The Washington herald., 1908-04-05

Washington shares in the results Of the
ITogress made in the development Of
eiectrcity during the last thirty years.
If resident of the District could be sup
Of his former life since 1880, IN some por-e
tion Of the world where he would not
have been conversant with it's general
progress, and should suddenly return to
his old home he would find many strange
things in Washington.
The most startling thing TO attract his
notice would be the appearance Of the
streets at night. absaze with electric
lights and flaming with signs on tall
buildings and at the entrances of theaters
and saloons. The lighting of the public
buildings and some OF the homes Of the
city. the hotels. theaters, and stores
would be startling in its splendor. and
during the first day or two after his re-
turn the improved conditions on every
side would be continual wonder.
Railways Would Impress Him.
The improvement of the street railways
and the absence OF overhead wires would
impress itself upon the mans mind, and
as he became acquainted with the vastly
increased use Of electricity for power
purposes he would think that the mag
nifcent things talked about In 1850 were
small in comparison with what the TWEEN
tieth century is enjoying. The better
telephone service and the Improvements
made in telegraphy would be source Of
astonfshment. and as an incident 10 the
surprises Of the travellers advent in
Washington lie might be run down by
one OF the many electrical vehicles which
steal nolselessly along the pavement. the
warning Of the gong not being familiar
TO him
While Washington does not lead Ameri-'
can cities in the matter of electrical de
velopment, it has made a fine record IN
tins particular It's underground system
Of stree; railways is better than any
thing In the United States in the way or
traction facilities The general placing
Of electric wires in subWays has gone
quite as far In Washington as in any
American city. and in several particulars
the Capital is equal in these matters to
any competitor. It needs only the har-
Messing Of the waters Of the Potomac to
the production Of electricity at Great
Falls for Washington 10 come into line
with the great centers Of electrical prog
ress. sucf as Buffalo. Sacramento. and
some Of the towns and cities Of the Rhine
Valley
Supplied Largely by One Plant.
Washington is supplied with electricity
mainly by the extensive plant Of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. which includes three older produe-
ing concerns which have been united,
and which is now expanded 10 three times
its former capacity by the new generat-
ing plant at Benning. In addition to the
output of this company, the Capital
Traction Company has a plant for the
manufacturing Of current for the opera<
ton Of its system. There are beslEes
numerous private plants in the <ho
tells and in the government buildi8g6 for
the manufacture Of the electricity used
in them The Washington MonuUlent is
operated by an independent generating
plant.
The Baltimore and ohio Railroad Com
pany has installed an ELECTRIC plant 10
furnish light and power for sae Union
Station and its approaches which rivals
in size and capacity the new outfit OF the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany at Benning.
Can Only Approximate Product
No statistics for the aggregate produc-
tion of electric current in the District are
available. The output Of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company Is euuiva-
lent TO 2s5.0O0 Is-candiepower incandescent
lamps. S,fO0 arc lamps. and $500 horse
power motors. Besides this, the company
furnishes the current required 10 operate
its own system of trolley cars and the
Washington end Of the new electric rail-
read 10 Baltimore and Annapolis.
An approximate estimate of the cleo
tricity used in Washington from all
sources would he 10000 i6-csndlepower
incandeseent lamps 40o0 arc lights. and
10.000 horsepower motors Something Of
the value of this output can be sppreci-
ated when il is stated that the revenue
from street signs IN the city is s35.e10 an
nually, and the amount paid for supply
ing electric vehicles is about $4,000 an
nuslly.
Had Novel Beginning.
The induction Of electricity into Wash
ington had a novel as well as a charac-
teristic beginning In the fall Of 1881 the
eufklAtiF 4i tlff VI TIE Qttltf-t Artii1
assembled here 10 dedicate an equestrian
statue OF their old commander Gen.
Thomas. which now stands in Thomas
Circle. The committee having the ar
rangements in charge determined as "A
feature Of the event, 20 have a night
parade on Pennsylvania avenue, and have
the Avenue illuminated by electric lights.
which al that time had been used for
similar purposes in other cities. TO carry
out this plan wires were strung across
PENNSYLVANIA avenue az stated distances
from building TO building to support the
lamps. \ dynamo was installed 10 fur
nish current for the lamps in a sawmil
on Thirteenth street. and the engine Of
the mill utilized for the occasion.
The connections with the lamps was
only temporary. aud the work was done
SO badly that when ali was ready for the
illumination and thousands had gathered
to see the display, and the military were
ready 10 start the parade, the signal was
given for the lighting. There was a sud
den fash Ct light over part Of the dis
tance between the Peace Monument and
the Treasury. then a feW feeble flicker
lngs Of the lamps and then darkness. The
plans Of tho comInitsse came 10 Haugit
after many hundreds Of dollars had been
expended for labor and material.
But as q direct result Of that attempt
to light the avenue the Heisler Electric
Continued on Page 2, cOlumn 6.