Evening star., 1903-09-15
INFORMATION WANTED.
Commissioners Asks a Question Prior
to Granting a Permit.

The District Commissioners have decided
to call the Washington Gas Light Company
to terms for it's failure to extend gas
main in street between 23d street and
Phelps place northwest for the purpose of
erecting eleven street lamps. The company
it is stated, has given as excuse for not
constructing this line that it has no main
pipe of the size desired, and that all it's
employees are engaged in changing mains
in accordance with the grading going on in
connection with the union depot project.
In the meantime the company has applied
for permission to extend a main in oath
street between S street and Bancroft place
for it's own convenience. The Commission
ers have declined to grant the necessary
permit, and will not do so until the COM
pany has complied with the order of the
Commissioners for the extension of the 8
street main.
When the application of the gas compa-
ny for the oath street main was received
Ii was referred by the Commissioners to
Mr.. Thomas j. Fisher. superintendent of
electric lighting. Mr.. Fisher promptly rec
commended that the application be denied
until the company should take out a per-
nit for the main ordered by the Commits
sfoners. Mr. Fisher stated that the light
Ing office on June II last requested the
company to make 700-fOot extension in
S street from 23d street to Phelps place and
to erect eleven gas lamps in the vicinity
The general manager of the gas COM
pany, says Mr.. FISHER, when called to ac-
count for not taking any action in the mat
ter. makes statements about not having
pipe, and the railroad Work taking up all
his force, etc. The French embassy is about
to build on street; there is already one
hne residence erected, the street is improv-
ed. and do not deem it expedient to allow
the gas company to make any further ex-
tensions in this or any other neighborhood
while. they continue to ignore the Commits
sioners' order In this matter.
The tnciOSed aDDlica tiOn shows baf tba
company has pipe on hand and l would
recommend that they be advised that an
application for the remaining work on s
street be first sent In and work started be-
fore the extensions requested by the COM
pany are allowed
Mr.. w. c. Allen the electrical engineer.
in forwarding Mr.. Fishers report to the
Commissioners, cOncurs In the recOmmen-
dation, saying the gas company should be
informed that the extensions of gas mains
ordered by the Commissioners must take
precedence over those desired by the COM
pany.
Il see no reason" he concludes, why
this permit should be issued to the gas
company to lay gas mains Of the size which
they were asked to lay for the District
when they have stated to this Office that
they have no such pipe on hand"
Col. Biddle, the Engineer Commissioner.
has acted upon the matter by making the
following motion to the District board:
Il move that the Washington Gas Light
Company be informed that before the Com
missioners act upon their request for per-
init to lay gas main in oath street between
8 street and Bancroft place the Commits
sioners wish to know when the company
will lay the TOO feet of main in s street be-
tween 23d street and Phelps place, neces-
sary for the service of the eleven publfr.
gas lamps recently ordered"