Alexandria gazette. [volume], June 29, 1910, Image 6

About Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974

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Question: How soon after your
letter did they make these changes?
Answer: The changes ln the top
carbon holders were made about two
montha later, and the changes In the
dash potB were also completed about
that time.
Question: The changes in the
daah pots and carbon holders were
made in two months.
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: I did not understand
you to have Baid anything before
about any top carbon holders.
Answer: Tbat's the top carbon
holder. Thats thia coiled pig tail
holder. __
Question: Why did you write
two other Ietters to the company
recommending the the same changes
Answer: In order to get it done.
Question: It took two months to
get It done?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Did you write the other
two Ietters within the two months?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: When did you sever
your connections aa engineer with
the Alexandria Electric Company?
Answer: In the month of June,
1909. ? .
Question: As late as April and
again in May you wrote to them
about tbis?
Answer: Yes. sir.
Question: If you wrote in Janu
ary and the changes were made in
two months what was the object of
your writing again in April and May
when the changes had been made.
Answer: On the 23rd of Febru
ary I wrote to Mr. liclver, and re?
commended tb.se changes again. If
vou will remember my testimony 1
said it took all of two months to
Let them. On March 24th 1 wrote
him again '>"' work of overbauling
the aie lamps bad not heen com
Dleted and called his attention again
Jo the carbon holders. That was
the report at the . i.d of March. Here
ls a letter dated the ?tt of April. a
which I told him that Mr. 1 bler said
the servlce was improving and I did
nol call bis attention again to the
way in wbich the lamp should be
trimnied because I did not want to
keen on repeeting the same thing.
. itloo: At the time tbe changes
in the lampa ware made from *? \n
7.5 amperes waa anything chang edtn
th.. lamps but the sertes coils, il UM]
changed? .
Vnawer: i ballave not, axcepl
that a number of new lamps wen
purchased I dont know how many.
Question: 1 n.ean in the lamps
that wete recoiledT
Answer: Nothing but tbe one coil
was changed to my knowledge.
Question: If ln tbe evening when
the current is on the light what I*
the trouble? What is that due o?
Miswer: To ihe fact that if the
current is at once brought up to the
full value of 7%, as the coils and
the regulators warm up In the cir
cuits- the current OUghl not to be
started at the full value at once,
they oughi ui start at seven aud two
or three-tentba aml gradually bring
it up Thej they would not run that
risk. That is io save Ihe gas caps.
nol to aavo ihe current.
Question: Should that apply to all
the lamps in the circuit?
Answer: Yes. sir.
Question: Assuming that the
lamp on Ihe corner of King and Fair?
fax street* when it is Rrsl llghted
begins to fliCker and Mckers on that
way for two or three houis, while
other lamps on King street. say the
lamp at tbe corner of King and
i stieeis is burning brlghtly,
|. ,1,,. canea "t-1"'!"- " H
the individual lamp.
Question: Vou have 'old us the
candle power of a gas tlame, of a
place of hot Steel, and of the sun,
wiiai is the candle power of these
are lamps on ihe Btreet* in ihe city
of Alexandria?
Answer: .':?;" or $80, possibly 400
candle power.
Qu< stlon: ln answer to a question
aaked by Mr. Harlow you said that
if the ttimmlng of the lamp were
changed as you had recommended
that lha. WOUld put the company in
a poaition io fulhil Ihe terms of the
eoniract with the city. Do you mean
to tell us thal thi* unsatisfactory
condition of ihe light* aboul whlchr
you have previously testifled i
be entlrely remedied by that?
Answer: Granting tin* .!; i tur
rent is ihe correci amount, tbe OPly
trouble 1 could see was in Ihe lamps
am! in ihe behavior of the regula
Btlon: That la bi.I on tne
aaaamptlon that the proper current
Intalned and Ihe lamps are prop
erly tiimnied and that ihe action of
the regulators are proper. Can you
whether the pr< per current is
going through the lampa?
Aaawer: Dp to fourteen months
ago when I vlaited the plant frequent
lv it waa.
Question: How often did you vlsit
the plant?
knswer: Twlce a month and aome
three or four times up to May.
? lon \ tbe Hme you left the
company bad the regulators been
changed? Had they been adjusted?
?wer: How do you mean adjust?
ed?
I understand you
you had a man here fronn Fort Wayne
to adjest the regulatora?
wer: He found no trouble with
them, he aaid. la other words
waa nothing be could do.
Queatlon: Waa 'be defectlve condl
tioin of the regulatora ever changed
wbile you weiv in the MrVaCC of the
company?
Answer: No. sir.
Question: Has il been done up to
Ihis time?
Aaawer: 1 know nothing about
alnCC tbat time.
Questlon Do you think you can
take a 8.6 ampere lamp aml simply
change ihe aeriea coil anal that lamp
will then perforni sat isfacto)\
.* Il ta 7.6 coils in it?
Aaawer: Yes. sir; you change the
part which us.-s tbe current.
Question: Nothing needs to be ad
Aaawer: i am not sumclently fa
miliar with the differeiit types of
lamp to say tbat. Hut the method
WOUld be to take down tlie lamp aud
bring il in and take out tbe old coils
and put in new coils and test it on
the actual working circuit. which was
Blwaya done here. then tbe lamp was
adjusted to run on tbe regular cir?
cuit, wbich ran into the room behind
the erhce. There are different types
of lamp, evea the same type of lamp
anaaufactured in different > ean are
eometimea different; you might have
to chang. one and not the other, and
then you test the coils and make such
changes in the lamp as ar.
if they are BBlUBBaiJ.
Question: WeTB these lamps tesied
to your knowledge?
Answer: Those tbal were r.paired
sir.
Question. How many were repair
ed?
Answer: All of them had the dash
aad the carbon holders changed.
Question: Then all were tested?
Answer: Yes. sir.
Question: Was that after the
change was made?
