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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2796 Report of the Committee Appointed by the Town of Lexington to Consider the Method of Street Lighting, October, 1905Method of Street Lighting - Report of Committee Oct. 1905. Vol. 12 pg. 513 200 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: -- 1st. An evening trip to the Hancock Street district. 2d. 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 relaton 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 exceptionally objectionable to those using the highways. It must be kept in mind that the primary object of the lights is for the proper illumination of the roads and the side- walks, and if this is successfully done the end sought is accom- plished. Our town, except in few places, does not lend itself to an arc light system, if expense is considered, and it can be shown that the most economical and at the same time satisfactory method is to adopt incandescent lights. The combined system, as at present used, gives a very imperfect distribution and is uneconomical, arc lights being placed where two, or at most, three incandescent lights would cover the area in a much better manner. It seems to be the concensus of opinion of those using the highways, and of those who are expert in street lighting, that this form of illuminaton surpassed all others for towns con- stituted like Lexington. In order to judge of the effect of the incandescent lights only, eight lamp fixtures were placed on Massachusetts Avenue on alternate poles from Woburn Street to a point between Bloom- field Street and Percy Road, the arc lamps being discontinued during the test. The Committee then inspected this section, the line being equipped successively with 25 c.p. lamps; 32 c.p. lamps, and 40 c.p. lamps. The apparent difference in illumina- tion between the 40 c.p. and the 25 c.p. was so slight that the Committee judged that the smaller power would be satisfactory. The stretch of road thus lighted gave a very even distribu- tion and a clear, continuous light, eminently satisfactory for pedestrians or vehicles. ------------------------------------- A second test was later made by placing lights on one side of the street, thorugh the centre of town. This, however, did not give the equivalent light of the present arc system, and lights on both sides of the street will probably be resorted to, although great concentration of light here is unnecessary, due to the illumnation given by the stores. At present we have 39 arcs at $75.00 $2,925.00 237 inc. at $16.00 3,792.00 Total, $6,717.00 If three inc. are substituted for each arc, this will give 117 inc. as equiv. for the arcs. 237 inc. as at present. ------------- Total, 354 lights. Now the change as proposed will take, say 354 lights, while with the same amount of money expended there will be 35 additional lights at our disposal for new locations within the present limits, making a total of 389 incandescent lights. The rate per lamp will therefore be $17.27 for these 389 lamps for a period of five years only, the extra cost being due to the changes necessary to be made. The rate for additional lamps remaining at $16.00 as at present. The Committee therefore recommend that this change be made and a five year contract be entered into with the Electric Light Company. It is further suggested that the payment be made at a certain price per K.W. hour by meter, instead of a flat rate per lamp as now, so that the town will pay only for the actual power 200 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 have 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. [duplicate page] [duplicate page] [duplicate page] [duplicate page] [duplicate page] [duplicate page]