Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-02
Electrical Engineer AllenSub-
mits Annual Estimates.
PER DIEM employees
lUGGESTION THAT THEY BE
PLACED ON ANNUAL ROLL.
Increase of $11 900 for Materials and
Lighting Service-Advance
in Salaries.

Electrical Engineer Walter C. Allen to-
Law submitted to Commissioner Macfar-
and his estimate of the amount of funds
eoured for the conduct of the electrical
apartment during the fiscal year 1906. The
Increase requested over the current appfo-
,riation for the department, Including in
reases in salaries, amounts to about
5000. Mr.. Allen recommends that prac-
ically all of the per diem employees OF MS
department. be placed on the regular roll
recommendation he has made for the
past few years. 1t is understood that Mr.
lllen, prior to submitting the estimates,
.onferred with Commissioner Mac .arland
relative to improvements requested. and
hat the increases and improvements asked
or meet with the approval of the Commits
ionerS.
Notable among the recommendations OF
Mr.. Allen for improvements Is one for an
Increase of SIl.tSO in the appropriation for
materials and lighting service. the purpose
icing to equip all the gas lamps in the
lily with incandesCent burners. 1t is also
recommended that the contract for street
lighting In the future be let for term OF
:hree years instead of one year as at pres
mt. Another interesting item noted in the
estimates is a request for 5000 to enable
he Commissioners to conduct a special In
vestigation into the causes Of the destruc-
ion of water mains etc, by escaping cur
rent from electric light and railway sys-
ems.
Mr.. Allen asks that the salary of James
&. Simpson, superintendent in charge of
The fire alarm, telephone and patrol system
he increased from Sl.G00 to $500 year.
An increase of from 500 to $500 year
is requested for each of the three repair
men in the department. and one additional
epairman at salary of $500 is requested.
General Supplies and Repairs.
The estimates contain an item Of $4,000
!or general supplies, repairs, atc. The cur
.ent appropriation is Sl5.O(0 II is noted
hat the extensions of the fire alarm, Patrol
md telephone systems make this increase
necessary. Only SO go is asked for Ulac-
ng wires of fire alarm. telephone and
'atrol system under ground against
5000 appropriated by Congress for the
purpose during the current year.
The appropriation this year for illuminate
ING material lighting lamps on streets, etc,
$2l9.Uo. Under this same head for the
'iscal year 1906 S2}0.OO0 is requested Sev-
raj provisions are inserted in the esti-
mates in connection with this appropriation
restricting the amount to be paid for each
lamp and prescribing other limitations.
MI. Allen Explains.
Mr.. Aliens comment with reference to
his item is as follows:
THE highly satisfactory service secured
~ the use of incandescent mantle burners |
n the gas-ighting service has shown that |
hat system is far better adapted to the |
purposes OF street illumination than any
JtheI form that IS on the market today. l
would, therefore. recommend that the en-
ire Sas-lGhunS service be changed over
% this Improved SySytem.
owing 10 the present practice of having
)ne-yrdr contracts for gas and naphtha in
'dndeSCS mt mantle lighting. there is an an
lual UphcaVdl in those services greatly to |
he trimeut OF the District. More yer the |
District undoubtedly pays more than would |
Ie the case if the contractor Were assured |
If Il longer contract. | have, therefore, in |
ertcd a clause to give the Commissioners |
ne necessary authority to enter into three |
'ear contracts, if they find il advantageous |
o do so"
Arc Lighting and Extensions.
For electric arc lighting and for extern
'iOns of this service the electrical engineer
lsks for $4,000, as opposed to SSs, 100 ap-
Dropriated this year. Mr.. Allen notes that
he increase requested is to cover the cost
IF extending the system on BrightwoCd ave
lue from Rock Creek Church road to the
District line.
With reference to the request for an an
OF 5000 to enable the Commits
Sioners to investigate the destruction of
metallic sub-surface constructions by eS-
,aping electric current from electric light
md railway systems, il is stated that il is
believed that the damage to water mains
etc, in the District from this cause has
been slight. although at times there have
Jeen indications that serious damage has
resulted. The authorities, however, are
Uncertain 10 the extent of damage done
~ underground electric current here, be-
'ause they have not been able to investi
gate the matter.
q &c TAT IL
,rable damage has been caused sub-sur-
face construction, and the damage has
been attributed to the underground electric |
'urrent.
II is conceded that a great deal of cleo
triclty does escape from the light and
railroad systems and il is thought that
he metallic sub-surface construction
along the streets is injured to "A consider
ible extent by reason of the escaping cur
rent being communicated to the water
mains and other metallic construction. In
many cities thorough Investigations OF
his matter are being made, and il is pro-
posed that the District authorities take up
he investigation here.
For the purchase of fifty additional fire.
alarm boxes and for the erection of the
necessary poles, etc, new appropriation
# 5000 Is asked. Mr. Allen states that
40 new fire alarm boxes have been provid-
ID for for two years. In that time a great
many houses have been erected outside of
the city limits. many of them being of
wood. Other sections within the fire
limits have developed rapidly. and are now
without fire protection. These boxes are
urgently needed
Improved Facilities.
Mr. Allen asks for 5000 with which to
replace the old magnetic telephone switch
boards used In the District telephone sys-
EN-, with the latest improved central ener-
yy switchboards. including new telephone
and apparatus. In comment
ing on this item the electrical engineer
says.
The old magnetic telephone system
by this department is obsolete |
and has become a source of constant trou-
BILE. The Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company has now aba ndoned it's old
switchboard of the same type as the Dis
trict boards and uses only the central
energy system. II II almost impossible to
secure IA good service with the two differ-
ent systems. and as the bulk of the bust
ness on the District switchboards is
the telephone company's system,
= 10 ,}nS frlh lie ha ha ftyn 10