Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-16
STREET LIGHTING.

II is to be hoped the municipal com
mission viii act deliberately and ad
visedly in any innovations that may
be contemplated In the system OF
street lighting in view of the renewal
OF the contracts for street lighting.
More light, especially in the darkened
places. IS earnestly to be desired, but
in endeavoring to provide II. the city
should not permit a sacrifice or i'm
pafrment OF the system now in vogue.
II IS announced that a plan is under
consideration to substitute the small
/ Ter lamps in some sections for the arc
lights now used for street illumination
I in order to insure a more general dis
tributiOn of the lights. In other words
IL Is argued that a smaller lamp at
every corner will cast more light than
an arc light at every other corner.
That IS a proposition that is open to
dispute
There Is no purpose, as The Argus
understands IL. TO disturb the arc lights
in the business district or in a certain
Sone OF the resident section. but fur
Their out, and perhaps not so far out,
the idea is TO supplant the arc lights at
alternate streets for the lamps of
smaller candle power at every corner.
How far this scheme Will prove ac-i
ceptable will depend largely upon the
line at which the city draws the dis
tinction between the arc and the small
er lamp. No one will dispute the fact
that an arc light properly hung
will afford more illumination than a
considerable number of the smaller
kind. One has only to traverse tire
Rock Island bridge at night TO be con-
WINGED OF this. II is within but a short
time that additional lamps OF the
lesser candle power we're installed at
short intervals and yet the bridge is
not properly lighted. probably not half
so well Illuminated as IL half as many
powerful arcs were used in place of
the smaller orbs. There are sections
of the city where incandescant lights
would doubtless prove satisfactory. |
but as said. the city should be careful !.
where It draws the line. Twelfth |
avenue, for instance. would be none too /
far out The smaller lights. apart |
from the fact that they are. as a rule |
at least. ineffective for /
outdoor purposes. afford a village like |
appearance that few people who are /
accustomed to the greater light will |
approve.
So that all The Argus asks is that |
he commission go slow in any plans /
{ may have on hand. Rock Island |
has paid the price in the past OF ex-
perrin anting with its system OF street
lighting. Twice the tower system has
Ieen tried only TO be abandoned. The
present system OF out door illumiua-
in has proven reasonably satisfactory
10 far as II has gone. and II is the
opinion OF The Argus that IL should be
extended as far as practicable rather
han curtailed. and the city should be
n a position TO strike a good bargain
10 matter what may be its purpose.
Another suggestion that presents
tself 10 The Argus in this same con-
lection is that in the renewal OF any
ontract the city make provision for
he proper illumination OF Spencer
quare. Garnsey square. Long View
ark and the East End park. whenever
lans for the Improvement of the lat
er are adopted. which should be be-
ore long. and in any Arrangement
hat may be made for the parks. stand
I'D lights should be insured, and
othing OF the dinky. FIRE hy variety.
The newly annexed territory should
lso be properly provided for.