El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-25


HE American Society Of Tlumi-
mating Engineers, which opens
its fifteen annual convention in
Chicago today, IS not as yet a
large organization, but its membership
makes up in activity for what IL lacks In
numbers. There are local sections of the
society in Chicago, Philadelphia, New
York and several other cities. In each
Of these the members are experiment
ing on some special subject Of ulUmin-
alton and it is doubtful If any Othe1
branch of engineering is so rapidly
developing its own usefulness
Proper Use Of Lights.
The proper utilization of light in
large buildings, on city streets, in cOun-
try towns. in churches, Libraries. Of
fees, homes and business places Of all
kinds is a matter OF economy as well
as of comfort and hygiene. Much at
tentiOn is being given TO industrial il
Elimination The large cotton mills Of
the southern states are coming in for
a share Of consideration in this partic-
ular. During the past year number
of practical experiments have been
made by competent engineers regarding
the best methods of producing light In
these factories, taking into cOnsidera-
ton the eyestraln OF the workers. the
safety of the factory and the economy
Of the manufacturer. Statistics show
that large percentage Of accidents oc-
curing in factories where artificial
light is used are caused by an imprOp-
er light supply. Either the light is in
sufficient or else &c is glazing and daZ-
cling in its effect upon the eyes.
An Investigation Of industrial ulu-
minatiOn was begun last spring in
Cleveland by the straw ballot system
A list Of names was selected at random
from the city directory. 1t included
blacksmiths, iron workers. pattern max
ers, tool makers and various other
trades. To each Of the men circular
was sent containing list OF questions
including the following.
DO YOU work BY artificial light7
Is your work so lighted that you can
see Well2
Can you work as fast by artificial as
what kind Of light Is used at the
place where you are emplOyed2
A large majority Of these circulars
were re turned with the answers to
the questions more or less complete
Some of the material thus secured VIII
form the basis Of discussions at the con-
ventiOn now In session. over 50 per
cent Of the men worked by artificial
light OF these, about so percent
worked by electric light, a small num-
Der Of shops utilized gas and electr1cl-
ty, fewer still used gas alone and less
than a dozen reported oil lamps. Many
Of the men pronounced the light SUBS
ply at their workshops sufficient but
few were able to work as fast or as
well by artificial light as by daylight
Results Of Investigations.
One OF the best results Of the work
Of the Illuminating engineers IS found
which is one Of the largest railroad
stations in the world The large wait
ing room is two and half stories nigh
and has almost perfect lighting. Gazing
three systems into play Great bronze
chandeliers. supplied with electric
lamps in white globes, hang between
the pillars At the end OF the room
bronze Standards similarly equipped are
placed. Both chandeliers and stand
ards are Of classic design in keeping
with the pillars and other decora tions
Of the room. In addition 20 these, there
IS a supply or light from incandescenIs
in the clear story. This serves to IL
illuminate the ceiling and prevents an
effect of gloom when the ceilings are
dark In color Tt also tends to increase
the general illumination below.
Another matter 20 be considered oE
the convention is the relative import
ance Of the Illuminating engineer, the
architect and the decorator Should
the architect and decorator make all the
plans for the building and decoration,
only calling IN the illuminator at the
end to do the best he can under these
COuditiOus2 or should the Illuminating
engineer plan the system OF nghIng
without reference 10 the decoration
leaving the decorator TO formulate his
work secondary to the Illumination
Most Of the illuminating engineers in
cline towards the happy medium, but
feel that in the interest OF economy
they should be CONSUMED peLore tua
plans Of building and decorating are
fully settled.
Illuminating Cities.
The illumination Of cities and towns
there is an increased demand for
brightly lighted streets. American cit
les are far In advance Of European In
this respect Philadelphia now claims
10 be the best lighted city in the world
In 1910 there were added 986 arc lights
to her system, almost as much as the
entire illumination plant OF Vienna pr
Berlin and 80 percent more than tnat
a Q Tnndnr and ErrrEEnNE combined a
still further addition to Philadelphia
street illumination is now under con-
sheraton In a recent message to the
city council, the mayor ADVISED the
erection Of posts holding twin arc
lights rather than the single lamps
New York has made marked advance
in street illumination and Is now not
ed for its beautifully lighted streets
The new lighting system installed In
Chicago during the past year is es-
peCially worthy Of note. In Washington
plans for additional illumination Of
Pennsylvania avenue, making it bril-
liantly lighted thOrOughfare from the
treasury to the capitol. have already
been made
throughout the country are becoming
veritable white ways and the illu-
minating engineers are working TO in
crease the number. Warren. Ohio, held
a mammoth carnival last month fin cell
ebration of the installation Of a new
method Of lighting believed to be the
best OF It's KIND IN any CITY IN lle ]
world The celebration included a long
parade, in which the process of the de- [
velOpment Of artificial lighting was IL /
Illustrated by a number of floats The !
camp fire of the American indian, the I
candle of the colonial days. the oil lamp !
of the early part of the nineteenth cen !
fury, together with numerous effects I
with gas lights and incandescent cleo I
trio lights, which the city has discard |
ed, formed an interesting. exhibition.
City of Lights.
Many cities take great civic pride in I
the ornamental illumination of their I
streets. Evansville, Indiana; Lansing, |
Michigan, Reading, Pennsylvania Los /
Angeles, California, and Pueblo, COlOra- /
do. are a few Of the towns which have /
given special attention to this matter /
within the year. In Vancouver, metal |
lamp posts painted white emphasize the |
white way" while in Pueblo, COlOra- I
do. the painted aluminium posts produce /
nearly the same effect
Many towns spend large sums Of I
money for lighting and yet secure bad [
effects. Merchants suffer from care
lessness in this direction also. II a /
merchant has been at the expense of I
securing a successful system Of window ]
lighting, and the city puts in a system I
of lighting which creates a glare and I
renders the contents of his window I