Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-29


that it cannot be done.
Mr.. Harlow: If | may be permitted
to say just a word in reply. | want to
say that this company Is now and has
always been moro than willing TO live
up to its contract with the city, and II
Mr.. Hill or any other member Of the
committee viii produce proof which
will show that IN law the present
lamp does not meet with the contract
requirements, we will be willing to
put in such lamp as will meet with
those requirements. If Mr.. Hill has
any testimony of experts TO the effect
that in law the present lamp does not
meet with the requirements OF the
contract, and any other lamp will do
so. we will be glad TO hear 1t. we
have not understood and we do not
understand now that this contract re-
quires us to give 1000 candle power
there is no such lamp made. IL we
can be shown that our lamp does not
measure up to the contract require
ments and specifications we will get
one that will. The contract does not
say that we are to furnish a 1000
candle power light
The Chairman: What does 1t say?
Mr.. Harlow: The latest improved
type of enclosed alternating series arc
lamp of 1000 candle power, and We
are prepared to show that these
| lamps on the streets here meet with
those requirements.
Mr.. Hill: Do you claim that you
are using that light today?
SIR Harlow: Yes, sir; and that II
meets the requirements OF the con-
tract with the city.
| Mr. Hill: Is this light here today
of the latest improved type on the
market
Mr.. Harlow: | could not tell you
| that for the reason that | understand
that the entire system changes every
| FIVE or ten years, but at the time this
contract was entered into that light
| did measure up to it. You could moi
force us to give you the latest i'm
lproyed light on the market today, and
| that they meet the contract require
ments we are prepared to prove. Ger
! tainly the committee does not think
that, assuming that there is later
type of lamp on the market now, that
the company could be required to
give the city the latest type as of this
time.
Mr.. Hi: IL there is any improve
ment in the arc light system, then
you think that Alexandria has got tc
stand still just because Of this con
tract that you are reading from?
Mr.. Harlow: No, sir; they can have
any sort flight they want to have
provided, of course, they pay for It.
For all | know the latest improved
lamp on the market today might
bankrupt this company if 1t under
| took TO furnish such light to the city
at. the same cost that they are fur
lnishing these lights.
| The Chairman; If you claim that
these are the latest improved lamp
why don't they give us light?
Mr.. Harlow: You can't expect me
to know that or anything about that
am in the same position you are.
am layman. | can say this to you
can only give you my personal opin-
ion, of course, if you will investigate
you will find that no lighting system
in the entire country will burn with
out interruption. This company
since the new company has been in
charge. has made a determined effort
to make improvements. They have
a man whose duty il is TO make cir
cult of the streets three times before
liz o'clock and examine the lamps, as
to how they are burning.
| The Chairman: Do you think you
are giving good service when lamps
are out for an hour at a time?
| Mr.. Harlow: If it is impossible to
get man there in less time than
| that, il Is good service. As soon as
| they are reported as being out, man
is sent at once to see what the trou-
bic is.
Mr.. Fisher: Is any actual inyesti-
! CATION made, or do you depend on
| outages to show you where there is
trouble with lamps?
! Mr.. Harlow No, sir; the new SUI
perintendent's first act after he came
was to employ a man whose duty 1t is
| to inspect the lamps that illuminate
the city.
Mr.. Fisher: Is he doing it?
| Mr.. Harlow: Yes, sir.
| Mr.. Fisher: Here is this light on
| the corner of King and Royal Streets
which has been defective for week
or more to my knowledge. why
didn't he inspect that one and make
a report or remedy it before now?
Mr.. Harlow: I don't know. He has
been so industrious in this business
that he has worked until one or two
O'Clock during the two months thai
he has been here.
Mr.. Fisher: How often does he in
| spect each lamp?
| Mr.. Harlow: 1t takes some time tC
| inspect all of them. He has not only
been inspecting these lamps, but he
has been repairing them when 1t Is
necessary.
Mr.. Fisher: Has that been neces
sary?
Mr.. Harlow: 1t must be, pre-
sumo. / have seen him myself NJ
/ there at IL o'clock at night workinl
on lamps.
Mr.. Harlow: Gentlemen, may
proceed now?
| Mr.. Spinks: | want to read from
Mr.. Belts report, from this report o
what Mr.. Belts testified to. Here /
is, now listen TO it (reading):
Mr.. Spinks: said that what die
not want TO accept was the Statement
about these being the highest type
lamp
Mr.. Belts Cinterrupting) | am no
talking about the lamps. have no
said anything about the lamps.
am talking about the system.
Nr. Spinks: You had nothing to d.
as to recommending what kind o
lamps should be purchased?
Mr. Belts: No, ! started to get int
touch with the General Electric Com
pany and the Westinghouse people
Here's a letter addressed to Tread
ing1 r. c.. Taught. Baltimore, Mary