Evening star., 1929-01-03
tFrom Yesterdays $50 Edition Of The starr
D. c. HEADS SCORED
AS SHORT SIGHTED
Bureau of Efficiency Deplores
Placing of Light Standards
on Closed Street.

The District Commissioners today re-
ceived a report from the Bureau OF
Efficiency taking the city heads to task
for their "shortsighted" policy in plac-
ing % electric light standards and lay
ing electric power cables on c street
between New Jersey avenue and First
street northeast, which pending legis-
lation proposes shall be closed to .trafhc
and placed under jurisdiction of the
architect of the Capitol for inclusion
in the Capitol Grounds enlargement
scheme.
The report, written by William L.
Mickey. associate chief inveSt1gator@of
the bureau, and transmitted by Herbert
n Brown. chief of the bureau, states
the Commissioners on August 3, 1873,
signed an order requiSitioning the Poto-
mac Electric Power Co. to place SO elec-
tric light standards on G street between
First Street northwest and Fourth street
northeast.
All Gables Reported Placed.
The investigator reported that all the
cables have been laid on street. ana
practically all of the SO light standards
placed in position. The company mas
placed % l6-foot light standards on &
street between New Jersey avenue anu
First street northeast, and the remain
ing II on other sections OF G street:
A bill passed by the House on may
"a last and now in the Senate COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds
and expected to be enacted at this ses-
sion authorizes the commission for the
enlarging on the Capitol grounds 10
close C street to vehicular traffic be?
tween New Jersey avenue and First
street northeast, remove Street car
tracks from G street and relay them
in a subway passing under Delaware
avenue. and transfers the control OF
the land mentioned from the District
of Columbia to the architect OF the
TT is difficult" wrote Mr. Mickey, "to
comprehend the action of the District
government in ordering the placement
of % light standards on street which
is proposed to be included in the Capitol
grounds enlargement scheme. The tax
ing of this action in the face OF penang
legislation indicates shortslgnted
policy on the part of those responsible
for this improvement. =
Ask Discontinuance Of Work.
"It is suggested that the Commission
ers be urged to issue an order directing
the discontinuance of any further work
on the % light standards placed on G
street between New Jersey avenue and
First street northeast. The District
should continue to use the old light
standards now on G street until this
area has been turned over to the Fed
eral Government"
In another part of the report, speak
ing of the contract between the District
and the power company, Mr.. Mickey
wrote:
The contract provides that the pow
er company shall perform all work
necessary to changing the locations OF
standards without cost to the District.
Information obtained from repre-
sentative of the power company dis
closes, however. that should the Dis
trict request the company to change
the locations of standards within sew
eral months after their erection. the
District pays the company about $5 for
each light standard changed and also
for the cost of the concrete. I am IN
formed by. the representative of the
company that such reimbursement IS
always made by the District, notwith-
standing that the contract does not
hold the District liable"