Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-02-25
ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING
IN WESTERN CITIES
(By Charles L. Eshleman)


have installed ornamental lighting
systems that eclipse those used IN
eastern cities. There are good rea-
sons for this condition. The cities
are growing rapidly and many have
reached a point where underground
service is being installed THESE
cities have been able to avail them
selves of the most modern systems
of ornamental lighting, whereas in
the larger eastern cities, where un-
derground distribution has been
available during the past ten TO twen-
ty years, we find an assortment OF
ornamental lighting units represent
ing developments extending over a
considerable period.
The impulse for civic improvement
seems stronger in the western cities
on account of the keen rivalry ex-
listing between them. Each city tries
to outdo its neighbor. Armed with
catchy slogan-"You'll Like Taco
ma" Send Your Wife to Prosser, !"
Yakima is Better" and the like
the citizens, through their CONNER
cial organizations, set about to abol-
ish signboards, remove overhead
wires and establish an ornamental
| lighting installation. And so they go,
hand in hand-the City de Luxe, the
City Sensible and the Slogan
st. Louis-All the standard sys-
tens of ornamental lighting may be
seen in st. Louis.
Kansas City stands in a class by
itself, as far as ornamental lighting
is concerned. Whether or not it is
an enviable position is more or less a
matter of opinion. Personally,
would say that it is the most homely
installation that have seen in ten
thousand miles travel. Undoubted.
ly the present method of lighting is
a makeshift and will shortly give
way to more comprehensive layout
and more artistic designs. A curved
arm bolted to sidewalk trolley poles
carries at its outer end a metal re-
flector and high candle power tung
sten lamp. This in itself might mo-
be criticized, but Immediately above
the reflector a 6-inch opalescen
globe incloses a 16-candlepower in
candescent lamp. 1t is a double decl
arrangement and is suggestive of al
inverted cuspidor
Omaha has not yet adopted an ex
tensive underground system of elec
trical distribution, consequently ha
not been in position to consider al
extensive ornamental lighting sys
tenn. 1t Is a beautiful city and Il
Ideally laid out. The citizens are III
to date, wide-awake, progressive, ant
1t goes without saying that she will
be the proud possessor of moderl
system Of ornamental lighting befor,
many years.
Denver says How do you do" an,
"Good-by" to every traveller who en-
ters and leaves her gates. Emerging
from the Union depot, you are greet
ed by Welcome" outlined by eleC
trio lights and supported by a larg
arch In the plaza fronting the station
Leaving the city, you are confronte
by the other side of the sign, bear
ing the word "Mizpah." Althoug
this sign is no respecter of person
extending the same welcome to Tn
, Pullman and freight car passenger
the sentiment expressed Is apprecI
ated by every one and the psyche
, logical effect upon the stranger
stronger than one at first though
might imagine.
The business section of the cit
is well lighted and the units then
selves present a good appearance,
{ both by day and night. As is ofte
the case, local conditions play an in
portant part In the design of an o,
namental lighting system. In tht
case 1t seemed advisable to desig
a column that would serve as a sur
port for the trolley wires and ais
to carry the light units. Walkin
along Sixteenth avenue by day a PEI
, son VIII note that each of these pole
carries two arms, one extending owe
, the street and the other over IN
sidewalk. An inclosed arc lamp n
ted with opalescent globes is su,
r pended from each arm At nigh
however you are surprised to Sc
only one line Of lights burning, thos
on the arm projecting into the stree
This rather odd condition is @,
planned by the fact that both lamr
are used so that each unit will hay
a perfect balance by day. Only on
, line is burned because the effect OF
tanned from a single line is bette
, than that from a double limo