Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2796 Report of the Committee Appointed by the Town of Lexington to Consider the Method of Street Lighting, October, 1905 �� � ,, �/ ' � I � • � / 1 � _, II REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON TO CONSIDER THE METHOD OF STREET LIGHTING. October, 1905. The Electric Light Committee was appointed to investi- gate the present lighting system of the town for two reasons : First, to see if a better distribution of lighting were possible, and secondly, to see if any change could be made to reduce the cost of lighting to the town. The Committee has taken the following steps in its investigation:— rst. An evening trip to the Hancock Street district. zd. An auto trip from the Arlington line to Concord Hill, taking in the Mt. Vernon district on the way. A The inspection of the temporary lighting system mentioned hereafter. 4th. Several conferences with Mr. Miles in relation to the proposed changes. The relative value of arc lighting as against incandescent lighting, depends entirely upon the distribution of the lights. Arc lights give most satisfactory results, if they can be placed near enough together so that the illumination is continuous; otherwise very dark areas occur between the lights, which are A second test was later made by placing lights on one side exceptionally objectionable to those using the highways. of the street, through the centre of the town. This, however, It must be kept in mind that the primary object of the did not give the equivalent light of the present arc system, and lights is for the proper illumination of the roads and the side- lights on both sides of the street will probably be resorted to, walks, and if this is successfully done the end sought is accom- although great concentration of light here is unnecessary, due plished. to the illumination given by the stores. Our town, except in few places, does not lend itself to an arc light system, if expense is considered, and it can be shown At present we have 39 arcs at .00 g .00 that the most economical and at the same time satisfactory z37 inc. ati6.00 3,792.00 method is to adopt incandescent lights. Total, 6,7 r 7.00 The combined system, as at present used, gives a very If three inc. are substituted for each arc, this will give imperfect distribution and is uneconomical, arc lights being 117 inc. as equiv. for the arcs. placed where two, or at most, three incandescent lights would 237 inc. as at present. cover the area in a much better manner. It seems to be the concensus of opinion of those using Total, 354 lights. the highways, and of those who are expert in street lighting, that this form of illumination surpassed all others for towns con- Now the change as proposed will take, say 354 lights, stituted like Lexington. while with the same amount of money expended there will be In order to judge of the effect of the incandescent lights z 35 additional lights at our disposal for new locations within the only, eight lamp fixtures were placed on Massachusetts Avenue present limits, making a total of 389 incandescent lights. on alternate poles from Woburn Street to a point between Bloom- The rate per lamp will therefore be $17.27 for these 389 field Street and Percy Road, the are lamps being discontinued lamps for a period of five years only, the extra cost being due to during the test. The Committee then inspected this section, the changes necessary to be made. The rate for additional the line being equipped successively with 25 c. p. lamps ; 32 C. P. lamps remaining at p 6.oo as at present. lamps, and 40 c. p. lamps. The apparent difference in illumina- The Committee therefore recommend that this change be tion between the 40 c. p. and the 25 c. p.-was so slight that the made and a five year contract be entered into with the Electric Committee judged that the smaller power would be satisfactory. Light Company. The stretch of road thus lighted gave a very even distribu- It is further suggested that the payment be made at a tion and a clear, continuous light, eminently satisfactory for certain price per K. W. hour by meter, instead of a flat rate per pedestrians or vehicles. lamp as now, so that the town will pay only for the actual power used, and if outages occur, the registration of these lamps automatically stops. The proper rate can easily be arrived at, knowing the average number of hours per year the lamps have been run in the past, and the energy consumed by the lamps. To sum up: The first question was to see about securing a better distribution than at present. This we consider will be accom- plished by the plan outlined above. The second, as to securing a reduction in cost. Since the present prices for lights seem fair when compared to towns similarly situated, we can expect no reduction per lamp, but we shall receive an addition of 35 lights for future distribution, which is equivalent to a considerable saving. The Committee wishes to thank Mr. C. B. Davis for furnishing the necessary fixtures and lamps for the test made on Massachusetts Avenue, and Mr. Miles for erecting and operat- ing them, and also for his courtesy in furnishing all the necessary information bearing on the subject. THOMAS