The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-15
IT is NOT FAIR.
Distribution of City Lights Isn't
Satisfactory.
So Says Superintendent Good
rich of City Plant.
NO LIGHTS AT ALL.
Well Built Up Portions of City
Not Illuminated.
Insistence of Councilmen Has
Brought This Condition.
NO LIGHTS AT ALL


The distribution of the street 1anps is
characterized as unfair by H. K. Good
rich, superintendent of the city electric
light plant. The superintendent of the
light plant states that this distribution
is the result OF. council management lof
the electric light department and he
strongly favors the placing of the plant
under the management of the board of
Waterworks commissioners.
The contention of Mr.. Goodrich seems
well founded. Certain built up portions
of the city which should be well lighted.
have no lights at all. other portions at
the extremity Of the suburbs have arc
lights which give a light which COM
pares favorably with the downtown bus
mess streets. Two examples of the I'M
even distribution of lights follow: on
Laurel avenue in Potwin commencing
westward from the corner of EImwood
avenue a street lamp is situated at each
street intersection for three blocks.
| though in that whole distance there are
not more than four houses which re-
ceive the benefit and these are uD at
the extreme end of the third block; on
Harrison street from Twelfth to Seven
teenth street. a distance of five blocks.
well built up with substantial residences
there is not a single street
lamp. The people in the latter district
| have asked and petitioned for street
lamps at several council meetings but
their petitions have so far been turned
down. On West Fifth street from Kan
sas avenue to Polk street, the city eoun-
ell has placed a street lamp for every
block, after that, every other block,
While on West Seventh street commence
ing with Jackson street there is lamp
for only every other block The Drive
IN Auburndale is practically better light
ed than Jackson street between Sixth
avenue and Eighth avenue. Walnut
Grove has considerably better distrib-
uted lighting Of the streets than the
Douthitt tract. though the latter con-
tains the more valuable property by far
and pays the heavier proportion of tax
On the west side limits, Fifth street is
lighted for every block for a distance OF
three blocks while West Sixth avenue
at the same location hasn't a street light
for three blocks. These are merely in
stances or conditions which can be dup
Heated in almost any portions Of the
city.
1.-THE members of the committee on
gas and electric lights are all right
when it comes to any ward than their
own but when they come to their own
bailiwick they shy right. away. said
Goodrich. Each councilman is out
to get all he can for his own ward.
When there is any proposed change OF
a lamp from one place to another, a
protest Immediately comes from the
people and the councilman backs up
the protest The lamp is not changed
though it is often in the interests of
better lighting. I, myself, can't make
any changes of the street lamps to
places where they are really needed, I
haven't the authority and if should
attempt anything of the kind I would
come in for criticism. The Drive in
Auburndale is as we'll lighted as the
most central down town business dis