Evening journal., 1911-12-13
NEW LIGHTING
PLAN EXPLAINED
Mr.. OFT Says Purpose Is to
Beautlfy Rather Than
Make Glare

Now that the white Way" has
been attained and the Inauguration
will be celebrated on Monday evening
of next week, d. L. OFT, superinten-
dent of the light and power depart
ment of the Wilmington and Phila-
delphia Traction Company which con-
cern has the contract for the lights
calls attention to the real objects
which were the controlling elements
in selecting the new street lighting,
showing that the new illuminations
will in no sense he a tremendous
glare, nor the greatest possible candle
power, but that il Is a decided effort
to secure a lighting system which is
toned down and one in which the
equipment Will not only look well at
night, but in day time. Mr.. OFT out
lined the matter in the following man.
ner:
The new lighting on Market street
is probably being handled in a man.
ner which will procure as artistic re-
suits as may be practical The best
modern tastes in street lighting are
away from glare and tend more and
more toward a greater number of
units of lower intensity. There are
two prominent elements which are
noticeable in the new system, viz: :
Simplicity and a greater number of
light-giving sources. One might add
third element, which conforms with
the two Just mentioned, namely: That
of beauty resulting from the new
equipment, elimination of the old
poles and the greater number of
points Of illumination.
I'm the ten blocks i'm question. the
present arc lighting Eliminates the
street from only eleven points-each
of which is very brilliant and nomi-
nally known as a two thousand candle
power lamp. Whereas, in the new
method. there are one hundred and
seventy-two points from which light
is given, and these are moderated in
so far as the amount of light-givine
ability is concerned by having a heavy
opal globe placed over the lamp
thereby reducing the light by prob
ably one-fourth.
This modification and loss of can
dlepower is adopted to kill all glare
which would appear If the lamps
were exposed to plain view. and at
/ the same time, to produce such ef-
fects as are today most acceptable to
/ the cultivated eye. Such modified
lighting is coming to be much pre-
ferred to the mining camp type which
has attracted attention for so many
years by the mere brilliancy of the
points of illumination. AS a conse-
quence, those who expect a glare
will be disappointed, while others
who recognize the rules of beauty for
street effects, as above outlined. will
We hope, be satisfied.
"Of course. one of the great i'm
provements IN the whole matter and
Independent of the Illuminating ques-
ton will be the elimination Of un-
slightly poles from Market street
The total number OF poles will bt
diminished from 126 to sc and thos,
remaining will se the new iron poles
which are necessary to support thu
trolley span and other wires.
I'VE trust the public will feel goot
judgment has been exercised ant
money spent meritoriously on the par
of the company in putting up this eX
pensive and we'll designed system. II
doing so, not only has "a considerable
amount of additional money beet
spent, but existing pole and wire line
which represented quite an investmen
and which would have served the pur
poses of distributing electric curren
for many years. are being cut dow
and this value in property destroyed
1T should be particularly remem
bered that the change is one whicl
will last "A hours; in other words
Market street will hereafter be ia
more agreeable in day time, as we'll a
by night The change is costing a goo
deal Of money for such a company a
ours. but we hope the public, at least
will get back in satisfaction a return
for our expenditure; and that, as any
thing which helps Wilmington, is to
degree, likely to help us, We hope T.
share in the general return to the cit
which must result on account of tn
changes having been made"