The Washington herald., 1909-10-24
Streets Better Lighted and
Wires Underground.
ARTISTIC LAMPS INSTALLED
Following Great Fire Monumental
City TaLes UP Seriously the Prob
lem of Bettermcnts-SOme of the
Things which Have Changed Its
Appearance Enumerated.
By J. CLINTON RANSOM.

wrought more effectually to the better
ment Of It's physical attractions than in
Baltimore. While all cities OF America
lave been doing much in the last ten
years 10 undo the wretched mistakes Of
former times in the way Of narrow
streets and public utility construction,
none has succeeded better than this city
Part Of this is due 10 the wiping out Of
the greater part OF the business district
by the great fire and the improvements
which followed in the rebuilding OF the
burned district; but much more of it is
due TO the spirit OF progress which has
fred the people Of the city and especially
the city government I'm recent years
a resident OF the city Of ten years ago
returning here hardly knows that he ever
saw Baltimore. He will not be sure of il
until he goes into some Of the older resi-
dental sections, where the changes have
not been so marked. One Of the first
things ne viii notice is the absence Of the
network of overhead wires which literally
filled the air in the downtown section ten
years ago. Then, il he undertakes TO 20
anywhere on The street cars he viii find
that his memories Of the way the lines
ran then viii not serve him now Not
only have the routes been vastly changed.
but the cars are more numerous and the
service enlarged and improved hundred
fold. The visitor viii hear some com
plant. as Of y0re. but possibly the crowd
ed car and other discomforts OF this form
of public service viii be always with US
But, all things considered, the ear service
mere now is pretty good as cities go.
Streets Wen Lighted.
Another thing which VIII impress the
old-ume resident who returns is the new
system OF lighting. Where formerly the
old arc lights used 70 izz and flare there
is now mellow, continuous light which
makes walking on the principal streets
pleasure even az night. The new granO-
little sidewalks feel solid under foot. and
one can see the people coming and going
much as he can by daylight Baltimore
al night is q vast Improvement upon the
imness and shadow which used 20 I'LL
the streets.
The writer was specially struck by the
double row Of gas lamps which lines
North Charles street. The lamp is an
overhead inverted gas lamp which. it is
said was perfected in Germany and
brought TO this country. The lamp has
two lights which hang down from above
on a slim standard and burn in a milk
white globe. There is an entire absence
OF glazing light, and while the effect Is
mellow and soft near the post the light
carries well and gives good Illumination
10 the street. Inquiry developed the fact
that the superintendent of lights IS just
trying out this type OF lamp, and that the
success which has attended the trial will
probably lead 20 the general establish
ment of this type Of lamp throughout the
dust proof While some insects were fly
ing about the lamps. none were seen
singed and half dead upon the sidewalks
below.
New style of Arc Lamps.
The downtown section is lighted with
new style Of arc lamp. It Is similar to
the new type Of light going in along the
principal streets of Washington. II is !
called here the 'swan-neckcd lamp"
The column Is slender. the neck curves
downward and outward. directing the
light 10 the pavement below. where 1t is
most useful. II is far more artistic and
more efficient than the old wooden post
with its long outstretched arms and
, spiked pole UP which the light caretakers
clambered each day TO renew the car
bons. The general appearance Of the
new arc lights and Of the new gas lamps
is much the same, and they give to the
streets a much more artistic appearance
either by day or night than the older
types.
An improvement Is also visible in pIac-
ing the lamps. In the old days il was the !
rule TO set lamps at the corners Of inter- |
secting streets and usually one each side !
of the street in the middle of the block |
This gave a fairly good service i'm the |
oh, h1Gelru Hrrf Left A.
sidewalks in outer darkness in the long
blocks. Now the lamps are placed nearer |
together and in such manner as TO light /
all portions OF the street about equally. |
The writer was told that many addition |
al lights had been put into the resident |
parts of the city 10 supplement the older |
ones. and the general better effect was |
one OF the first things he noticed in GO |
ing upon the streets after dark
Wires Go Underground.
In the business district there are now
NO overhead wires. except those which |
propel the trolley cars. and these have /
been much improved in ten years. Il ap-
pears that when the city government be-
gan 10 rebuild the streets after the fire |
one OF the first things provided for was 1
an electrical commission which deveI- /
Oped plans for getting rid of the vast
network Of telegraph, telephone, and /
lighting wires overhead. Conduits were
constructed I'm the burned district and the |
wires installed in them
When this work was done the commits
sion turned its attention to extending the
conduits outward along the principal
streets, and to-day all the wires in the
downtown section are out of the air. The
work has been under the direction of
Charles Z. Phelps. jr The part Of the
city which now has working system Of
conduits was described as being bounded
by Greene street. Jones Falls. Monument
and Barre streets In addition certain
trunk lines running out Cay street and
on Broadway form little extensions OF
the service. Eventually all the wires in
the city will be underground, and this
contamination may be reached in about
ten years.
When the electrical commission was
started II was furnished with a $1,000. 900
Ooan, and for few years was an item OF
expense to the city. II now pays the In
terest on all the money il borrowed and
Continued on Page 2, Column 5.