Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-19
LIGHTING THE CITY
Asks Commissioners to Petition Con-
gress for Large Increase Over the
Current Appropriation.

improvements in the lighting Of the capt.
| tai incident to the growth of the city and
| to the work about the new union station. to-
gether with desire to increase the general
| efficiency Of all branches of the electrical
| department Of the District government.
have impelled Walter C. Allen. the electrical
| engineer. in his estimates for the fiscal
year beginning July l. 1905. to ask the
Commissioners to petition Congress for a
much larger appropriation than that for
tho current year. In round numbers Mr..
Allen figures that he will need $464. eco to
conduct the affairs OF his department in the
year 19O6-O7. as compared with $4,000 for
1905-'Od. The exact increase asked in the
appropriation is 1884, 40. of which amount
| only $3.50 Is for the employees of the de-
| partment. H.470 for increases in salaries
and 81 200 for one additional clerk. The re-
mainder, 81. 600. Is stated as necessary for
| the maintenance and extension OF the serv-
ice Of the electrical department.
| Mr. Allen seeks no increase to his own
| 1850 salary, but he recommends an addi-
tional $4OO for his superintendent of the
| hre alarm service. to make that officials
| compensation 5000 annually. OF James c..
| Simpson. who holds this position. his chief
says:
| '"The superintendent of the fire alarm
service has charge Of the details Of the fire
! alarm. telephone and patrol systems. which
| require ms unQlVlQeO aItentlOn day ana
night. Frequently he is called upon for
| night work, often after a most exacting
days work. The position is one requiring
| high degree of technical knowledge and
skill. both Of which the present incumbent
| possesses. He Is one of the most faithful
and competent employees in the department
and would recommend this increase as a
reward for his twenty years of excellent
| service
Need for an Increase.
| After asking that tho 10 r;as 80 49, -
pair men Of his department be made 500
annually. instead of s72O. as at present, the
| electrical engineer gives his reason for
seeking the advance in this language:
Inc need for this increase in the sal
aries OF the repairmen OF the department IS
| EVIDENT from the fact that since the death
| OF John owens on June 10. 1900. and Martin
| Donaldson on August %. 1900 doth OF
whom had been with the department for
| over ten years., there have been ten ditrer-
| ent men In their places. It Is impossible for
airy. Similar positions with telephone and
| telegraph companies pay at the rate OF
| 81. TO per day, with additional compensa ton.
| Tor overtime Our repairmen must be ex-
| pert climb ers. men who have had experience
| In strtnging overhead wires. Moreover, they
are often called out at night. When the lines
ere IN trouble and one Of them must be on
| duty each Sunday.
THE constant changing OF these men is
| very detrimental to the service, and the
compensation should be sufficiently high to
| induce them to remain
William T. Blee, another employe OF the
| department, Is now rated as an electrical
| Inspector" and paid 1880 per year. Mr..
Allen would have him made assistant cleo
trieal engineer" and paid 1000 annually.
| the change being desired so that some one,
| by law, Is designated to perform the duties
| Of the electrical engineer in the latter's alb
Another position as electrical inspector
| Is held by Thomas J. Fisher at the same
| ate Of pay. Superintendent of lamps" Is
| cause that designation more clearly defines
| the mans duties. A similar 500 salary In
crease is sought for him. The only other
| salary change asked for Is an advance OF
| who now draws 81 $50 The new 81, 200 clerk
| ship included in the estimates, the depart
ment chief states. was recommended by the
| Commissioners last year in an effort to
| provide for the clerical work incident to
the inspection service required by the bill
| passed by Congress to regulate electrical
| wiring in the District. Last year the clerk
| ship item was cut out Of the bill.
The largest item in the estimates. as we'll
| as the one which absorbs the greatest por-
| ton Of the increase in tho column for the
| new year. Is for lighting the streets Of the
| dollars is the amount Of the current appro-
| prfation. Mr.. Allen thinks 100000 will be
needed during 1906-07. an increase of $4SOUo.
I'nlS does not 1hCluQ0 the system OF uBnG-
| ing by means Of electric arc lamps. for
which an even 100000 Is asked, instead OF
$S4. 400. at present available.
Subject Of Street Lighting.
On the general subject Of street lighting
and in urging the need Of larger appropria-
ton Mr.. Allen says:
"A large increase in this appropriation
Is absolutely necessary to meet the de-
mands Of the service The additional
amount needed to properly light the long
dark tunnels under the tracks Of the new
railway terminals. some Of which are now
completed and are temporarily lighted,
alone amounts to $500 per annum. A
much larger sum is needed for this pur-
pose than would be required on ordinary
streets. not only on account of the more
congested travel in the tunnels, but be-
cause the lights must be turned on earlier
in the evening and be kept burning longer
| In the morning. Moreover, there will be
| many occasions when it will be necessary
to burn the lights for at least a portion of
the time on dark and stormy days. This
extra lighting will add considerably to the
| cost Of maintaining the sunnel lights.
Owing to the increased cost Of main
| tanning the naphtha Cor oiD lamps this
year (the difference being about $4,000,
there Is no balance available for any ex-
tensions OF the street lamps, although
there are a great many improved sections,
well built up, that are not lighted.
las the appropriation was not increased
over that Of last year and as all the avail
able balance was required to meet the in
creased cost Of naphtha lighting. 1t was
not possible to secure a satisfactory bid
| for the Welsbach gas lighting, nor to ex-
tend that system
THE elevation Of the tracks at the new
railway terminal has made material changes
| In the adjacent streets. and greatly In
| creased the travel on them. Second street.
paralleling the east wall Of the terminal.
should be lighted by arc lamps, instead OF
| the few scattering gas lamps now there.
| The electric lighting company has already
laid Its conduits in this street. in advance OF
| the new improvements. and Is prepared to
Immediately put these lights In service.
| This will require 1850 per annum It is
| also urgently recommended that the arc
lamps be extended on Brightwood avenue
| to the District line, for which 5000 will be
| required. This broad thoroughfare, one Of
the main arteries leading from the city. Is
| now most inadequately lighted by gas
| lamps placed far apart. 1t Is also recon-
mended that the arc lamps on Florida ave.
| nue. be extended from 9Th street northwest
| to 18th street northeast. The closing OF
several streets by the new railway terminal