Answer: Yes, sir; a year after the
change ln the system was made that
change was supposed to have been
made.
Question: Why do you say that?
Answer: I have taken it for grant
ed that the change was made and so
stated to the committee.
Question: You say they were test
ed?
Answer: Yes, *ir; they used 7 V4
ampere*.
Question: You stated that the un
satisfactory condition and the behav
ior of the lamps is due. I mean this
service that is rendered to the city, is
due to the behavior of the employees?
Answer: Not to the employees of
the company, but to the behavior of
the individual lamps.
Mr. Harlow: He did not say any
thing about the behavior of the em?
ployees.
Mr. Betts: No, sir; I did not. I
said the behavior of the lamps.
Mr. Fisher: I thought you said the
employees; if you said the lamps, that
is all right. Have you had any ex
perience in electric plants?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Do you think it proper
management of an electric light com?
pany that has eighty-six are lights ln
service not to have a single reserve
inner globe or outer globe?
Answer: I consider that very poor.
Question: Do you consider that
proper management or a proper at
tempt to live up to its contraet?
Answer: No.
Questions by Mr. Harlow:
Queetlon: Is there any provislon
that you know of in this contraet as
to the amount of stock that is to be
kept on hand?
Mr. Betts: It says that the service
is to be maintained throughout the
entire time of the contraet, and that
implies of eourae that the company
must do everythlng in its power to
keep them going. Of course the
company is not obliged to keep any
certain amount of stock on hand, but
if ihey have not the stock to keep
up the light all the time they don't
Uve up to the contraet.
Mr. Spinks: Here's a question that
was aaked you the other night: Do
you consider tlie lamp they have a
proper lamp? Your answer was, No,
sir. Mr. Hill asked you, Do you
think tbe Alexandria Electric Com?
pany is furnlshlag the city proper
llghl according to the contraet made
with ihe city? Vou answered, i do
noi. Mr. Harlow asked you if this
company is furniahlng this city prop?
er light according lo the ecntract
wilh the city. Here in this
other report Mr. Hill asked you, Can
the Alexandria Electric Company
have a lamp made that will carry out
ibe terms of the contract made with
the city', and you answered, Yes. sir.
How do you explain all that?
Mr. Betta: My laterpretatlon of
the contract is that it was the inton
tion to furnish this city a street light
ing servlce equivalent to the old
street light ing service, hut I don't
think they can be required to furnish
that actual candle power under that,
beeauae thay could not do it. The
city of Newark, New Jersey. has a
contract to use a flaming are light
and they pay $280 per month for
eacb lamp. Of couree that has a
greater candle power than any other
lamp, but it is used there for adver
tlalng purpoaea; the city is nt pay ing
that. The city couldn't pay that.
Question: By pay ing more for the
lights they could get that?
Answer: Yes. but in this city I
speak of the city pays $70 and the
men hants nav tho wn'trrrr as"Kod you
tlie 01 her night la it posible for you to
go out tonight or in the morning and
take down certain designated lamps
and tell whether the coil in it w.is a
6.6 ampere coil or not? You ans?
wered, I don't think so. There may
be some marh on there that the fac?
tory people could distinguish. Mr.
Spinks: Do you consider the Fort
Wayne lamp a standard lamp? You
answered, I do not. Mr. Spinks:
That question was aaked Mr. Kirby
and he stated he did not consider that
lamp the highest type lamp. Do you
state ihe same thing? Y'ou answered
ir. Mr. Spinks: That is the
lamp tbal wai put ln? Your answer
was, Yes. sir. That is the proper
questlons and your replies, is it?
Anawer: 1 believe so.
Mr. Harlow: Mr. Betta, when you
w.re aaked whether lhat is a stand?
ard lamp. will you aay tliat was a
standard lamp when the contract was
entered Into, was it ?
No answer.
Mr. Spinks: Will you stale whether
or not the lamp that was Installed
wai tbe highest type of Fort
Wayne lamp that was on the market?
Mr. Betta: I think not it was a
6.6 ampere lamp
Mr. Bplnks: Do you think it was
ihe original inteniion of this com
panj noi to give us the light we were
paying for?
Mr. Betta: i hardly think that.
Mr. Spinks: Vou say the lamps
were l.fl ampere lamps and that they
should have had T.."i ampere lamps''
On the sireets tonight they ,"re burn
mg those aame old lamps except thal
new coila have been put in there.
Here is the question, if you had the
purchasing of these lamps, would you
have purchased some other than the
Fort Wayne lamp, and you answi r ?.!.
Yes, sir. Bnt they did nol waal to
buy these carbon holders at $11. lt
took them more than two months lo
do that, ami when it eomes to spoud
Ing more than nine hundred
Then 1 asked you, You don'l kaow
that the present company has done
anythlng to better the conditions i;.
the lasi year? Your answer, No, sir.
All your knowledge Is about what
happened before these people came In.
Yes, sir. Your ronnections with this
company were levered over ? year
ago. You dup't know anything about
the conditions exiatlng today?
Mr. Betta: ln what respeet?
Mr. Spinks: Here is your answer to
the question: You don't know that
the present company has done any?
thing io better ihe conditions in the
lasi year? No, sir. You don't know
anythlng about what has transpired
sime you left the company?
Answer: About what has trans?
pired?
Mr. Spinks: You don't know what
the company has done since a year
ago?
Answer: No. sir.
Mr. Fisher: 1 asked you about the
change* in the ampere coils in ihe
if it did not require chauges in
th. other parts of the lamps, and you
answered that would depend on the
type of the lamp: it would not depend
on lhat as to lamps manufactured by
the same company in different years?
Mr. Reits: Yes. sir.
Mr. Fisher: How often does the
Fort Wayne Company get out new
lamps?
Mr. Hetts: I don't know that.
The] get out bulletins about once a
year each of them may or may not
Show little changes that are made in
ihe lamp.
