1 From the theological standpoint:  Artificial illumination
     is an attempt to interfere with the divine
     plan of the world, which has preordained darkness
     during the night-time.

2 From the judicial standpoint:  Those people who
     do not want light ought not to be compelled to pay
     for its use.

3 From the medical standpoint:  The emanations of
     illuminating gas are injurious.  Moreover, illuminated
     streets would induce people to remain later
     out of doors, leading to an increase in ailments
     caused by colds.

4 From the moral standpoint:  The fear of darkness
     will vanish and drunkenness and depravity increase.

5 From the viewpoint of the police:  The horses will
     get frightened and the thieves emboldened.

6 From the point of view of national economy:  Great
     sums of money will be exported to foreign countries.

7 From the point of view of the common people:  The
     constant illumination of streets by night will rob
     festive illuminations of their charm.

The foregoing objections require no comment, for they speak volumes pertaining to the thoughts and activities of men a century ago.  It is difficult to believe that civilization has traveled so far in a single century, but from this early beginning of street-lighting social progress received a great impetus.  Artificial light-sources were feeble at that time, but they made the streets safer and by means of them social intercourse was extended.  The people increased their hours of activity and commerce, industry, and knowledge grew apace.

The open gas-jet and kerosene-flame lamps held forth on the streets until within the memory of middle-aged persons of to-day.  The lamplighter with his ladder is still fresh in memory.  Many of the towns and villages have never been lighted by gas, for they stepped from the oil-lamp to the electric lamp.  The gas-mantle has made it possible for gas-lighting to continue as a competitor of electric-lighting for the streets.

In 1877 Mr. Brush illuminated the Public Square of Cleveland with a number of arc-lamps, and these met with such success that within a short time two hundred and fifty thousand open-arc lamps were installed in this country, involving an investment of millions of dollars.  Adding to this investment a much greater one in central-station equipment, a very large investment is seen to have resulted from this single development in lighting.

This open-arc lamp was the first powerful light-source available and, appearing several years before the gas-mantle, it threatened to monopolize street-lighting.  It consumed about 500 watts and had a maximum luminous intensity of about 1200 candles at an angle of about 45 degrees.  Its chief disadvantage was its distribution of light, mainly at this angle of 45 degrees, which resulted in a spot of light near the lamp and little