Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-21
More Lights Needed.

The suggestion advanced by the Com
misstoners that the District can econo-
mize in street lighting to the extent of
$4,000 next year does not find confirma
ton in the petitions that are filed with
them from time to time for additional
lights in the suburbs. and even In the city
itself. For instance, a delegation has
just laid before the Commissioners a
statement to the effect that the section
lying between Minnesota avenue and the
District line though we'll populated and
growing in numbers steadily. is entirely
without lights OF any description. The
recent rear-end street car collision is in
part attributed to this cause.
Here is chance to use all of the
$4,000 which the estimates would save
if the policy of economy is to be car
ried through. How better can the Dis
trict's funds be used than in making the
capital well lighted? 1t is not enough to
give brilliant illumination to a few thor
oughfares, the urban avenues, 18th street
and some others. and point to them as
examples of good municipal equipment.
True, the tourists who are impressed by
these glowing streets never get out to
Deanwood after dark. They do not see
the Anacostian suburbs when the shad-
ows fall. They are ignorant of the
stygian blackness of parts of Georgetown
when the sun has ceased to work for the
taxpayers So they go away from Wash
ington and tell the folks at home that
the capital is one of the finest cities in
the world, so brightly lighted that it is
possible to read a newspaper in the
streets after 10 o'clock at night
Economy? Where is the economy in
cutting a few thousand dollars off the
yearly lighting bill while there are miles
of streets in which life is in danger for
eight hours out of each twenty-four? 1t
should be the boast of the Commissio ners
that they are spending so much money
extending the street lighting system that
they need larger appropriation, not small
er ones. They should point with pride
to the fact that they are able TO use the
allotments to good advantage rather
than to the pairing of $4,000 year from
the bills
Every dollar saved from the cost of
eping the streets well lighted is an
investment in insecurity, and the $4,000
cited as sliced from the new estimates
stands for a lamentable neglect of wide
range of streets. where now the people
are forced TO stumble through mudholes
and across gullies and along treacherous
walks In absolute darkness In order to
reach their homes.
Washington will perhaps some day be
a well lighted city, but 1t will not be so
long the authorities regard the APP
preparations doled out by a reluctant
Congress as so large that they can be
pruned and squeezed TO effect a record
making saving of thousands. If the
Districts tax revenues were not sufficient
to meet the current needs. when matched
dollar for dollar by federal funds, and
when spent with equitable regard for the
Districts right to pay for its permanent
improvements on a long-term basis it
would be justifable to economze in all
directions. TO make each branch of the
local government sacrifice something in
order that all might be maintained. But
there are enough tax dollars, plus equiva-
lent federal dollars, 10 serve every pur-
pose. fund the so-called floating debt at
reasonable rate or repayment, and pro-
vide properly for every requirement of
the citizens. There is no occasion for
an economy which means the keeping
OF an immense District area in dangerous
darkness.