Mr. Fisher: Have you examined
.mps here?
Mr. Hetts: Yes. sir.
Mr. Fisher: Can you tell this com?
mittee from your examination what
year they were manufactured, wheth?
er in 1903. or 1902, or ln 1906, or in
190S?
Mr. Betts: No, I can't say. Of
course they were manufactured be?
fore they were sent here. That was
in 1906 or 1907.
Mr. Fiaher: At the time you made
this report that the change had been
made from 6.6 to 7.5 you did not
know whether any other change in
the lamp was necessary or not?
Answer: No, sir; that report re?
ferred to changes in the system only.
Question: What do you mean by
that?
Answer: The amount of current
used in the lamps. Prevlously the
current had been 6.6 amperes. That
amount did not appear to give suf
ficient light, and it was necessary for
them to change the coils to 7.5 so as
to get a greater amount of current.
Question: You did not know
whether other changes in the lamp
were necessary?
Answer: No, sir. That would not
be any recommendation as to the sys?
tem; that had to do with the lamps
themselves. If they had a thousand
coils to take out or lamps to change
this report had nothing to do with
that.
Question: Will you refer to your
letter of January 30th again. You
state in here that one lamp in par
ticular which has been reported as
being out every night is all right
now?
Answer: That was what Mr. Uhler
said.
Question: Tell this committee
what lamp that was.
Answer: I don't know. He said
he saw lt every morning, I think
from his house. I had borrowed some
half dozen of these coiled pig tail
holders and that lamp was reported
as being out every night, and one
of them was put in this. they made
that change and then the light got
better right away.
Question: As a matter of fact, was
that lamp on the corner of Washing?
ton and Duke Streets?
Answer: I don't know.
Question: Did the Alexandria
Electric Company buy a Westing
houae lamp and put in on that cor?
ner?
Answer: There was a Westing
house lamp sent here. but I don't
know where it was put up.
Questions by Mr. Harlow:
Mr. Harlow: When was the Col
orado Springs decision rendered?
Mr. Betta: In Itol
Question: This contract was <ii
tered into on the 9th day of Augusi.
1&06. Is it not a fact that at that
time there were a great many cities
that had 1.1 ampere lamps. and tnat
those lamps were regarded as being
a nominal 2,000 candle power lamp?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: At the time of this con?
traet it had not been determined even
by ihe electric associaiion thal the
6.6 ampere lamp did not tlll these re
quirements?
Answer: No. sir.
Question: In many places the 6.6
ampere lamp was regarded as being
a nominal 2,000 candle power lamp
at lhat time, was it not?
Answer: If it was ever discussed
it was taken for what it was.
Question: Do you consider that
ihe city of Alexandria has a sufficient
number of lamps to light it?
Answer: I would put in about
four times as many candle power
Tungsten lamps on the back streets.
i think they bave enongb are lights,
nr,.i...li,-. ^^ }yjyx ,UI11K ,?c. c:ty is
Bufflclently ligbtedl
Answer: I don't know that the
City onght to spend any more money
for light ing, but as to better lighting,
four times as many lights could be
put in.
Question: The trees Interfere with
the lighting, don't they?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Questions hy Mr. Fisher:
Mr. Fisher: Mr. Harlow has asked
abOUl Uie time in August, 1906, if
the 6.6 ampere lights were not gen?
erally consldered to be a 2,000 candle
power lamp: assuming tbal this was
BO, aml lhat among flV* hidders for
this franchlae was one bidder that
hid Bpeclncally for tlie 6.6 ampere
lamp at the rate of $60 per year, do
you ihink the hidders for this con?
traet had in mind furnishing 6.6 am?
pere lamp* ai ihe rale of $7.V
Answer: I don'l llke lo pass my
opinion on whai Mandeville thought.
There aeema to be a great differeace
in the oplnlona of whal he did think.
I don't know what he thouxht.
Question: Assuiniiig that all the
blddera met with Ibe committee, ud
talked over tbe queatlon all tbe bida
were in, ihe bids for the 6.6, ampere
lamp at $60, and the successful bid
dera who bid for 2,000 candle pow?
er lamps at the rate of $7.".. would
you think that the successful bidder
had in mind furnishing 6.6 ampere
lamps?
Mr. Betts: I would like perniission
to read an ediiorial coininent on the
deciaioa in the Colorado Springs case
in which it is stated what a 6.6'ani
pen lamp is.
The Chairman: We have lhat in
your report, I think.
Mr. Petts: No; this is an editorial
comment on the i
The Chairman: We can get that if
we want it. I don't see any reason
for reading it now.
Mr. Harlow: I ha\e several Ietters
here that I would like to introduce
from various electric i onipai.ies, and
then we will close our side by ealling
Mr. Weller to tbe stand.
Mr. R. C. Faught being hen
called, was aaked b.v Mr. Harlow:
Mr. Harlow: Sinee you have com
pleted your testimony, bave you ob
aerved the behavior of the lamps you
could see on King Street and Royal
Mr. Paught: Yes. sir; B0 far as I
can see they are giving full candle
power and are operating satisfactor
ily.
Mr. Spinks: I wanf to state tbat
tliat lamp you have been looking at
to my knowledge was taken down last
night and a new lamp was installed
in its place. 1 suppose that new lamp
is the one tbat is there now. ls that
so, Mr. Hill?
Mr. Hill: Yes. sir.
Mr. Spinks: Your superintendent
re, I will ask Mr. Howaell if that
is true?
Mr. Howaell: Yes. sir.
Mr. Spinks: You can take down a
lamp and put a new one up can't you?
Mr. Faught: O, yes, sir; you can
do that.
