Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-06
GAS LAMPS PREFERRED
FOR ELECTRIC
LIGHTING IN LEXINGTON.
Recommendation Made to Commission.
ers by W. c. Allen, the District
- Electrical Engineer.

It has been suggested to the District Com
missioners by W. C. Allen. the electrical en-
gineer, that the incandescent electric lights
in the vicinity Of lexington be discontinued
and gas lights substituted, and by so doing
improve what is generally looked upon as
q poorly lighted section of the city. This
movement was prompted by the recent rob-
berry committed in the home Of Sydney H.
Cluxton. at 81 @ street northeast, when the
burglars in a daring manner carried away
their plumber In wagon, which had been
backed up to the curb. This bold robbery,
Mr.. Cluxton stated in letter Of COM
plant to the Commissioners, could not have
been carried out If there had been sufficient
lights in the neighborhood. Other COM
plants have been made to the Commission
ers about the insufficient lights in Ecking-
ton and in response to them Electrical En-
gineer Allen made the following report to-
day, which contains his recommendations
for the displacing of the electric lights by
new gas lamps of sixty-candle power each:
I'm August. 1897, I recommended to the
Commissioners that owing to the unsatis-
factory condition of the incandescent cleo
tric lights in lexington. they be replaced
by gas lamps, believing that this latter form
Of lighting is more suitable for a built-up
suburban section than the former. This rec
ommendation was approved by the Commits.
sioners, and in order to carry out the work
the Washington Gas Light Company ex-
tended it's mains in all the streets of that
subdivision. Owing to protests which were
received at that time from individual citi-
ZenS and from the citizens association or
that subdivision, in which it was represented
that there would be a possible discontin-
uance of the private lighting service by the
Potomac Electric Power Company should
the company be deprived of the public light
ing the question was reconsidered and the
order of the board finally revoked
Objections Were Made.
'In September. 1899, upon renewing my
recommendation to the Commissioners that
a change in the street lighting system be
made in that subdivision, Commissioner
John B. Wight took up the matter with the
electric lighting company and with the citi
zens of that subdivision, to obtain from
them an expression of opinion as to the de-
STABILITY Of making the changes that were
urged two years previously. AS the same
objections were again made, nothing fur
Their was done toward improving the light
ing of that subdivision.
'Since the above dates the situation has
grown worse. the trees have increased
considerably in size, thereby very seriously
interfering with the proper lighting of the
streets.
I'm view of the complaint and believing
that a gas lighting system, with lamps
placed on alternative sides of the streets
and at every street corner-the latter to be
provided with street signs, and in view.
also, of the fact that the District is now
able for the first time to use mantle gas
lights, have to renew my previous recon-
mendation that gas lamps be substituted
for the incandescent electric lamps. The
old f1at-fiame lamps were Of approximately
% candle power, and were about equal in
illuminating value to the present incandes-
cent electric lights which are "a candle
power. The new mantle gas lamps are of
60 candle power, and have good diffusing
qualities, making them particularly suitable
for streets heavily shaded with trees. Be
fore the Commissioners take action on this
matter 1 would recommend that the opinion
of the corporation counsel be obtained
whether the electric lighting company can
legally refuse to furnish current to any
private premises in this or any other sub
division or locality, should the Commits
sioners discontinue the electric street
lamps