C. SIAS, Chairman, GEO. W. TAYLOR, FRANK D. PEIRCE, HENRY A. C. WOODWARD, HERBERT V. SMITH, NELSON W. JENNEY, CHARLES GARRISON, Secretary. REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON TO CONSIDER THE METHOD OF STREET LIGHTING. October, 1905. The Electric Light Committee was appointed to investi- gate the present lighting system of the town for two reasons: First, to see if a better distribution of lighting were possible, and secondly, to see if any change could be made to reduce the cost of lighting to the town. The Committee has taken the following steps in its investigation:- I rst. An evening trip to the Hancock Street district. ad. An auto trip from the Arlington line to Concord Hill, taking in the Mt. Vernon district on the way. i 3d. The inspection of the temporary lighting system mentioned hereafter. 4th. Several conferences with Mr. Miles in relation to the proposed changes. The relative value of arc lighting as against incandescent lighting, depends entirely upon the distribution of the lights. Arc lights give most satisfactory results, if they can be placed near enough together so that the illumination is continuous; otherwise very dark areas occur between the lights, which are A second test was later made by placing lights on one side exceptionally objectionable to those using the highways. of the street, through the centre of the town. This, however, It must be kept in mind that the primary object of the did not give the equivalent light of the present arc system, and lights is for the proper illumination of the roads and the side- lights on both sides of the street will probably be resorted to, walks, and if this is successfully done the end sought is accom- although great concentration of light here is unnecessary, due plished. to the illumination given by the stores. Our town, except in few places, does not lend itself to an arc light system, if expense is considered, and it can be shown At present we have 3 arcs at .00 s,9z5.00 that the most economical and at the same time satisfactory 237 inc. ati6.00 3,79a•oo method is to adopt incandescent lights. Total, 6,7 r 7.00 The combined system, as at present used, gives a very If three inc. are substituted for each arc, this will give imperfect distribution and is uneconomical, arc lights being 117 inc. as equiv. for the arcs. placed where two, or at most, three incandescent lights would 237 inc. as at present. cover the area in a much better manner. It seems to be the consensus of opinion of those using Total, 354 lights. the highways, and of those who are expert in street lighting, that this form of illumination surpassed all others for towns con- Now the change as proposed will take, say 354 lights, stituted like Lexington. while with the same amount of money expended there will be In order to judge of the effect of the incandescent lights 35 additional lights at our disposal for new locations within the only, eight lamp fixtures were placed on Massachusetts Avenue present limits, making a total of 389 incandescent lights. on alternate poles from Woburn Street to a point between Bloom- The rate per lamp will therefore be $17.27 for these 389 field Street and Percy Road, the arc lamps being discontinued lamps for a period of five years only, the extra cost being due to during the test. The Committee then inspected this section, the changes necessary to be made. The rate for additional the line being equipped successively with 25 c. p. lamps; 32 C. P. lamps remaining at p6.00 as at present. lamps, and 40 C. P. lamps. The apparent difference in illumina- The Committee therefore recommend that this change be tion between the 40 c. p. and the 25 c. p. was so slight that the made and a five year contract be entered into with the Electric Committee judged that the smaller power would be satisfactory. Light Company. The stretch of road thus lighted gave a very even distribu- It is further suggested that the payment be made at a tion and a clear, continuous light, eminently satisfactory for certain price per K. W. hour by meter, instead of a flat rate per pedestrians or vehicles. lamp as now, so that the town will pay only for the actual power used, and if outages occur, the registration of these lamps automatically stops. The proper rate can easily be arrived at, knowing the average number of hours per year the lamps have been run in the past, and the energy consumed by the lamps. To sum up: The first question was to see about securing a better distribution than at present. This we consider will be accom- plished by the plan outlined above. The second, as to securing a reduction in cost. Since the present prices for lights seem fair when compared to towns similarly situated, we can expect no reduction per lamp, but we shall receive an addition of 35 lights for future distribution, which is equivalent to a considerable saving. The Committee wishes to thank Mr. C. B. Davis for furnishing the necessary fixtures and lamps for the test made on Massachusetts Avenue, and Mr. Miles for erecting and operat- ing them, and also for his courtesy in furnishing all the necessary information bearing on the subject. THOMAS C. SIAS, Chairman, GEO. W. TAYLOR, FRANK D. PEIRCE, HENRY A. C. WOODWARD, HERBERT V. SMITH, NELSON W. JENNEY, CHARLES GARRISON, Secretary. REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON TO CONSIDER THE METHOD OF STREET LIGHTING. October, 1905. The Electric Light Committee was appointed to investi- gate the present lighting system of the town for two reasons: First, to see if a better distribution of lighting were possible, and secondgy, to see if any change could be made to reduce the cost of lighting to the town. The Committee has taken the following steps in its investigation:- ist. An evening trip to the Hancock Street district. ad. An auto trip from the Arlington line to Concord Hill, taking in the Mt. Vernon district on the way. 3d. The inspection of the temporary lighting system mentioned hereafter. 