The Ietters above referred to by
Mr. Harlow and introduced by him
are as follows:
Richmond. Virginia. May 27, 1*07,
Mr. F. U. Weller, C. II., Alexand?
ria Electric Company. Hibbs Build?
ing. Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:?In reply to your favor
of the 26th instant in regard to the
rating in candle power of enclosed
are lamps please be advised that the
commonly accepted candle power rat?
ing of the 7 Vi series enclosed are
lamp is 2.000.
We attache hereto special publlca
tion concerning the points for consid
eratlon when purchasing series A. C.
are lamps, and upon referring to
pages 5 and 20 you will flnd where
such ratings are referred to as above
stated.
If we can be of any further service
we will ve very glad for you to call
on us.
Very truly your*.
Westinghouse Elec. A M'f'g Co.
per, J. C. Warren, Jr.
Baltimore. May 27. 1910.
Mr. F. R. Weller. Gen. Mgr. Alexan?
dria Electric Company, Hlbbs
Building, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:?I have your letter of
the 26th inst. in regard to the street
lighting at Alexandria, and the can?
dle power of the 7.5 ampere A. C.
lamps. I, of course, do not know the
details of your contraet, but would
say that the 7.5 ampere amply fulfills
the requirements of the so-called
2,000 candle power lamp, which Is,
you probably know, a nominal rating
for street are lamps which was
adopted at the very beginning of the
are lighting buslness. In later years
the 2.000 candle power has come to
be known by mutual consent of the
lighting companies and city author
ities through the country as a lamp
taking 450 watts. The 7.5 ampere
A. C. lamp. when adjusted for 70 to
75 volts at the are will consume from
515 to 530 watt* so that you will see
that your lamps must then fulflll the
requirements of the 2,000 nominal
candle power.
Trusting the above gives you the
information desired. and assuring you
I will be glad to give any further as
slstance possible in this matter, I am,
Yours very truly.
General Electric Company,
Per R. C. Faught.
Sales Agent.
Philadelphia, Pa.. May 27, 1910, Mr.
F. R. Weller, G. If., Hlbbs Bldg..
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:?In response to your in
Quiry of the 26th inst. with referenee
to the candle power rating of 7.5
ampere series enclosed type are
lamps, beg to advise that the question
of candle power on are lamps of var
ious wattage consumption has always
been ? much dlscussed point amongst
llluminating and central station engi
neers, Inasmoch as diffuslon and the
angle of distribution have necesssrily
to be taken Into consideratlon as
well as the color of the light. How
ever, at recent confejences of the
American Institute of American Elec
trical Engineers and the Naiional
Electric Light Associaiion. it has been
decided and therefore eatabiiahad
for some years past that 7.6 ampere
series A. (' are sysiem shall be rated
SJ a nominal 8,000 candle power.
This is consldered to hold for any
and ;ill standard makes of are lamps,
Inaamuch as the atreaa of competi
iion reqairea aay aad all to be of
nearly equal efflcleacy.
Tbe standard taken for the candle
power rating haa heen 6.6 am;?? re
open are, which ever since its incep
tion has been recognized ;ts the 2,'itm
candle power aad <as the energy con
aumption of the 7..r) ampere wood
system is Ideatkal, if not slightly
greater, than that of the 9.6 ampere
open are; you are therefore furnish
ing the same candle power at a dif?
ferent angle of distribution from the
are, but with a better distribution
and general diffusion, i. e., less shad
ows.
In the event of my not having cov
ered any polnt which you would care
tO ha\e llie explain. I would bo plaan
*a .- > ? ."lt this tO
me,
Yours very iruly,
The Adams-Magnu.ll EJlec. Co.
R. c. Campbell, Dist. Mgr
Thereupon F. R. Weller, in answer
to interrogatories propounded to him
answered as foliows:
Quesiions by Mr. Harlow :
Mr. Harlow: You are the general
manager of the Alexandria Electric
Company?
Mr. Weller: Yes, sir.
Question: How long have you been
connected witb this company?
Answer: About fl year.
Question: llow long have you
been conected with it in the capacity
of gaaeral manager?
Anawer: Foi Ihe same period of
I illle.
-iion: Did you ever take up
With Mr. Kirby wbile he v.as witb th*i
company the question of are lamp-?
Answer: Thal was the firsi quea?
tlon we took np. In fact wa took
up that question before we bought
the plant.
Queatlon: Did you Bnd out about
it from him?
Answer: Mr. Kirby on a number
of occasions assured me that the
lamps were all right, and were '< '_?
ampere lamps. I have made ? num
bei oi inspeetion trips around the
city myaelf and I found them
factory. Mr. Kirby told me that all
the lamps had 7 ^ ampere ootl* ll
them. I might state here that I know
about ihis question of candle power
lamps, and for that. reason we took
parlicular care tO BM lhat the lamps
had been changed io 7% ampere
lamps. We were satisfled of that
when we hoiight Ihe plant.
Queatioa: whai system did you in
stall for the purchase of supplies?
Answer: I have found that in
every plant that I had anythlng to do
witb tbe greateal loss was in the
purchasing depart nient. All the sup?
plies are now bought on requisition
from the Stiperintenrlerit here in Al?
exandria.
Question: When you bought the
plant were you asured by Mr. Kirby
and by your own investigatlon that
there were 7 i? ampere colls in all
the lamps''
Answr: Ye- sir.
Question: Has Mr. Kirby ever
drawn any reqataition on you for
7 Vi ampere coila?
Answer: N'o sir, not to my knowl?
edge: I kaew there were some 7 V*
ampere coils on hand: I didn't reeall
his ever drawing on me for any ad
ditional coils.
Question: Did you ask Mr. Kirby
with regard to the question of coils
only when you first came here?
Answer: I have asked him re
peatedly, and he always assured me
that the lamps were all right, and
he said that the dissatlsfaction did
not amount to anytning. As long
M he was in our employ he did not
intimate that the lamps were not up
to the standard.
Question: Has the company ever
been notified thal ihe lamps were not
up to the standard?
