The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1910-11-11
TUNGSTEN SYSTEM OF
ELECTRIC LIGHTING
City of Colfax Is Divided Into
Five Circuits.
Latest Phase of Street ghtinq In
Small Towns Throughout Coun-
try Rays of Light Reflects in All
Directions--No Shadows

The Gazette has heretofore referred to
the tungsten system OF street lights now
being introduced in Colfax, which will be
fully in operation and effect by Christ
mas. The transformer which operates
all the lamps OF the series has been
shipped from Schenectady, New York,
and upon arrival will be put in place in
the station here.
Poles have been set in place in Colfax,
s whi6h was a work of considerable mag
nitude, but work along these lines is
still in progress in some of the outly ing
districts.
The tungsten series OF lighting is the
latest phase of street lighting in small
towns throughout the country. Under
this system more lights are given for the
same energy than under the old system,
besides the lasting qualities and reIiabil
ity of the plant is much greater than
that of the old or arc system.
Powerful Lights Suspended.
When the tungsten lights are in full
operation Colfax will have 80 lamps sus-
pended from the middle of the streets 30
feet above the pavement. Each lamp
will be $50 watt, or 200 candle power,
taking the place of the 26 arc lamps
now in Use. Steel enamel refectors for
these lamps have arrived and will soon
be in place. Thirty-four lamps of 100
watt each, or so candle power, will take
the place of the 16 and 80 arc lights now
in use.
City Divided Into Five Circuits.
Another change to be noted of great
benefit is that the city is divided into
five separate circuits, each independent
of the other or can be switched one to
the other in case of accident or failure to
act. First, the power line in the north
end OF town; second, the lighting circuit
in north end of town; third, power line
in south end of town; fourth, lighting
circuit in south end of town; fifth, a
sep-fate and complete system for street
lighting that has no connection with the
above currents. The old system OF
street lights, also residential and power
lines, we're connected together, 80 that
defect on any line interrupted the service
of the entire city. Under the new ar
rangement defect in the power line at
the flour mill, for instance, will have no
effect on the j. R. Good plant on the
south line, and vice versa.
Another thing in favor OF the tungsten
lamp is that the rays of light are reflected
in every direction, there being no dark
shadow underneath, as with the arc.
Improved System Costs Little More.
The new system is being inaugurated
by the Washington Water Power Co. at
practically an outlay Of $4,000, with
only a small sum added monthly to ex-
pense account OF the city. To give the
figures exact the city was paying $233, ,85
per month for the old system, while the
new contract calls for $235 per month,
a difference of only $1.15 per month,
with all added improvements.
F. R. Fantom, recently of Spokane, is
the superintendent in charge of the busi-
ness and plant in ColfRx since it was ac-
quired by the Washington Water Power
Co. from Codd & Mckenzie. He is a
young man thoroughly familiar with
every phase of electric lighting and the
business connected with it, and his ex-
T planation OF the wonderful mechanism
that controls and enables man to make
use of the fluid we call electricity to the
novice is interesting beyond measure.
Miss Goldie Hare has recently been
added to the Office force by Mr.. Fantom,
so that now some one is always there to
attend to business.