Evening star., 1932-03-13

OF our city. The mast is comparatively hight,
but IS 20 arranged as to be Of great strength
The lantern or chamber at the top is six feet In
diameter, six feet high, and wen fitted with su-
perior plategiass reflectors, and surmounted with
q golden metal dome or ball. The iron braces
and fixtures are also in progress, and will be
so applied as materially to strengthen the dome
and cupola. From all that We can judge, the
light will produce a magnificent effect, as this
mode has been adopted and approved by sew
eral churches in the larger cities. This ex-
pertinent will at least give fair trial to the
numerous suggestions having for their object
the illumination of large cities with few lights"
The lofty mast referred to was erected under
the supervision of Capt. Easily.
A N earlier effort to light the dome Of the
Capitol seems TO have taken place on July
16, 1876, when the Drummond light was first
exhibited, for which it was claimed that 1T
would. to great extent, supersede the ne
cessity for street lamps, as it would illuminate
the greater portion of the city, q gentleman
assured the compiler" the item continues to
state, that he had his full-length shadow
distinctly reflected at the corner of Maryland
avenue and Twelfth street, a distance of fully
three-guarters of a mile from the Capitol 1t
was found impractical from the fact that myriads
of insects became attached to the glass. obscur-
ing the light Numbers Of wild ducks and
other birds were nightly killed by flying
against it."
Robert Mills at one time architect of the
Capitol, was a warm advocate of lighting the
Capitol with gas, and, in 1910, We find him,
through Col w. Noland, commissioner Of public
buildings, urging the lighting of the Govern
ment buildings and grounds with gas. Prior to
the introduction of gas at the Capitol, the
building was lighted with oil lamps and can
dies. Up to 1925 there were only 10 oil lamps
in the grounds; by 1880 there were "A in all.
In the forties the number of lights In and
around the grounds was increased to TO- and
the lamplighter, p. kaufman, was given an
assistant, whose name was Conrad kaufman.
The present gas light company when char
tered Immediately took hold in earnest, and
was soon furnishing gas, for, by August IL
following, appropriations of $4,000 were made
to pay 1t for lighting the Capitol and grounds
to August 81 and $4,000 for laying pipes and
the erection OF lamps and posts in the Capitol
grounds, with further $4,000 for laying pipes
and furnishing 100 lamps on the Avenue, be-
tween the Capitol and Fifteenth street. The
nrst Apprupriation was expended at once, the
second in lS4s and 1850. and the third IN 1s4s.
THE s1Act location of the first gas plant Of
the Washington Gas Light Co. seems to be
in doubt. James s. McIlhenny, who became
connected with the company in 1880, places it
q note gdven the writer by the gas company
places It at Tenth street and Louisiana avenue,
and others place 1t at the corner of Tenth
street and Constitution avenue, while Wilhel-
mus Bogart Bryan quotes the Intellgencer and
The Star as placing 1t at the southeast corner
Of Tenth street and Louisiana avenue in square
Se2 TINS is the site shortly afterward occu-
pied by John McClellands iron foundry.
Perhaps an advertisement printed in the
city directory for 1850 will settle this ques-
ton. II reads: washington Gas Light Co.
Once, corner Of Louisiana ave. and Tenth st.
They keep constantly on hand fittings, and are
prepared to have them put up on as good
terms % In other cities Persons wishing to
use the gas are required to make application
to and arrangements with the president,
agreeably 10 the rules of the company"
Shortly after the company began manu-
featuring gas at its Tenth street plant 1t
decided to erect coal gas plant on Maine ave-
streets In what is officially called square G. OF
this, Mr. McIlhenny, in recently writing to
ID. d. Ransdeu, assistant to the vice president,
says:
The first coal gas plant was erected on
Maine avenue, between Third and Four-and-a-
Half streets northwest, the original plant oc-
curying only q part Of the square, and the
holder yard extending through the square from
Maine avenue to Maryland avenue; the man.
ufacturing plant being Maine avenue and
the holder station on Maryland avenue. There
was . notorious alley extending along the side
OF the plant, between Maine and Maryland
avenues called Louise alley Directly opposite
was the famous Willow Tree alley, named for
big willow tree standing at the entrance.
These two alleys were probably the most dis
reputable spots ever In the City OF washington.
The flrst superintendent of the Maine Avenue
Gas Works was Mr.. Henry Cartwright ri phil-