Answer: Absolutely not; we have
never been notified that the service
was not satisfactory; the only W
we had was the notice we saw in the
that Councilman Spinks had
introduced a resolution to that effect
into the city council. I took up the
question with Mr. I'hler on several
occasions, and he always assured me
that the lanip> were satisfactory: I
have here a letter to him whieh I
would like to insert.
November 12th, 1909.
L. E. I'hler.
Chai-man Committee on Lights,
City Council. Alexandria, Va.
Dear Sir: I have seen in tbe
newspaper that councilman Spinks
has Introduted a resolutlon in the
council inquiring into the question
of street llghting for the city; also
inquiring as to the capacity of the
Alexandria Electric Company's Plant
for the demand of servlce in Alexan?
dria and suburbs.
Feellng that your committee would
deaire Information on this subject, I
take the liberty of writing for the
purpose of submltting the facts ln
the case.
As to street are lamps the contract
between the city and the Plant calls
for street are lamps of 2,000 c. p.
capacity. The lamps installed are
known as 7.5 ampere series atreet
lamps. These lamps are rated at
2,000 c. p. and said rating is accept
ed by engineers central stations and
municipalities. There has been a
number of legal decisions which
have arisen over the definition of the
term candle power. The Colorado
Springs case is probably the most
noted and most widely quoted. Here
it was decided that 7.5 ampere series
are lamps were equivalent to *>000
candle power. To my personal know?
ledge. I can staie that since July lat
the are larnps have been on an aver
age of 7.5 ampere, which ls shown on
the daily log kept at the plant. As
to what was done previous to that
time, I have only the statement of
Mr. Betts, electrlcal engineer, and
Mr. Kirby, the superlntendent. Mr.
Betts Informed me that prior to our
purchase of the plant, the lamps com
plied with the requirements of the
contract.
I might further state we have three
regulators, and these three regulators
have 1(6 are lamps, where as there
are only 87 now Installed, so we have
atnple capacity for the increased
Of the city.
The company employs one man,
whose duty it is to trim the lamps
and make hourly rounds of the city
at night to see that all lamps are
burning. During the last six months
there has been no deductions by the
town for outages, which, I think,
shoWfl that the servlce is satisfactory.
As to the capacity of the plant
when we took the management of the
plant on July 1st, I found the max
Imum peak almost ecjual to the total
capacity installed, which was 340
kilo-watte. We desired to enlarg*
the plant, believlng there would be a
conalderable Increaee in the use of
electrtcity for llghting power, and al
? ling that with the large surplus
of power nianufacturers could be in
duced to come to Alexandria and also
witb the idea of giving service to the
suburbs. We decided to put in a
steam turblne wbich rates 625 kilo
watta, but has a capacity of 650; in
other worda we have more than trip
red the capacity of the plant, which
has invojved an investment of nearly
j;',0.ooo.00.
Our present capacity of plant is
considerably above the average for a
City with the population of Alexan?
dria.
We estimate with the addlHon of
Fort Washington, Del Ray and other
suburban load, our total peak will not
exeeed 606 kilo-watts for lighting.
Our day load peak or motor load
at the present time is about 300 kilo
watts, so we will have a surplus of
power at night suflicient to operate
10,000 more incandescent lamps. and
many more factories in the day time.
We shall be glad to have your com?
mittee and also the members of the
City Council make inspection of our
plant, and feel sure they will be con
rinced that it is the company's de
sire to give satisfactory service and
io he ready to meet every demand
for^ ||gh| and power. I might say
tlnet circuifs will be run from the
power house to supply ihe suburbs,
and this will not interfere with the
town service. Any break down in the
suburban line will not effect the city
line. M is necessary, of course, tO
ly Increaae our present busineas
in order to pay return on the large
additional investment.
I shall he pleaaed to appear before
your committee and furnish any fur?
ther information you might require.
Kesner-t fully suhmll ted,
Alexandria Kleetric Co..
By F. I(. Weller,
General Manager.
Mr. Spinks: Did you get a reply
t<; lhat letter?
Answer: .Mr. Chl'-r acknowledged
that to me and he said that I need
noi hot her abOUl ii.
tlon: Hid you buy any gas
caps for Ihe are h mps?
Answer: Yes. on several occas?
ions.
Question: You have heard the rec?
ommendations which Mr. Hetts read
regarding tbe Improvementa he rec
onimended and which he said ought
to be made; do you know to your
peraonal knowledge thal those im
prbvementa had been made?
Aaawer: Bxcept tha trimmtag of
tbe are lamps. 1 could not get Mr.
Kirby to trini the lamps in BCCord
ance with those directions. He said
that Mr. Betts was a th.oreiical man
and that he knew better. Hut when
we got our new anperintendent i gave
him Inatrnctlona to trini the lamps In
accordance witb Mr. Betta' report.
Question: Have you had an
perience in eleetrical matters in cltlea
Other than Alexandria?
Answer: Yes, sir. I have been
consulting engineer for a number o*"
cltlea. I am at the present time
building a plant. where I am consult?
ing engineer, at Bedford City. I
have been consulting erurineer for
tbe city of RJcbmoad, Virginia, and
for four or five tOWBB in North Caro
lina, and I have had various experi
ence in power plants and eleetrical
work.
Question: In the eleetrical world
what is the generally accepted 2,000
candle power lamp?
Answer: A 7'- ampere lamp is
generally accepted aa such.
Question: Was it at the time we
entered into this contract ??
Answer: I assume so. I bad noth?
ing to do with the making ofThe con?
tract.
Question: In all that work that
you have had with different citles,
and for different cities, if you agreed
at this time to furnish such a lamp,
would you furnish a 7% ampere
lamp?
Answer: In the city of Oxford,
North Carolina, we have the
contract as you have here, and we
put in 7 l/i ampere lamps, and it is
atated in the contract just as lt is ln
thia, that the lamp is to be a 2,000
candle power lamp.
