The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-24
WORKING ON DETAILS.
Committee on "White Way Figuring
on Juice Poles and Money.

1--WE are trying to devise some means
by which the city can furnish the
juice for running the great white
way" said D. B. Simpson, chairman
of the special lighting committee APP
pointed by the president of the Com
mercial club to push the project of in
stalling a system of brilliant illumina-
ton along the main thoroughfare Of
Topeka.
IF the merchants will pay for the
equipment I believe that the city
should furnish the electricity. Robert
Stone. who was to look up the ques-
ton as to whether the property owners
can be made to assess themselves in
order to provide for the financing of the
scheme is out of the city, but there
seems to be much interest in the pro-
posaI manifested by the merchants and
citizens in general"
representative of the Columbia In
candescent Light company of st. Louis
has been looking over the ground in
Topeka, and at the Commercial club
had something to say in respect to the
lighting of streets by electricity.
Hundreds of Cities Interested.
1.-The lighting problem is now inter
estiug hundreds of cities over the coun-
try" said he illumination is subject
to as definite rules as is architecture
for construction of any kind. The pro-
position should be figured out on
scientific basis.
fully laid out, and the result is a
white way which is not altogether
symmetrical. In Lawrence the same is
true.
eff it is decided to use electricity as
a means of lighting we can furnish
without cost to the committee, an ex-
pert engineer who will make plans for
the entire system on a scientific basis.
In Fremont, Neb.. the merchants
have Just spent Sc 900 for poles and
v1-ifn q mr. of he
city will maintain the lamps. I was
there three weeks ago, and they were
just getting ready to commence the in
stallation. They viii have five lights
on each column.
"In Des Moines. Ia. they also have
the five cluster lights, the poles being
set A feet apart"
AS has been before stated several
companies will display samples of the
lights which they handle, and it is the
wish the Commercial club that the
people of Topeka express themselves
freely on this plan for great white
way"-let the secretary of the club or
members Of the special committee
know just what method of lighting in
their opinion would be most advan-
tageous.
Committee Favor Electricity.
If the cost of maintenance is not pro-
hibitive. the committee will probably
decide upon electricity as the most ef-
fective means of lighting, as the cluster
. idea appeals strongly to the minds of
individual membes. However. if no ar
rangement can be made with the Citv
for furnishing electricity, it is posi-
BILE that some other methods of lighting
will be chosen
Several methods of illumination have
been mentioned by the committee
which probably will not be ultimately
considered.
One was the chain system of small
colored incandescent lights which gives
very pretty effect in San Antonio
Tex and another the Austin Tex
tower or ''star light scheme where
clusters of powerful lights are perched
on steel towers which apparently are
well up in the vicinity of the clouds.