The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-14
Pc Poo IS
VITAL TO
Git Y'S
LIFE
~ city % dreadful night"

q IA city Of dreadful night"
IRE recent earthquake in Tokyo,
Japan, which completely DESTROYED
the electric lighting plants of the
city. causing thousands of homeless
and injured persons to wander aim
lessly amid the debris and dreadful
havoc, brought most forcibly to the
stricken inhabitants of that I'M
fortunate island, their dependence
on this comparatively new public
utility.
Unitarian Uses.
How many of us, who take every
thing for granted, ever stop to
ponder over what would happen to
Washington IL the Potomac Electric
Power Company's system should
cease to function? How many of us
when we turn on an electric switch,
ever stop to think of the genius Of
concept, the mighty labor, the
brains and skill, the money and
credit required to start, build and
operate such a, system, and the
many other problems that make
possible the radiant illumination
that floods the room as you read
this article?
Electricity in its manifold applica-
ton to our modern life constitutes
one Of the fundamentals of social
advancement, and yet its cost, as
compared with any other compare
BILE article that goes to make up
our daily life, is unQuestionably the
lowest.
No single article Of recent dis
cOvery and inventive improvement
int doil 1iVyoo
helpfully and beneficently than cleo
D tricity. We cook by Its force, we
sweep and dust by it's magic; we
travel in street cars and motor cars
by its mighty strength.
Weighty freight loads are drawn
on steel rails by this elusive Titan,
where snorting steeds of steam for
merly held sway; we hoist human
freight to tallest office buildings
each day in electric elevators, and
cool our people with electric fans,
and artificial ice made by electric
refrigerating plants; we heal and
explore with its penetrating and
curative rays In medicine and surg
cry; we illuminate the home, office,
factory, churches, tneaters, and hos
pitfalls.
We make unsafe places safe by
| buo IdCI IuO III
cIined hate the light Of possible
detection; we vitalize the telephone,
the telegraph and the radio by the
uncanny force of electrical power.
We wash and iron our clothing
by it's aid; we sew and stitch by
its force; we mine our ore and
minerals by its power; we weld and
fuse metals by its potency, and
heat our habitations by its friendly
glow and warmth, and by its ap-
plication hanAets grow into thriv-
ing towns and cities of beauty,
healthtulness and commercial ac-
tivity.
First Used in 1881.
It is interesting to go back in the
history of Washington and realize
that in the year 1881 the survivors
Of the Army of the Cumberland
gathered in this city to dedicate
the statue of their late leaS.r,
General Thomas, in Thomas circle.
One of the brand-new ideas pro-
vided for their entertainment by
the people Of Washington consisted
Of the illumination Of Pennsylvania
avenue from the Peace Monument
to the Treasury. Department, with
electric lights, the new discovery
IT. illumination Of the moment,
which had been given a trial in a
few cities, but was entirely un'
known in Washington.
Guy-wires were stretched from
house-top to house.top across the
Avenue and arc lights suspended
therefrom over the middle of the
street. A dynamo was connected
with the engine of a. saw-m1ll on
Thirteenth street and at the ap-
pointed time thousands Of citizens
and visitors thronged the avenue
to witness the novel display and
behold night transformed into day.
Strange to relate, however, the
transformation failed TO material
Ire, for the boiler boiled to no effect
on the carbons in the lamps except
to sputter it's dismal failure.
However, the failure Of the plan
only served to awaken interest in
the possibilities of the idea and
as result, the Heisler Electric
Light Co. was organized and an
at the northeast corner of Tenth
and d streets northwest, now
known as the Hutchins Building.
Property Transferred.
Although the number of arc
lamps supplied with current from
the plant Of the company was
suitable, considerable difficulty was
experienced in maintaining the ser.
vice. and in November, 1882, the
company transferred all it's property
to the United States Electric Light.
ing Co., the latter being organized
In October Of the same year.
On the night of July 16, 1885,
the entire plant of the United
States Lighting Company was de.
stroyed by fire. Arrangements were
Immediately made to lease the orig.
inal depot of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company and on July
IL new equipment was ordered.
Within two weeks the principal
lights which had been in use pre-.
vious to the fire, were again In
operation, and by December, 1888.
there were 213 arc lamps and $50
incandescent lamps in use in Wash.
ington.
In November, 1885, the plot of
!. ground at Thirteen-and. One. half and
B streets northwest was purchased
and in the latter part of 1887 the
power station was completed, being
y equipped with the Edison system
Of central station producing ma.
chinery.
BY 1892 the company, after hav.
Z ing further enlarged it's plant, was
supplying current for the operation
q 642 arc lamps and 16,S2S mean.
descent lamps.
In 1898 the organization Of the
Is Washington Traction and Electric
Company, now known az the Wash.