Mr. Spinks: Where did you say
this was?
Answer: Oxford, North Carolina.
Question: Prior to the Colorado
Springs decision in 1907, were there
many citles that were using 6.6 am?
pere lamps, that were considered as
a nominal 2,000 candle power lamp?
Answer-: lt was not decided def
inately until the case you mention.
That always a question about which
there was considerable discussion.
Mr. Spinks: That contract be?
tween Colorado Springs and the Hu
dro Company was entered into in
1898, eight years previous to the
time we entered into the contract
with this company?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Even then they consid
ered it as meaning a 2,000 candle
power lamp?
Nor answer.
Mr. Spinks: That case was nothing
like this. That case was settled by
two prlvate partle*.
Answer: It was settled by arbl
trator*. of course, but the light wa*
what was known commercially as
2,000 candle power.
Mr. Spinks: The Colorado Springs
people had to accept their light. We
have never accepted this as being
right.
Question: What should be the
proper voltage of a serie* enclosed
are lamp of 2,000 candle power?
Answer: Across the termlnals it
should be about 77.
Question: How are these currents
regulated?
Answer: By a constant current
regulator at the power house..
Question: AU the lamps on the
same circult have the same current,
do they?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: And the same illumi
nating power?
Answer: Some lamp might act
badly, of course, owlng to individual
defects. but the system as a whole Is
the same.
Question: What would be the ef?
fect of a it.6 ampere and 7.5 ampere
lamp on the same circult?
Answer: Why, you would be feed
ing more energy into the coil of the
6.6 lamp than it ls deslgned for, and
lt would burn up.
Question: Would a 6.6 ampere
lamp on a 7.5 ampere cireuit be bene
flcial or detrimental to the company?
Answer: Absolutely no beneflt. It
would give more trouble than lf they
were all of the same kind. of course,
that is plain, I think. The smaller
lamps would burn up all the time.
Mr. Spinks: Three burned out last
night, did they not?
Answer: Not to my knowledge.
Mr. Harlow: My question was,
woold it be any advantage to the
company?
Mr. Spinks: That's our contention
all the time.
Question: What is the difference
briefly stated between an old style
Schuyler open are lamp that used to
be used here and the lamp that is at
present in use?
Answer: The principal difference
is the method of the distribution of
the light. The object of putting in
the inner globe is to give greater dis?
tribution of light, and therefore much
more satisfactory illuminatlon. The
old lamp was more brilliant to look
at but it did not give the light.
Question: Do you think that for
a city of this size there are enough in
number of lamps here to properly
illuminate it?
Answer: I do not.
Question: L'pon what do you base
this opinion?
Answer: I consider that this tes?
timony here is given by me as a dis
Interested party, as an expert en
tlrely, and I don't want to be con
sidered as anything else, and I do
DOl hesitate to express my opinion,
which is hased on the records of
other cities, and citles ln this State,
and my own experience that the num?
ber of lights is not sufficient to prop
.?rlv light the city.
Question: Have you any statistics?
Answer: Yes, sir. I will submit
this: In Charlottesville, they have
a population of 6,406, and there are
102 are lamps, Alexandria with 15,
000, 14,(00, as is shown here, has
86 are lamps; af. Clifton Forge the
population is 5,300. they have 43;
Covlngton, Va., population 2,950;
.I,).,.,.,, .1..., >>. - >"e ?
lation of 22.850, and have 278 lights;
Newport News' population 28,749,
111 lamps; Norfolk 70,000, 600 are
lamps: Uadford, population 3,300, 32
are lampa; South Boston. 2,800, they
have 61 ; Suffolk, 2,83."), they have 26
lamp.-: U'incliester, population 6,161,
100 lampa; Annapolla 9.000, 47 are
lampa; Prederick, Maryland, 9,986
population, 120 are lamps; Hagers
town, Md.. 16,670, 160 lamps. I
merely mention that to show what I
niean. Tbeae Bgures are taken from
the offlcia] blue book.
Mr. Hill: Are these all run by pri
vate compaiiies?
Answer: No; llag.rsn.wn is a mu
nlcipal plant. i think Prederick is.
Mr. Fisher: 1*" they all use Fort
Wayne lamps? What is ihe name of
that book from which you read?
Answer: McCraw's Blue Mook.
Mr. Harlow: How could the light
ing i.e Improved?
Answer: I agrce with Mr. Betts
gronp lights together. as h"> suggesi
ed in the suburbs.
The Chalrman: ls a lamp on every
corner snmclenl'.'
Answer: I think it would be. but
it would be a little more expensive
than putting Incandescenl lamps.
Thal is tbe way ihey do in Washing?
ton, and you can go over there and
Jind thai the lights go out: all lamps
will go out, you know; you ean't stop
that. We don'l claim that these
lamps are perfect.
Mr. Spinks: You are here as an ex
pert, you say: now don't you think
there has been a large ground for
complaiat bv the people of Alexan?
dria?
Answer: No. sir: we have found
very llttle complainl outside of the
City Council. We have not been not?
ified that there was any complaint.
Mr. Spinks: Who do you suppose
the complaints would be made to by
these people if it were not to their
repTeseatatlves in Councilt
Answer: Your Chairman of the
light committee stated that he had
been aatiened.
Mr. Spinks: You have just read a
letter there to which you said you
never goi any replyf
Inswef: Yes, sir.
Mr. Harlow: Has this company
sinee yoor associates took charge
here done anythlng to improve the
service generally?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: What have you done?
Answer: My letter covers some of
it, but one of the most important
pieees of work as to improving the
system, we have replaced the cross
arms on these pules, whiyh has bet
rered the svstem. clearing the lines
of troubles. Last July the total loss
in the system was I think E I per cent
of the current generated. Last
month it was under twenty-one. That
I think shows what has been done in
the way of improvement.
Question: Approximately how
much money have you spent while
you have been here improving the
service?
