Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-16
District Effects Annual Saving
of Nearly $4,000
IN COST OF STREET LAMPS
Agreement Reached in Controversy
With Potomac Electric Company.
ACCOUNTS WERE IN DISPUTE
Deduction Made for Lamps of Less
Than One Thousand Can
dlepower.

Nearly $4,000 will be saved by the Dis
trict on the bills for street lighting render
ed by the Potomac Electric Light and
Power Company. this having been ac-
complished by the settlement of the cleo
trio lighting dispute opened by Commits
sioner Judson about nine months ago
The report OF Walter c. Allen, District
electrical engineer, which went to the
Commissioners today, gives the exact
amount to be withheld from the company
as 50. 100. 40
The dispute over the bills started while
the Commissioners were making up their
estimates for the Districts appropriation
now ia effect. Commissioner Judson held
that the Potomac Electric Light and
Power Company for eleven years had
been furnishing in certain instances lamps
of less than 1,GOO candlepower, the grade
required by law, and the company held
that the lamp it had been furnishing was
much better than the old 1,OO0-candle-
power lamp.
Congress Directs Settlement.
The matter was discussed sharply in
the District committees, and Congress
finally directed that the Commissioners
should effect settlement with the COM
pany. According to Mr.. Aliens report.
an agreement has been reached whereby
these big arc lamps shall be paid for
from October. 1909. to March, 1911. at the
rate of $50 a lamp. and other provisions
were made whereby the entire settlement
is shown to be subject to the approval of
Congress. 1t is understood the amount
of the deduction may be changed il
Congress does not approve.
Under this agreement a settlement was
effected August 10, and the sum of ST.
the company. Large bills had been held
up by the auditor to await the settlement
of the dispute. This sum represented the
difference between $50 lamp per year
and $50 a lamp per year, the new rate
which was authorized by Congress.
Total Deduction Shown.
contract and the consequent saving to
this way:
BY paying $50 instead Of $S5 per lamp
per annunr fer~~tlirc-Period from October
80, 1909, to October 81, 1910. S7,:4S.U3:
saving by the difference between $S5 and
$50 for the period from November j.
1910. to March 2. 1911. S2.i21.37, making
the total 50. 1910
In connection with his report Mr.. Allen
said today that the 80 new lamp posts
for the lights around the White House
and out Massachusetts avenue to the
Union station are being put In place, and
that Col. Cosby had ordered 24O of the
lights for use in Potomac Park.
The report speaks of the discontinue
ance of the hundreds of lights on the
suburban roads in this way:
"A considerable saving in the apprO-
priation for street lighting was effected
by the discontinuance of a number of
lamps on those country roads where the
extent of improvements and the amount
Of travel at night We're not considered
sufficient to justify their retention at this
time. Two hundred and twenty-five in
candescent electric lamps, 145 naphtha
lamps and 6J gas lamps were discontin-
ued, effecting an annual saving of s9,15S
at the rates prevailing.
Bills Contested.
regular feature of the annual re-
ports of the electrical department is the
announcement that the Washington Ter
minal Company and the Philadelphia
Baltimore and Washington railroad have
refused to pay for lighting along their
rights of way. The Commissioners are
trying to get so,4I2.52 from the Washing
ton Terminal Company and $S,37J from
the Philadelphia. Baltimore and Wash
ington Railroad Company. The matter
is in the courts.
Speaking of the improved street light
ing. the report says:
After many experiments had been
made with incandescent electric lamps,
equipped with various shades refectors
and globes, to ascertain the kind best
adapted to the tree-lined streets OF this
CITY an initial installation was made in
10th street from Ii street to the newly
completed concrete bridge over Piney
branch, distance of approximately two
and one-lialf miles. From Fl to l. streets
IA distance of one mile) lU-watt, 50
candlepower series tungston lamps are
used. from L street to Piney Branch
bridge the lamps are JO-watt, 40-candle-
power series tungston. In both cases the
lamp-poSts are staggered" on the two
sides of the street, and average sixty feet
apart measured along the axis of the
street. There is but one lamp to each
post. placed in pendant position inside
a fifteen-inch rough inside globe. On the
street corners blown-glass signs, with red
| letters on white ground are set in an
| open frame in such a position that the
downward light from the diffusing globe
| illuminates them at night time This form
| of lighting is very effective for the i'm
portant residence streets.
Changes in the System.
| Many important changes were made
in the street lighting system during the
year, the principal one being the substan-
/ tial reduction in prices secured by agree
ment with the contracting companies
after careful analysis of the costs of
| the various kinds OF lighting These re-
| duced rates We're presented to Congress
and by it included in the appropria-
/ ton act for the fiscal year 1912. In the
| case of the electric arc and iucandescent
lamps. the rates were made effective from
] the date of the passage Of the act
namely, March >. 1911. In the case OF
the gas lamps east of Rock creek. sup-
piled with gas by the Washington Gas
Light COMPANY reduction of 80 cents
per lamp per annum was made To he1in
January 1. 1911. and remain in force IN
til the expiration OF the present contract
| for such lamps-namely, June 30 1872
! after which GATE the lower rate adopted
/ by Congress shall apply. In the case of
| the gas lamps west of Rock creek sun
piled with gas by the Georgetown Gas
| Light Company, a similar reduction was
| secured, but not made effective until Au-
gust ], 1911.
] Concurrent with the adoption Of these
} new rates, legislation was enacted by
| Congress combining the two appronria
! tions for street lighting into one. embrac-
| ing all forms Of such ligting and giving
4 10 the Commissioners authority to adopt
| new kinds of lighting at rates adyanta- :
| geous TO the District AT the same time
| the hours of lighting the gas and naphtha
lamps were increased TO be effective
after the expiration. of the existing con-
tracts for such service-that is, June 30.
191.."