Evening star., 1909-07-07
WANT NO BOND ISSUE WHITE WAYS FOR CITY
Market Comnanv Stockholders Better Lighting Proposed by
1 Apply to Courts. Commissioner mac1arIano
nppnsEn Tn co, n STORAGE LAMPS IN MID D-ROADWAYS
Minority Holders Say Their Dv Observation OF 1umnauon oy Trees
dends Will Be Affected. to Be Obviated.
ISSUED TO SHOW CAUSE REPORT OF ENGINEER ALLEN
Administration Asked
by
md Threeo ohers andt Congress to
Better Lighting Proposed by
Commissioner MacfarIand.
LAMPS IN MID-ROADWAYS
Observation of Illumination by Trees
to Be Obviated.
REPORT OF ENGINEER ALLEN
District Administration to Be Asked
to Adopt Comprehensive Plan
and to Urge Congress to Aid.

Adoption Of comprehensive plans to
improve street lighting within the city
proper and recommendations to Congress
for appropriations to carry out the plans
will be uged upon the District Com
mssioners by Commissioner Mcfarland
when the annual estimates are in course
of preparation.
Commissioner Macfarlands plea to his
colleagues will be based upon reports
made to him on street lighting improve
ments by Electrical Engineer W. c. AL
len. The first report on the subject was
made last December and the second yes
terday. These show the needs for cleo
trio arc lights on downtown streets and
difficulties in providing necessary light.
Mr.. Macfarland's ideas.
The reports made at my request by
w. c. Allen. electrical engineer, in De-
cember last and yesterday said Com
missioner Macfarland today. ARE the re-
suits of our consultations as to the best
method of improving the street lighting
of the city of Washington proper. We
are desrous to have the street lighting
increased in quantity and improved in
quality and / shall ask the Commission
ers to provide for this in the estimates
year ago asked the electrical engi-
this Improvement.
During recent years. when the attempt
was made to properly light the suburbs
and the main travelled roads, about 90 per
cent of the increase of lamps was given
outside of the city and about 40 per cent
within the old city. We felt that the sub
urban, districts had gotten their full share
ro, - %ha o,,I hot of
now to be turned to the improvement of
the city lighting proper.
while some streets have been properly
equipped with lights and while some ad-
ditions have been made under the appro-
priation for the last fiscal year. and more
will be made under the appropriation for
the present fiscal year. much remains to
be done to make the lighting satisfactory.
Mr.. Aliens detailed plans embodied In the
special reports which he has made in De-
cember and July cover only the principal
streets, but they indicate the size of the
task.
Trees Obscure Illumination.
They also show it's difficulties. One Of
the greatest is the present arrangement of
the trees, which are one of the chief at
fractions of the city. but which. being for
the most part in line with the lamps. tend
to obscure their illumination.
Pennsylvania avenue and other broad
roadways lights might be put in the mid
die of the street. and. second, that IN
other streets Encouragement of the
sidewalk might be made. so as to take
the lamps from under the shadow of the
trees, must be given consideration. 1t
must be remembered that many cities
and towns which seem to have better
street illumination than Washington
either have fewer trees or light chiefly
from arc lamps on overhead wires
thrown across the center of the street.
Our policy Of putting all wires under
ground. which has now been so fully
carried out that few wires Of any kind
remain on the streets. will prevent our
having overhead arc lamps over the CEN
ter of the streets. The only alternative
in that case would be lampposts In the
center of the roadway.
I'm the case of the sidewalk lights
some arrangement must be made to give
them freedom from the tree shadows.
The improved lighting Of 14th street
recommended by the electrical engineer
and already approved by the Commits
sioners will shortly show what can be
done in the Improvement of the street
lighting