Evening star., 1945-01-12
Store Windows,
Dinn1ed
ToSaye Power
U. S. to Extineuish
Unnecessary Lights
In Its Buildings

Moving picture theaters already
have begun to dim their exterior
lights and stores are considering the
problem OF cutting down the use Of
lighting in outside signs and in dis
play windows as Washington moved
toward 'brownout" in response to
the program for saving coal.@
AS another means of saving coal
produced power, there is to be a
general Tightening up of orders to
extinguish unnecessary lights in
Government buildings.
Washington residents have noticed
buildings brightly Illuminated at
night. long after quitting time, and
apparently only for the benefit of
charwomen doing their cleaning. On
Monday Charles A. Peters. deputy
commissioner for buildings manage
ment of the Public Buildings Ad-
ministration, met with district su-
perintendents, building superintend-
ents, engineers and other techni-
clans and on Tuesday an order went
out to all superintendents custodial
employees and guards to put out all
unnecessary lights.
Enforcement Had Eased.
A similar order had been issued
two years ago, but it was conceded
its enforcement had become lax.
John j. Payette, general manager
OF the A Warner Bros theaters in
the Washington area, said daytime
display illumination will be turned
of and check is being made of all
theaters to determine what night
illumination is absolutely necessary.
Carter Barron, Eastern division
manager for Loew's, said all daylight
exterior lights were turned out yes
terday and marquee lights were cut
so per cent.
Awaiting Federal Order.
James H. Ferry, vice president
and general manager of the Po-
tomac Electric Power Co., said that
on his way to his Office this morn
ing he noticed electric signs and
show windows that had been
brightly Illuminated yesterday
morning, were dark. He said he is
awaiting directive from the
Office of War Utilities to map out
the conservation program.
Last November the rule curtailing
the lighting of show windows was
generally relaxed, but it is believed
it will become effective again and
possibly on more comprehensive
scale. Edward D. Shaw of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton said curtailment of outside
lights also has been in effect.
Residents Rush to Buy Coal.
One result of the attention, d.
rected at the necessity of saving
coal is the food of calls to coal
dealers by residents wanting their
bins filled. One dealer described it
/ as a "panicky condition" and de-
clared mo manpower on earth can
handle all the calls being received" :"
j Fenton Fadeley, chairman of the
Metropolitan Area Advisory Com
mittee of the Solid Fuels Admin
istration, appealed to householders
with more than a a,week's supply of
coal to stay off the telephone so
we can take care of the emergency
cases."
He also advised that consumers
not appeal to other than their regu-
lar dealers. No dealer is better off
than the next one," he said. "a lit
tie patience-coal is coming to
Washington
Meanwhile, households have, a lot
OF winter ahead of them. The line
OF descending temperature on the
Weather Bureaus chart of normal
temperature still is on the down.
grade. 1t doesn't begin it's upturn
until about February S which nor
mslly is the period of the coolest
day of the year.
Harry Ct. Hunter, acting commits
sioner of public buildings, welcomed
the fuel-saving campaign as an aid
in obtaining public cooperation in
the program to restrict tempera-
lures to 68 degrees. Such a program
needs the help of the individual in
turning off radiators when the tenn
perature goes up beyond the 68-
degree mark, he pointed out.