MORE LIGHT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2249, 13 May 1881, Page 1

MORE LIGHT.

Now that tho winter season, with its long evenings, is drawing nigh we should like to direct the attention of the Lighting Committee of the City Council to some parts of tho city which urgently require more light. Wo are fully aware of tho fact that retrenchment is the order of tho day, but where the lives and property of the public may possibly be affected, economy is somewhat out of the question. The want of more light in the street leading from the railway station has often been called attention to ; but, at tho risk of repetition, we should desire to point out a very dangerous part of it which, at present, is most inadequately lighted. Tho South train now arriving at a late hour in tho evening, there is always a groat crush of vehicles after eight o’clock, and the part to which we wish specially to refer is tho junction of High, Lichfield, and Manchester streets. Tho traffic hero about the time spoken of is very great, and the light miserably inefficient. That there has been no accident at all of any moment up to this period is duo more to chance than anything else. What may be called the triangle, formed by those streets, is after dusk unsafe for a pedestrian from want of proper lighting. Tho want is still more pronounced, because tho sidewalk from Black’s corner leads across

the middle of the triangle. If a lamp were erected at the tank near the Borough Hotel of sufficient power to light up the area comprised in the position of the streets named a very great public boon would be secured. Not only so, but the present insecurity to the foot passengers which exists would be done away with. Whilst on this subject, there is one point connected with it which seems worthy of consideration. We mean whether, under the present circumstances of the growth of the city, and consequent large increase of traffic in the streets, it would not be well for the Council to discuss the advisableness of making all conveyances carry lights at night in the city. It was attempted to carry this into force some time back, but it did not meet with much favor. Wo are unable to see any valid argument against the proposal, whilst certainly there are very strong reasons for its adoption. Carts of all kinds throng our streets after dark, driven with a recklessness which seems astounding, and many very narrow escapes from what might have been fatal collision, have occurred. Why then should not other vehicles as well as licensed ones carry lights at night P We are unable to see that because the vehicle does not happen to bo licensed it is the more likely to escape accident. On the contrary, we feel sure that in nine cases out of ten it is the unlicensed, and not the licensed owners, who come to grief. We make it compulsory on cabs, &c., to carry lights, presumedly to avoid accident, why then should we not make those vehicles which I are terrors to the unwary pedestrians also carry them ? We should like to see the Council take this matter up, but ■ meanwhile wo hope they will lose no ' time in attending to the work, the ; urgent necessity for which must be apparent.