First Street Lights Turned On, April 23, 1892

-from the Daily Intelligencer, April 18, 1892
 

THE ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

The Currents Turned on for the First Time Saturday.

The question is asked, every day, When will the electric lights be shining? Delay after delay has occurred, but it now looks as if another week would see tho whole system brilliant. On Saturday afternoon tho current was turned into the wires for the first time, the North Wheeling circuit, known as circuit No. 1, being giving a daylight test. The wire worked all right, and every lamp was inspected by Superintendent Capps and found to be in first class shape. Possibly all the lamps may be tested one night this week. All have been hung but those in the Eighth ward. The testing in the building has been completed, and the temporary testing frame torn away. The different circuits will be tested one at a time in daylight.
 

-from the Daily Intelligencer, April 25, 1892
 

THE ELECTRIC LIGHTS

Turned on and Found Satisfactory—Wheeling up to the
Times.

On Saturday morning the INTELLIGENCER exclusively said there would be light--electric light--Saturday evening, and there was light. At ten minutes to ten o'clock the electric lights flashed over the city, just as the
crowds, which had been called out by the INTELLIGENCER'S exclusive announcement, were beginning to think the machinery had perhaps gone wrong, and that the lights would not shine that night.

At tho plant, prior to tho turning on of the light, the electric light commission was well represented. Secretary
A. A. Franzheim, of the commission, turned on the first machine, which lighted the upper part of town. The rest were then turned on by members of the commission, Mayor Seabright trying his hand at one of the circuits.

The entire party then got into hacks and drove around the city, inspecting the lights as they went. Out of the
whole number of 480 lights only six were found not burning, because of bad work by the trimmers. The city is
now well lighted in general, but a few places seem dark, compared with the general brightness, and it will probably not be long before another forty light machine is in operation.

Last night the light was turned on at about a quarter to 8 o'clock. The adjustment of the lamps was not so good as it was Saturday night. This was owing to the amount of work the lamp trimmers had to do, each man trimming sixty-six lamps. They did not finish the work until just before the lights were turned on.

The light pleased everybody, and the general verdict was that Wheeling is splendidly illuminated. Last night
particularly the brightness on Market street, between Twelfth and Fourteenth, was noticeable, more so than on
Saturday night, when that portion of the street is bright from the lights in the store windows.

The new bridge was well lighted, and the electric light commission was complimented for its good work. For the
few electric lights on the bridge the city gets from the bridge company the privilege of laying an eight-inch gas
main over the bridge, free passage for all electric light and gas employees, and free space for the fire department wires. The eight-inch main, it is said, will be a godsend to the islanders, as there is no danger of its filling with water during a flood.
 

-from the Daily Intelligencer, April 25, 1892, p. 4
 

And There Was Light.

The electric light for the streets has come at last, and Wheeling at night is now fair enough to look upon. The
new light adds to the comfort and the security of the people. It is an effective addition to the police force.
The crime that seeks the darkness will in vain seek it in some of its old haunts.

A certain tendency of human nature is illustrated by the comment frequently heard since the light was turned on—there should be more lamps. The improvement is so marked that the people would like to have more of it.

In time there will be more lamps. Civilized communities are reaching a point where they will have as little
difference as possible between day and night.

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