Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-14
The Avenue Lighting Scheme.

The District Commissioners hope to
make Washington one of the best lighted
cities in the world. They aim to make
the capita! glow at night with electric
lights. They have submitted to the COM
mission of fine arts a plan Of illumina-
ton for Pennsylvania avenue by the in
stallation Of a new system Of electric arcs
mounted on ornamental posts placed on
Isles of safety in a double row In the
middle of the street. The electric light
poles contemplated in the plan are said
to be artistic and the cost of the new
scheme Of illumination is computed to be
something over $4,000 a year In excess Of
the present lighting cost Of the Avenue.
which is 1896. The proposed plan COM
prehends isles Of safety six feet wide by
fifty or sixty feet long at the regular
stopping places of the street cars and of
circular shape six feet in diameter be-
tween street crossings. Pennsylvania
avenue is already well lighted from early
until late, but much Of this lighting Is
done by private enterprise-by merchants
who food their windows with light which
spreads its glow into the street. The
placing Of high power lights and isles of
safety down the middle Of the Avenue
has no doubt been well thought out and
its effects carefully studied by those who
propose it.
The judgment Of the commission Of fine
arts on this project will be interesting.
Pennsylvania avenue. being the great
central street of the capital, one of the
historic thoroughfares of the country and
one of the noblest avenues in the world.
1t should be the object Of especial care
on the part Of the authorities and all
nfhor IN ha devolnD.
ment Of Washington. The obvious ad-
vantage Of the proposed plan Is that the
Avenue would be more brilliantly lighted
after nightfall titan 1t Is now, though it
should also be possible to light this wide
street from the sides. The obvious dis
advantage Of the scheme Is that 1t would
injure the impressiveness and utility of
the Avenue a. q single broad thorough
fare OF apparently unbroken surface. It
would divide the Avenue and virtually
make Of It three streets. the car line
using tho center section with a. roadway
for trafiic on each side. Criticism may
be expected Of this radical change in the
aspect Of the Avenue. 1t will also be
pointed out that the availability and ef-
fectiveness Of the Avenue as q parade
street for great and imposing pageants
win be impaired.
The Isle Of safety has proved itself
valuable Al q safety device in broad
streets through which heavy trafiic flows.
Tho trafdc on Pennsylvania avenue Is
only heavy at certain hours Of the day
and evening and there IL rarely any dan
gUrous congestion. A considerable per-
centaSe Of persons injured in street acci-
dents are struck while getting OF street
cars and the Isle Of safety would reduce
this class Of mishaps. The question is.
Does the density of trafic in Pennsylvania
avenue warrant the construction of isles
of safety, If the latter, In connection
with the electric light posts, interfere
with the artistic effectiveness or prac-
teal utility OF the Avenue? Careful con-
Alteration viii doubtless be given to the
several phases Of this important question.