Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
CHANGE rs COMPLETE
FLAT FLAME GAS BURNING
STREET LIGHTS NO MORE.
Electrical Engineers Report Shows
Mantle Burners Substituted for
6,5ss Of the Old Style.


In the District has been changed with but
few exceptions from the flat-flame gas
burners to the modern mantle lamps OF
sixty candle power each. This change was
started last July and, according to re-
port made to the Commissioners Friday
afternoon by w. c.. Allen, the electrical
engineer of the District. the work has been
completed. The information was particu-
larly gratifying to the Commissioners, In
asmuch as the new system. they declare,
will afford the District the best possible
lighting facilities.
Mr.. Aliens report shows that 6,oSS lamps
were changed. The only places where the
modern mantle burners were not erected
was on those streets upon which electric
arc lamps have been ordered erected and
In several instances where physical difficult
ties made the use Of the mantle burners
impracticable. The. new burners will cost
$20.SO year each. making a total cost
annually Of $140,O59.80, an increase OF
$21, 80 over last year. The old fat-fame
gas burners only cost $1S year each. Mr..
Allen, in submitting his report, stated.
however, that this extra expense will never
be regretted as all the streets within the
fire limits, and even in the suburbs, will
be exceptionally well illuminated.
Accomplished and Under Way.
He said large number of lights have
sections, and, in addition to the improve
ments already mentioned, the following
have been ordered some of which have
been completed, and others are under way:
''Briglltwood avenue, from Rock Creek
Church road to the District line, a distance
of 1900 feet, Is to be lighted by ffty-ave
arc lamps at $S5 each, an annual cost of
S4,675. This street is now lighted by sixty
eight gas lamps and twentyone naphtha
lamps, which at the prevailing prices cost
81, $1,000 per annum. The improved light
ing, therefore. costs the District $2,7 40
more per annum.
New York avenue and lexington place,
from 7th street northwest to lexington
place and r street northeast, distance
Of 1920 feet, is to be lighted by thirty-five
per annum. These two streets are now
lighted by forty-two gas lamps, fourteen
naphtha lamps and two inca ndescent cleo
trio lamps. which. at the prevailing prices,
cost S1,234.90 per annum. The improved
lighting on these two thoroughfares, there
fore, costs the District 81, 1910 additional
per annum.
"Jn the section bounded by Pennsylvania
avenue, D street, 9th street and 18th street
northwest, where there are eighteen scat
tered gas lamps costing $375.3O per annum,
fifteen arc lamps are being added, which
Ss99.7O
I'm the section bounded by 9th street,
where there are eighteen scattered gas
lamps costing $1,000 per annum, sixteen
arc lamps are being substituted, costing
10000 per annum,' or an increase of
1884. TO-
Mr.. Macfarland's Comment.
Speaking of this improvement regarding
the lighting system of the District Commits
sioner mcfarland, who has supervision
over the electrical department, said:
Congress at the last session gave US the
increase in the street lighting appropria-
ton which we had been urging for several
years, and when it became available on the
1st of July we also had lower bids, so that
we were able to order the conversion Of
the entire system of fat-flame gas
burners, over $500 in number, into the
modern mantle lamps of sixty-candle power,
of which we could only have small num-
Der before, and, In addition. we were able
to order the substitution of arc lamps for
gas lamps where there was special need Of
such lighting, and also to add lab new
lamps, large proportion on suburban
roads, Of which nearly thirty miles are be-
ing lighted for the first time. It was very
gratifying to receive from the electrical
engineer a statement that the mean
descent gas lamps are at last all in place,
the contractor having taken since Septem-
Der to make the change, and that the other
improvements ordered last July are COM
pleted or well under way We have had to
urge the mantle gas lamp contractor some
what, but he pleaded the delays Of the
supply manufacturers as the cause of his
delay. We have been able in the extension
of the service to grant practically all the
requests Of citizens which accumulated
while we were trying during the past few
years to get higher appropriations and low
er bids"