The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-13
ELECTRIC GLOBES
FOR FREE BRIDGE
Lighters Report Inability to
Make All Of Lamps
.----
INVESTIGATION MADE
BY SUPERiN ENDENI
Finds That Condensation FIRE.
quently Clog5 fipes-Are
In Favor Of lncan-
deScentS

Because the contractor III charge OF
such work has tound 1t practically inn
possible u Keep ali the gas lamps on
the Free brIase burning, II Is more
than prouahle rhat the old Naper
burners VIII be replaced by electric
incanuesc as soon as the NUM-
cipaI pant As in good working eraer.
especially as superintendent Imam
knowles. OF the city sas Norhs, IS
heartily in favor oi the change, att-
eiaring that with the beet gas ana
equipment in the world ii would De
very nard To Keep tne bridge lights
in good condition as long as the pipes
are exposed and as long rs the iced
pipe Is what is known a. closed
line.
Ever since the winter opened the
lighters have found trouble On the
bridge. Some nights two or three
lights would go out. leaving one end
u the bridge in total darkness, and
many citizens who nave been COM
PEELED Ia eruss the river On foot at
late hours have made general COM
plant of such conditions.
They have feared n new reign of
hold-up men similar to that which for
several years existed on MaSo's bridge
and recall the robbery and murder
which was committed just few Years
ago. when Il workman returning IL
his home was attacked by faotpads
near the middle of the bridge, beaten
robbed and thrown over into the Wa
ter. where his iifeIess body was re-
covered the following morning.
Do Their Best.
II should be said. however. that
the lighters are doing their utmost
To keep the lamps in geod condition,
and the superintendent 81 the gas
plant and his entire force are work
ing night and day 10 see that gas OF
the proper quality and necessary guam
! tity is furnished.
On account Of the exposure OF the
pipes and on account OF the fact thai
the line Is closed at the Washington
Ward end, preventing circulation. tn,
gas In the Free bridge main frequent
~ condenses and the lights are pu
out
one of these lights. the lighters re-
ported Tuesday morning, they has
been able to do nothing with foi
nearly six weeks. one man said h.
had pumped It out. and blown il out
He had done everything that could
be done. he declared. but withou'
fourth from the Richmond end of tbs
bridse--is still dead, and probably
cannot be used again. il is feared unit
new connec tions are made.
Every police officer in the city Is in.
! structed 10 report dead" lights Is tnS
chiefs office. These reports are sen1
to city Inspector Joseph Shelton, ~ho
in turn sends them to the contractor
whose business II is to care for ths
lights.
This contractor is paid SASS /.
Year per light. and attends te over .
thousand lamps. having his men light
each one in the evening and put IL GU
In the morning
Looks Over Report.
4 cursory glance at the reports II
Inspector Sheltons office was MADE
Tuesday morning by Superintendent
Knowles. No record was seen of deae
lights ON the free bridge, but a visit
then made hy the superintendent Il
the contractors headquarters revealed
| the fact that the lighters We're con
stantIy finding trouble. and that they
were in despair Of ever getting all tht
I lights to burn through the sa me night
Under existing conditions it win b.
very hard to give complete satisfac,
ton on the bridge" said Superinten
dent Knowles The gas plant car
furnish plenty OF gas. but the pipes OF
the bridge are small. there Is no circu
lation in cold weather condensation
frequently occurs. Then the lamp!
go out and cannot be relighted unit
they have been pumped out l hop.
| the bridge Will soon he illuminated
| by electricity. They are kind Of light.
| which should have been there all tn.
time,