4th. Several conferences with Mr. Miles in relation to the proposed changes. The relative value of arc lighting as against incandescent lighting, depends entirely upon the distribution of the lights. Arc lights give most satisfactory results, if they can be placed near enough together so that the illumination is continuous; otherwise very dark areas occur between the lights, which are A second test was later made by placing lights on one side exceptionally objectionable to those using the highways. of the street, through the centre of the town. This, however, It must be kept in mind that the primary object of the did not give the equivalent light of the present arc system, and lights is for the proper illumination of the roads and the side- lights on both sides of the street will probably be resorted to, walks, and if this is successfully done the end sought is accom- although great concentration of light here is unnecessary, due plished. to the illumination given by the stores. Our town, except in few places, does not lend itself to an are light system, if expense is considered, and it can be shown At present we have 39 arcs at75.00z,9z5.00 that the most economical and at the same time satisfactory 237 inc. at p6.00 3,792.00 method is to adopt incandescent lights. Total, 6,7i7.00 The combined system, as at present used, gives a very If three inc. are substituted for each arc, this will give imperfect distribution and is uneconomical, arc lights being placed where two, or at most, three incandescent lights would 117 inc. as equiv. for the arcs.z37 inc. as at present. cover the area in a much better manner. It seems to be the concensus of opinion of those using Total, 354 lights. the highways, and of those who are expert in street lighting, that this form of illumination surpassed all others for towns con- Now the change as proposed will take, say 354 lights, stituted like Lexington. while with the same amount of money expended there will be In order to judge of the effect of the incandescent lights 35 additional lights at our disposal for new locations within the only, eight lamp fixtures were placed on Massachusetts Avenue present limits, making a total of 389 incandescent lights. on alternate poles from Woburn Street to a point between Bloom- The rate per lamp will therefore be $17.27 for these 389 field Street and Percy Road, the arc lamps being discontinued lamps for a period of five years only, the extra cost being due to during the test. The Committee then inspected this section, the changes necessary to be made. The rate for additional the line being equipped successively with 25 c. p. lamps ; 32 C. P. lamps remaining at $16.00 as at present. lamps, and 40 C. P. lamps. The apparent difference in illumina- The Committee therefore recommend that this change be tion between the 40 c. p. and the 25 c. p. was so slight that the made and a five year contract be entered into with the Electric Committee judged that the smaller power would be satisfactory. Light Company. The stretch of road thus lighted gave a very even distribu- It is further suggested that the payment be made at a tion and a clear, continuous light, eminently satisfactory for certain price per K. W. hour by meter, instead of a flat rate per pedestrians or vehicles. lamp as now, so that the town will pay only for the actual power used, and if outages occur, the registration of these lamps automatically stops. The proper rate can easily be arrived at, knowing the average number of hours per year the lamps have been run in the past, and the energy consumed by the lamps. To sum up : The first question was to see about securing a better distribution than at present. This we consider will be accom- plished by the plan outlined above. The second, as to securing a reduction in cost. Since the present prices for lights seem fair when compared to towns similarly situated, we can expect no reduction per lamp, but we shall receive an addition of 35 lights for future distribution, which is equivalent to a considerable saving. The Committee wishes to thank Mr. C. B. Davis for furnishing the necessary fixtures and lamps for the test made on Massachusetts Avenue, and Mr. Miles for erecting and operat- ing them, and also for his courtesy in furnishing all the necessary information bearing on the subject. THOMAS C. SIAS, Chairman, GEO. W. TAYLOR, FRANK D. PEIRCE, HENRY A. C. WOODWARD, HERBERT V. SMITH, NELSON W. JENNEY, CHARLES GARRISON, Secretary.