Answer: With the extensions and
the improvements to the present ser?
vice between forty and forty-five
thousand dollars. Of course that in
cludes some expense in the country.
Mr. Spinks: All that money was
paat in improving the service in
Alexandria city?
Answer: I said ir was not. Some
of it was spent in the county.
Question: What have you got to
say with regard to the rate for light
and power in this city as compared
with other citie3?
Answer: It is Iower here than in
other cities. The rate is three cents
less than in Washington. They
ought to be higher than they are.
It is due to an error in the clerical
force of the company the rates charg?
ed now are lower than the rates
named in the Mandevllle prt^vosition.
It is due to a mistake by some one
when the first bllls were made out.
Question: In other words the Al?
exandria Electric Company ia charg
lng less than they are entitled to
charge under the contract?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Do you know any of
the experts in the Colorado Springs
case?
Answer: Yes, Mr. Marks. I had a
conversatlon with him within the last
two weeks
Mr. Fisher: That conversatlon Is
not proper.
Mr. Harlow: Mr. Fisher cannot
get away from his legal hablt of ob
jecting to things. I take It that any?
thing that will throw any light on the
subject I think it is proper before an
lnvestigatlng committee. If the com?
mittee don't want to hear It, why it
is all right, of course.
Mr. Spinks: I don't think that is
proper. You could have him come
here and make the statement for him
self. if you want to examine him as a
wit ncss.
Mr. Harlow: If the committee Is
willing to hear It or if you want to
hear it, we will state lt; I understand
that you want light on the subject,
we are trying to get it. If you don't
want to hear it, that Is somethlng
else.
Mr. Spinks: Our testimony has all
been from people who had knowledge
of the conditions. All your testi?
mony is from people who know noth?
ing about it except the offlcials of the
company.
Mr. Harlow: Experts don't have
to have personal knowledge. I want
you to remember that all the testi?
mony we have had has been from
personal knowledge. Who are the
present owners and directors of the
company?
The wltness: T. C. Coleman, Pres?
ident; .1. C. If. Lucas, Vice-President,
H. B. Lucas, Secretary and Treas?
urer, these with Mr. Portner, are the
directors.
Question: Have any of them know?
ledge of or experience in eleetrical
matters?
Answer: Mr. J. C. Lucas is the Dis?
trict Manager for the Baltimore Dis?
trict of the Allss Chalmers Company,
aad H P Lucas ls the manager of a
large eleetrical construction company
in Baltimore.
Questions hy Mr. Fisher:
Mr. Fisher: You state that your
testimony being that of an expert is
impartial, and that you are here as an
expert. State your experience.
Answer: I have just done that.
Question: Do it again.
Answer: I have been engineer for
a number of different citles and cor
porations, I am engineer for the Ten
nessee Power Company, I am engi
ne.ir at the Wataugua River. I am
engineer for Bedford City. Virginia,
that is building an electrical watey
plant on the James River, and I have
bulll a number of other plants in the
paat eighl years.
Question: You are consulting en?
gineer for five concerns, or cities that
are now in process of operation or
construction?
Answer: One is in process of con?
struction, one plant will be completed
in two weeks, the other one will be
begun in about two weeks.
Question: They represent about
three million dollars?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Where did you receive
your experience in electricity?
Answer: In the construction of a
......,i? . ?r plants in the last seven
years. I graduaied from Columbia
in the department of civil engineer
ing.
Question: You did not take elec?
trical englneering?
Answer: I took certain electrical
?ubjecte.
Question: You say you are an ex
pert ?
Answer: I would not state that I
am an expert; but I think that I know
sometblng about it.
Question: You state that you made
an Inspeetion, and make inspections
here in IOWI1?
Answer: Yes. sir: all the work in
the changes and Improvements has
been under my supervlsion.
Question: How often do you make
an inspeetion?
Answer: Bvery day in the week,
up to a month ago.
stlon: How could you devote
so much of your attention to Alexan?
dria when you are COUSUUlBg engi?
neer for ail these other thlngsf
Answer: It might be difflcult for
you to understand that as a lawyer,
but 1 think that anv engineer can tin
dersiand that it is a matter of suf
flcient assistanis.
Question: Your supervision,of the
Alexandria company is not personal
supervision?
Answer: Yes. as much as any chief
engineer give* to Ihe work.
Mr. Harlow: You mean personal
supervision of what?
Mr. Fisher: Of the whole thlng.
The witness: Yes, I gave personal
supervision and attention to this
plant, t,his other work has begun
sinoe the completlon of the Installa
tion of the machinery and improve?
ments here.
Question: When was that comple
ted?
Answer: I should say not flnally
until the early part or the tenth or
fifteenth of N'ovember, about that
tim; the turbino was completerl about
that time and I made daily trips fo
Alexandria then.
Question: Have you ever been
around town at night?
Answer: Yes. sir.
Question: What was the hour of
your Inspeetion?
Answer: Practically at all hours.
Question: How often have vou
been in the city of Alexandria since
the completion of the ilstallation of
the machinery, between I and 12
o'clock in the evening?
Answer: At least once a week.
Question: Where do you go?
Answer: Dhfereal plaees. I don't
think that Is a ipiestion for the com?
mittee.
Question: Of course, I mean on
business Is not thp only condition
you see the condition on "ing Btreet
and al tbe plant and offlc. .'
Answer: No, lookine around from
King Street you can see the lamps in
four or five different directions, and
coming up Duke Street and Royal
Street and Prince. I have been out
in this section of the town at night.
Question: You say you have a
man who makes an hourly visit to see
that the lamps are all right?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Don't you mean that he
makes it three times a night?
Answer: He makes a report every
morning. If he seea that a lamp
needs fixing on the first round he
flxes It and then he goes back to see
how lt Is.
Question: Does he only go to with?
in a square of the lamps or to the
lamps?
