The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-03-01
DARKNESS IN
GYMNASIUM
Light Matters Could Not Be
Adjusted With College.
Mischievous Students Employ
ed Scientific knowledge
in a Practical Way.

A protracted controversy between the
salem Light & Traction Company and
the Athletic Associationsot Willamette
University over light gymnasium has
about terminated,
The battle for points have ended in
the Salem Light and Traction Co. nave
Won ont in every respect. University
AFR dents who have occasion TO visit the
gvmnssium are now obliged to take their
physical exercises during the day, or ex-
perience the novelty Of performing upon
the bars, swing the clubs, etc in COM
plete darkness. All electric lights, and
even the possibility Of appropriating the
means 70 provide for that manner OF IL
Illumination, have been removed. snch
action on the part Of the company was
taken az the result Of an extended
parley with the association relative
10 the payment Of an overdue
ligb. bill. The light company was un'
able 70 collect its dues and consequently
late last fall shut off such electric lights
AZ we're stationed In the university
gymnasium.
AT that time, the entire light wire thai
supplied the main university building
extended easterly 10 the gymnasium
building where the proper connections
existed for lighting purposes, the wire
then passing through the south wal
Of the building to the structure abou
200 yards distant. that is used is {
clinic and labratory in connection will
the medical department Of the school.
Among the students who frequent lh'
gymnasium are several members Of tn,
scientific department Of the institution
Disliking the idea Of being deprived o
lights, some OF these natural scientist
resolved 10 make practical demonstra
tions with electricity. A wire wal
properly attached to the main wire anC
a current thereby conducted 10 the cir
cult Of incandescent lamps in tn
gymnasium and in this manner th'
genioua students succeeded in providing
lights vt no expense whatever. Thi
worked very we'll until supt. Lambirtl
got onto the "leak" and anticipate,
their scheme oi cheap lighting some
time before the fret Of the year
Additional roles were erected outsid
the gymnasium aud the electric wir
strung direct from the uniyersit.
building to the disscsting room, makinI
no connection whatever with the gym
nasium. But the industrious students
scientists Of inventive capacities wer
not 10 be ballled in this manner. Aite
some deliberation, conceived a plan b
which cheap lighting might be continued
They fastened long barbed fence wir
10 the main line aud by making tn
necessary connection, again appropr
ated a sufficient current 10 light th
large gymnasium. This plan woTke
we'll for time but caused the deslruC
ton of Commitator that cost the con
pany s85 10 replace. Since then 4
further experiments have been madeAn
the gymnasium remains in darknes
The president OF the University r.
Gently called upon the company, in q
effort 10 compromise matters. He wei
so far as TO agree to be personally r
sponsible for all bills for electric ligh
ing n the company would renew Il
gymnasium lights. Supt, Iambirt
MAS agreeable bat wished the presidel
10 be liable for all damages resulting
the future from Interference with Il
wires by students. But he would n
agree 20 the proposition and the gyI
nasium remains without lights; and q
Light Co. In control OF It's juice. b
the willy Scotch superintendent ca
on anchor 10 windward.
The session OF the legislature, whil
has just closed, enacted b
that makes II peniteniiary often
60 steal light or watcr by tapping wire
or maine or Tor persons IN interfere wi
electric wires, gas pipes; etc, puais
able by imprisonment and heavy hu'
aud ID IL not probable the electric lig
company will experience any iurth
trouble irOm this source.