Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-14


boost the amperage, and they are
doing it now.
Mr. Spinks We are getting seven
amperes now?
Mr.. Kirby: Yes, sir. But these
lamps wont stand that.
Mr.. Hill: What is the difference
between the ampere that they are
furnishing the city today-the am
peres ! mean. How many amperes is
the city getting today?
Mr.. Kirby: Seven.
Mr.. Hill: What is the average?
Mr.. Kirby: Six and six-tenths.
Mr.. Hill: That's how many kilo-
watts?
Mr.. Kirby: No; that in candle
power, | don't know how many can
die power, exactly; about 900 candle
power.
Mr.. Hill: According to the con-
tract the city has with this company,
we are short LOO candle power?
Mr. Kirby: Yes, sir.
Mr. Harrison: What candle power
were the old lamps?
Mr.. Kirby: A little over 1920.
The Chairman: When we had
those old lamps and they were in
good trim, what were the amperes?
Mr.. Kirby: | don't know that ex-
actly. | think they were about 1,2OO
candle power. They we're tested by
Washington people. | think they
we're tested by Charles Pardo.
The Chairman: Is the city of
Washington getting better light than
the city of Alexandria?
Mr.. Kirby: | have been in their
station, but | have never noticed
what current they run. have heard
that they run seven and one-half on
A. C. lamps. / think they run higher
on the arc. They have the enclosed
arc over there. They must be run
ming higher over there, because they
give better light. | could get that
Information from the Washington
office.
The Chairman: The Potomac peo-
pie are furnishing number OF small
lights over there. Is the candle pow
er or ampere of those not the same as
the arc light-that frosted light. |
mean-the flaming arc light.
Mr.. Kirby (interrupting) That S
only the commercial light They are
Tungsen lamps.
The Chairman: That's a higher
candle power than any other made!
Mr.. Kirby: Yes, sir.
The Chairman: Between 35 and
40. is it?
Mr.. Kirby: Yes, sir. That's the
same as they have in Del Ray.
The Chairman: That's almost a
better light than some OF our arc
lights, is it not?
Mr.. Kirby: | don't think so.
Mr.. Spinks: Here is a statement
made by Mr.. Brumback, one or the
members of the Committee on Light.
He stated that he had been reliably
informed that the city was not get
ting more than 500 to 1900 candle
power. instead of 1000 as contracted
for. That was a couple of weeks ago
before this resolution had been pass
ed. Do you think that is a fact?
Mr.. Kirby: Yes, sir. don't think
they get over 900.
MIR. Spinks: How long have you
been connected with the electric light
ing business?
Mr.. Kirby: A little more than
twenty-five years.
Mr.. Spinks: You know our con-
tract with the city of Alexandria.
There is no such word as ampere or
wattage-I want to read this con-
tract. 1t says (reading); All OF
which arc lights so furnished shall
be of the latest type inclOsed alter
mating arc light of 1000 candle pow
err" Is there any such thing as an
alternating arc light of 2,0OO candle
power?
Mr.. Kirby: Not to my knowledge.
Mr.. Spinks: Don't you think that
when Mr.. Vaudeville entered into
this contract he knew that?
Mr.. Kirby: A man up on the bus
mess as he is, | imagine would be
familiar enough with it to know
that.
Mr.. Spinks: | want you to look at
this book published by E. J. Houston
and A. L. Canaille. Would you take
that as an authority on electricity?
Mr.. Kirby: Sure.
Mr.. Lloyd: That's an authority
up to the time that book was pub
lished.
Mr. Spinks: That is one of the
standards, is It?
Mr.. Kirby: Yes, sir. Up to that
date. That is in 1906. OF course
there are later text books.
Mr.. Spinks: The point | want is
this: that the City Council of Alex
andria entered into a contract with
Vaudeville and Company in good
faith. none of us being electricians.
They came in here and agreed to give
us two thousand candle power light.
My point is this: this plant run by
these people gives us about LOO
candle power less than we pay for.
Mr.. Kirby: A 1000 candle power
lamp of the ordinary type would re-
quire nearly ten amperes. 1t would
require nearly ten amperes to give
that. Arc lamps are commonly rated
at 600, 200 and 1000 candle power.
Mr.. Spinks: What candle power
lamp was put here. Was it 1000?
Mr.. Kirby: No, sir. 1t was not.
Mr.. Spinks: It was not the light
that we contracted for?
Mr.. Kirby: No, sir. The ordinary
candle power arc lamps are common
" rated at coo, 1900 and 1000 can
die power. A 1900 candle power
lamp takes about " amperes and a
1000 candle power lamp takes about
91a amperes.
MIR. Spinks: And instead of giving
us 1000 candle power lamps, they
gave us this 61a ampere lamp. That
was the original
Mr.. Lloyd (interrupting) 1t
would have been a physical impossi-
bility for Vaudeville to have given a
91a ampere lamp. One part OF the
contract disputes the other.
Mr.. Spinks: In this contract we
entered into with Vaudeville and
Company, we entered into contract