Answer: He ls supposed to see
whether the lamp ls burning or not.
Question: You say before you pur
chased this plant you were satisfled
lt was a 7.5 ampere syitem, what ex
amlnation did you rntke to satlsfy
yourself of that?
Answer: I went to tie plant and
saw the regulators. Ta?y bad the
proper plate on them, and I wrote to
the Fort Wayne Company, and aaked
if the coils had been changed, and I
received a letter in reply which I will
read. I had Mr. Mandeville write
the letter, because he waa the man
they knew in the matter. Here ls
the letter which is dated June 28,
1909, and is addressed to Mr. Man?
deville: Dear Sir: Referring to our
conversatlon this morning relative to
the are lamp situation at Alexandria
would state that we have changed
over all of the are lamps in Alexan?
dria from 6Vi to 7% amperes. The
wrlter will see you the fore part of
next month as requested. Yours
very truly, T. L. Sturgeon, Manager,
Philadelphia Offlee, per C. A. Wool
sey.
Question: Accordlng lo that the
Fort Wayne people made the change?
Answer: They furnished the parts.
Question: In June, 1009, was Mr.
Mandeville connected with thia com?
pany?
Answer: We purchased the plant
through him, and he Knew these peo?
ple, which was why he wrote.
Question: He was not connected
with the company?
Answer: I don't know what hia
official connection was. We bought
the plant through him.
Question: You say your superln
tendent here makes requisltion on
you for supplies. Do you always
honor them?
Answer: Yes, sir; on one or two
occasions we have cut down the
amount.
Question: Within what time has a
requlsition been made on you for
outer and inner globes.
Answer: About ten days ago for
inner globes and three weeks ago for
outer globes, and I was informed
four days ago that they would be ln
Ahxandria yesterday. They told me
on the phone at the National Electric
Supply Company in Washington.
Mr. Howsell tells me that your com?
mittee asked for two inner globes
yesterday and he had them on hand
all day, bur they have not been call?
ed for.
Mr. Spinks: I understand he had
to take them off the street.}.
Mr. Fisher: The committee can get
the globes tomorrow. can riiey?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: You say you never re?
ceived any coniplaint about bad ser?
vlce?
Answer: Never any official coni?
plaint.
Question: DId you receive an un
offlcial complaint?
Answer: Mr. I'hler told me that
some of the lamps burned red
Question: Did you ever offer for
Mr. I'hler to have an examination
made?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Why?
Answer: I felt we wer-? unjusii
eritieised
Question: I thought you had nevje
heard any complaint.
Answer: I heard, of course, tha:
in Council we were complained of.
Question: I understood yo uto say
you heard nothing until you heard
.Mr. Spinks had offered this resolutiou
in Council.
Answer: I said that I had no bffi
clal complaint from Council
Question: I asked you if you did
not offer to Mr. I'hler to have an ex
pert go over the plant.
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Why?
Answer: Because we felt that the
people in ihe City Council did not un
derstand the situation. We wanted
to stop the unjust criiici.sm.
Question: When did you first. get
your information about the ?
critieisin?
Answer: O, 1 don't know ihai;
has been dlacnssed ? gi ni Mtf in
Council.
Question: In your br.-r ol
rember 11, you refea* to a
in Council, and you saiil
heard of any complaints im
until this resolutiou here ?
dnead by Mr. spinks.
tlll'ee weeks agO.
Answer: This resolutlon?
QueStloa: You said you had 00
noi ice from Council?
Answer: No official notlci
Question: Nor informal notlceJ
Answer: Kxeept from Mr. Lhler.
Question: You say you had no
complaitJl from Mr. Uhler and this
letter was wrltten before the reisolu
tion was introduced Into Counvtl
why did you wriie the letter?
Answer: The letter ezDlalas M?eif.
I think. it aeema to be dear.
Question: You have said tiia. pre
\ious to this you had no convor-ai mn
Witb Mr. (Jbler and no m.iice of any
complaint, ye( you offered th..?
inspection be made?
Answer: I will say that I have had
a number of converaationa with Mr.
i'hler; bow many of tbeae converee*
tiona praeaded thal letter i don't
know. I made the poaitive offer on
l.ehalf of the company to have an ex?
pert go over the situation, and If we
were wrong we would make such
ohangea aa were aeo aaary nnd would
pay the costa of the expert.
Queatlon: Then you are not posi
tlvc you did nor receive a complaint
previona to thia resolutfon being in
troduced into Council?
aaawer: i lald I had a talk with
Mr. Ihl.r.
Mr. Harrison: Mr. fjbler as Chalr?
man of the Gas Light Committee, is
authorized to talk to th-* siiperin
tendeal of the Alexandria Flectric
Company and any matter he brings
before that committee or that the
committee wanis brought to the at?
tention of any one he has full author
Itj to do it.
Question: You wrote this letter on
Noveriiber 12th, aml presurne It was
after the resolution in Council. Did
you at any time prevtous to the let?
ter, previous to the introductfon of
the resolution in Council ever re?
ceive a complaint from any member
of the City Council ln regard to your
service?
Aaawer: This is about the third
time that I have said that Mr. I'hler
told me that the lamps were burning
red. That is the only complaint we
have ever had.
Question: Did you not. make this
offer to Mr. I'hler about the inspee?
tion previous to November \'l, HI09?
Answer: I don't know about that.
Question: If there had been no
coi, plaints, would there have been
any occasion to make the offer?
Answer: I don't know aboht that.
The Chairman: It Is getting late
now, and if the gentlemen here want
to catch the last train, they will
have to go now. I don't want to ln
terrupt you. but they will have to go
if they want to get the train.
Mr. Harlow: We can reeall Mr.
Wtdier at any time. I suppose you
will be in town.
Answer: I am expecting to leave
the city for two or three days, but I
will be back the flrst of next week.
And after that I am at your disposal.
The committee thereupon adjourn
ed.