Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-18
PRICE OF NAPHTHA GOES UP
Effects Upon Candle Power and Character Of
Street Lighting.
Statement Made to Commissfouers Inv
Inspector Fisher-vieyys of
Electrical Engineer.

Mr.. Thomas ]. Fisher, the District in
spector of electric lighting, has invited the
attention of the Commissioners to what he
states is an advanced price of naphtha. or
ceodorized gasoline. and the consequent
bearing of the same. if the present price
keeps up. upon the quality, candle power
and character of the naphtha street light
| ing for the next fiscal year
The price of naphtha at the time bids
were received for the present year was
about cents per gallon. says Mr.. Fisher.
The price advanced to In cents, and then
dropped to the present price of IL cents.
The reason given for the advance, as stated
by Mr. Fisher. is the increased consump-
ton and export. The amount of naphtha
used per year per lamp, says Mr. Fisher,
Is approximately 135 gallons. The price per
year Tor lighting is 81. The lighting con-
tract Tor the fiscal year 1899 called for
t"enty-candle-power light, the price paid
by the District being $40 per lamp per
year The price of naphtha at the com
mencement of contract, July 1. 1898. was
about 6A cents a gallon, which made the
cost per lamp $14.4l To this was added
the cost of repairs, superintendent equip
ment OF tanks etc.
Provisions of Contract
The contract for the fiscal year 1900 called
for sixteen-candle-power light. the price
for same being $500. Although maintain
Ing, says Mr.. Fisher, a candle power of four
less than previous years. the present con-
tractors. he understands, are using as
much, II not more. naphtha than was re-
CURED Tor twenty candle power contract.
ms Is accounted for in some respects, by
MS statement that the burner in use is
non-aCJustable and the flow cannot be con-
troiled. Assuming, however, the approx
mate average of gallons per year, the cost
per lamp per annum will be $20.SJ, which,
with the other Incidental expenses, is con-
siderably more than the present contract
price.
FISHER. what sort of light at $40 per year,
the maximum price allowed by law can
be furnished with prices where they are
now? From the best information obtain
able MIR. Fisher says. there seems to he
every likelihood of prices remaining some
where close to the 10-cent figure. He
thinks it well to take the matter up now
and look over the field with a view to meet
ing any eXigencies that may arise from
this state of affairs.
Electrical Engineers Views.
Mr.. Walter C. Allen, the electrical en-
gineer, in forwarding the statement to Com
missioner Wight, who has immediate super
vision over lighting. says:
1t would seem from tie facts presented
that even with the low candle power now
required in the naphtha street-lighting con-
tract. the price per lamp next year will
eAceed ihe maximum fixed by law. In this
connection L would respectfully call YOUR
attention to the difference between the burn
ers used last year by the Pennsylvania
Globe Gas Light Company and those now
used by the American Development Com
pany. During the month of November
lS9, the latter company used 14,OOO gal
Ions OF naphtha in maintaining 24O lamps
at sixteen candle power. In November
Ie'S. the former company used only 1900
gallons in maintaining 1855 lamps at TWEEN
ty candle power each There is no doubt.
think that the burners used by the Penn
sylVania Globe Gas Light Company are
be adjusted, while the others cannot"