Evening star., 1946-04-28

"HE Potomac Electric Power Co. is
celebrating its 50th anniversary,
II having been chartered in 1896,
with O. T. Crosby as president,
A. A. Leib vice president and c. P. Will
lialns secretary and treasurer. This was
not the beginning of the use of electric
power in Washington or of its applica-
ton to office and street lighting. which
had its beginning some years before, but
1T was the starting of company that
has aided materially in the progress
of Washington during the past half
century, and has outgrown all its
competitors
Electric lighting in Washington began
In 1878 with experiments conducted in
the Capitol with the electric carbon
light, and later, after many other tests,
carbon lamps were installed there on
October 4, 1879. Further experiments
were being conducted by Thomas A.
Edison and others. 1t was slow work
for some time, but added interest was
given the new invention when the great
London Circus came to Washington in
April Of that year. 1t undoubtedly help
ed to promote the idea by lighting it's
main tent by electricity.
It remained for the wizard of Menlo
Park to produce his incandescent lamp,
which was first tried out in this city
at Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue on October Is, 1881, much to the
delight of thousands of people gath
cred open-mouthed to cape at the new
spectacle, which unfortunately, did not
work very well, owing to the fact that
the current grounded near Willard's
Hotel" But the chronicler tells us that
the other lights on Fifteenth street,
Pennsylvania avenue and Seventh street
were quite successful.
While the light was not constant, or
yet reliable, it was so far in advance of
gas that there were few who felt dis
inclined to encourage further expert
ments. In the summer of 1882, the
Heisler Co. successfully lighted F street
between Ninth and Fifteenth streets,
where 10 lamps were suspended in the
middle of the street, power then being
obtained from small experimental
plant which Stilson Hutchins erected
in 1880 in the building at the southeast
corner of Tenth and D streets. Here
sufficient power was generated for $50
lamps.
Company Expands
With 100000 Capital
Soon the Heisler Co. became too small
a corporation to handle the business
available, and in November, 1882, an
other corporation, the United States
Electric Lighting Co., was chartered
under the laws of West Virginia with
capital stock of 100000, and this COM
pany absorbed the old Heisler Co. The
new company had as its president,
James L, Barbour, and N. w. Ellis be-
came superintendent.
Beside Mr.. Barbour and Mr.. Ellis, this
company was composed of some of
Washington's most energetic and re-
spected citizens, including William Dick
son, a Democratic politician of WASH
ington, who was secretary, and Martin
Maloney, treasurer. The board of di-
rectors included Peter A. D. Widener,
William L. Elkins, Martin Maloney,
George w. Hebard, Stilson Hutchins,
Robert Boyd and Albert w. Fletcher.
The Office in 1883 was at 935 D street.
According to an early account, this
company was soon overtaxed to such an
extent with rapidly increasing patron
age that about 1887 it had to erect a
new building-l0O by lis feet-at the
corner of Thirteen and-a-half and B
streets (now Constitution avenue), for
central station. At that time it proved
to be one of the largest and best ar
ranged plants in this part of the country.
It's equipment included 10 boilers with a
total capacity of 1000 horsepower, which
furnished ssteam to II high-speed engines
of the most up-to-date type, capable of
running 10 "arc" and IL Edison dynamos,
furnishing current to run 500 arc" and
5000 Edison lights.
In 1887, this company was supplying
the lamps which lighted Pennsylvania
avenue. Seventh and F streets and the
Treasury and Patent Office Buildings,
using the Edison system. At this date
there were also number of buildings
being wired, including floors of the Palais
Royal, then at the Raleigh corner,
Twelfth street and Pennsylvania avenue,
and several leading hotels. The cost of
the lighting. it was said at the time,
would not exceed the cost of gas by 10
per cent.
Power Circuit Laid
Early in Electric Age