New-York tribune., 1905-04-19
PARIS STREET LIGHTING.
HOsc French Capital Gained Title
city of Light"
Paris. April Z.


tected by smau fraction OF the police force that
would be necessary in city plunged in darkness.
One OF the most important problems confronting
any municipality therefore. is that Of lighting the
streets and public thoroughfares. Every city has 10
solve IT, or has solved II. Some details may be OF
snterest regarding tho manner in which Paris has
earned its literal well as hguratiFe title OK 4he
City OF Light"
Although electricity plays prominent role IN
lighting the streets % Paris. the principal role Is
played by gas. 1t is impossible 10 give precise
aglres, for they change from week 10 week OWNS
20 the opening OF new streets, the suppression or
unnecessary lights in one district and the addition
n others elseRyhere in round numbers however,
the city OF Paris lit by means of 61oo gas lamps
1000 electric lights and 25 oil lamps. one OF the
most brilliantly III animated capitals in the Worlo
has 10 this day item in s annGal budget Tor the
lighting Of a portien OF its area with mineral Oh
.arups perhaps as q souvenir Of the Dark Ages TOT
the few persons who ever see them
The annual expen diture involved IS about $4,000
So- she gas used TO light up the streets aho s-V S
for tbe electricity. The varies slightly from
oa~ 10 wear bat the total cost 20 the city OF hsh1-
snr te streets IN Paris may be said to huctuate be-
tween $4,000 and Oo05o year. representing ABOUT
sl4 a light each year
As wear by year electricity grows in favor ana IS
sed more generally in spite OF its superior cos' II
VII be best 10 consider in detail the electrical sys
TEN Of Paris The lime is perhaps distant Wheh gas
VIII be entirely superseded But Tor Dghuhs pui-
noses electricity Is decidedly preferred. ana Is en-
sroarhinr on its rivals ground steadily. Its CHER
'-'-----i---1 s4S
disadvantage hitherto, and even at present IS us
cost Every scientific Improvement IN the methoos
NJ rroducon however. reacts for the benent OF the
consumer by diminishing the disparity in cost De-
,vveen gas and electricity. This difference is at
-resent about 80 per cent. Some twenty years ago
the cost Of electricity exactly double the COST OF
gas II the same rate Of progress be maintained an
other ten years should see electricity and gas com
zefsne for public favor upon equal footing Ihere
IS little room for doubt 10 the result; gas VIII
probably be used mainly for cooking and heating
purposes and electricity for lighting
That considerable diUninution IN cost IS poSsiD1e
Of attainment is shown by the cheapness OF me
electric current in London and particularly IN Ber-
lin as compared with the price in Paris. Here II
ranges upward frcsn eight centiules the hundred
zcstrs the maximum tariff permitted according TO
she concessions granted TO the Paris companies
eing l5 centiInes Ghree cents) the hundred waits
In london an equivalent quantity costs from four
10 seven centimes. the legal limit OF price pehg
eight oentires In Berlin electricity Tor hghung
costs fraction less than seven cehuInes the nun
6-ed watts and for Industrial purposes costs only
two oentnes This latter price. in fact is the tarin
paid by the Berlin municipality for the eIectrielty
used In lighting the streets. Electric force ior m
sustal purposes is supplied by the Paris companies
ar one cent the hundred watts. There IS conse-
oueutlv an appreciate margin for possible redue-
ion in Paris
Six companies provide the city OF Paris with cleo
tricity In order TO equalze the business opportun
ties enioved by each company the city is divided
into six wedge shaped sections known as 'secteurs,
radiating from the centre OF the city and widening
out like fan until the extreme limits OF the city
are reached Thus each company is in touch with
the busiest quarter, and the sole advantage that
w ore Of them has arises from the greater number
Of Industrial concerns situated in that particular
coTnpanys secteur. from the greater popularity
q electricity with bitants in that secteur
Three Of these companies received concessions IN
1888 The others granted in $780, 1893 and 1886
All expire in 1908 Paris in fact far as its street
lighting concerned, is in state Of transition. The
concessions granted 10 the gas companies expire at
the end Of this year Of the vital questions
Of the moment IS the system that is 10 succeed the
present one. There IS strong current Of public
oprion in favor OF municipal operation OF the gas
department A law 10 authorize this. however. has
been rejected by tte Senate and sent back 10 the
lower house. Upo the decision OF the latter de-
pend, in certain measure the electrical arrange
1nents in Paris after 1905 If the municipality be
1horzed 70 manufacture and supply gas to the resi-
dents Of Paris II viii almost inevitably be author
ized manufacture and supply electricity after the
expiration OF the existing concessions
matter Of fact. = first step in this direction
has already been made. In addition the six
ieuTs operated by private companies, another sec
tion Of Paris lit supplied with electric force
from municipal power house. This is the part OF
the city that comprises the Central Markets. the
market place and the square Of The Tour Saint
Jacques The power house is officially styled the
Usine Muuicipale d'Electrice des HaIes Centrales
The plant represents capital Of close upon 100000
1ts productive power, estimated in kowatts
u.ol0 watts) hour, IS about l650300 kilowatts a
year. Or this total, 5S5l5 kiowatts are consumed in
lighting the markets and the market place. 973 by
The accumuatcrs. s,45 In the power house itself
and s ilS by subscribers and in lighting the streets
IN this section.
Some idea Of its working from business stand
point may be gathered from a little study Of the
municipal accounts. In round figures this power
house costs the municipality on an average $4,000
a year Its receipts in cash amount to $4,000 The
difference 10000 a year. represents the cost NJ
lighting the markets. the market place and the
Tour Saint-Jacques Square. II should be noted
however that the item for lighting these three
points would amount $ll5 600 IL the electric cur
- ne taflI paio Tor the lighting OF the bouleyaros
As industrial enterprise IN fact this nunic3ral
Pow er house is ~ fairly prosperous situation The
paired and renewed Immediately any defect is dis
covered with such vigilance tat their original value
does not apply 70 the machinery. Notwithstanding,
effective condition the constant inprovements IN IN
oynamos and other electrical appliances make
probation Of the plant provide for its renovation
IN nc last detailed budget available Qe2l this
~ per cent on the capita invested tlar i;'I
mains surplus receipts of Sl70s representing the
profit thai would nave been realized by d private
company such balance sheet is not calculated 10
deter the municipality from assuming the RESPONSE
b5y oI nc elecLTlcal supply for the entire city.
epere arc lamps experience having prejudiced the
noT more tLs3 a sc,'rt [ ~ ~ tiy mare
cents nour each lamp, being caIculated 10 con-
sumo i've hundred watts an hour The majority are
ght long OF, IN other words. during $50 hours IN
u may seem strange that electricity not in more
EelI o5e 5 nee & 53r street ig6lng for the rst ex
on the Place de Ia Concorde. and the Avenue de |
peI@ "a We ,e ny py eieet12ily for The first time in
!9.s A AZ ne Lls DekLiils however the company sup
ylng eSGIIlSiiy @4s EamPered by difficulties with