Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-12
LIGHT SITUATION
DUE TO ACCIDENT
[Continued from First Page

lSOnI1nueu from II hSI uSS.I
effect of this work, he VIII not make
any further statement.
Councilmen accepted the report and
ordered it filed. Then they directed
Mr.. Diehl to continue his investigation
and make further statements to
Council from time to time.
DiehPs Report
Mr.. Diehrs report to-day follows:
''In compliance with a resolution OF
last week directing an investigation
of the electric lighting service, l de-
sire to say that 1 have gone into the
matter as far as time would permit.
Owing to the moving of the fire and
police alarm headquarters, but little
time could be devoted to the matter.
IT take occasion to say that so far
as the occurrence which precipitated
the action of City Council is con-
cerned, this was a combination of
troubles that was coincidence,
rather than a usual occurrence.
"On the particular night in ques-
tion a circuit was put out or COM
mission in one instance by tree fall-
ing upon it and breaking the wire,
and in another instance a failure OF
the cable in the river wall at two dit-
terent points. In each instance cor
rection was made by the Electric
Light Company. apparently at the
earliest possible moment.
so far as trouble of this nature Is
concerned, it is something that cam
rot be avoided, and the only thing
we can expect is prompt repairs. AS
already stated this appears to nave
been done. 1t may easily be appre-
ciated how difficult it is to find the
break in a circuit at night when
everything is dark and it is necessary
for men 20 go from lamp to lamp and
test for the opening. This necessar-
lily requires time.
Promises Fuller Report
"A matter which to my mind is one
of greater Importance is the sporadic
lamp outages. While these outages
probably cannot be obviated there has
apparently not been the proper ef-
forts, or rather the requisite force to
take care of the proposition in prop
er manner. Lamps that do not start
early in the evening are frequently
cut until after the people have left
the street.
This matter has been taken up with
the electric uight management, and
promises have been made to take
care of these matters early in the eve
ming, instead of making the correc-
tlOn only dllSI lhe chlllS NiNS HAS
been patrolled.
I'm view of the promises that have
been made by the electric light peo-
pie 1 ask the indulgence of Council
for another week or so at which time
a more detailed report will be made.
II take occasion to say that the
Fourteenth Ward ins sallation VIII be
made in a very short time, the major
portion of the material now being
here Meantime thu very serious
trouble we have been having in that
section, and which has been entirely
due to an inefficient time switch, is
likely to occur occasionally. Efforts
are being made to keep that plant
operating satisfactorily until such
time as the permanent installation
shall have been made.
II also take occasion to say that
the matter of voltage which was men
toned when the resolution was dis
cussed has no bearing whatever upon
the street lamps. except those on the
cluster standards. All street lamps
are worked in series and are constant
current, instead of constant voltage,
the latter being a variable quantity.
so far as the commercial service is
Concerned, it is constant voltage and
variable current. This is the only
part of the system upon which the
recording volunteers have any bear
ing. The records on these meters are
being changed daily and in few in
stances has the variation or fluctu-
alton been beyond the per cent. al
lowance. In each instance where this
has occurred attention has been called
to the matter and prompt correction
has been made by the Electric Light
Company.
I'm some cases where conpll. Mt
has been made of tiuctuatinG volt
age a recording voltmeter has been
attached to the local transformer apd
difficulty located and removed. In
any case where a citizen has any com
plant to make of fluctuation or all
legged low voltage. a voltmeter will
be placed upon the local transformer
and the actual rea ding taken upon
request"
To Grade Street
Commissioner w. II. Lynch pre-
scented an ordinance providing for
Turner streets, together with a pc
tition of property owners releasing
the city from any damages.
Ordinances authorizing the purchase
of coal for fire com panies, and the
paving of sprague street. tom Bren-
singer to Turner, houseline to house
line. instead of with curbing, were
passed finally.
Commissioner S. F. Hassler, :ntro-
duced a measure directing that six