rock can be applied either hot or cold on a macadam road with a thickness less than that required for city streets. Highly satisfactory results are reported from city engineers of three-fourth-inch surface rolled

in by the penetration method, with a final coat one-half inch thick where Kentucky rock has been used. For such work the powdered asphalt limestone will be found. more efficacious than the asphalt sandstone.

O

NE of the leading trust companies of

this city making a specialty of certifying to the genuineness of municipal bonds sends out literature on the subject under the caption "Safety Is the First Requisite in the Issue of Municipal Bonds," and lays particular emphasis on the necessity for issuing securities for the payment of which taxpayers are responsible, under a plan of issue providing adequate protection to the issuing community, the dealer, the banker loaning on the bonds as collateral, and the investor, who, in this instance, is the "ultimate consumer." The cry of "safety first" is perhaps nowhere more justified than in this connection, since the ordinary loose way of issuing this class of securities lends itself to all sorts of abuses and may justly be termed an open invitation to crime, so easily may spurious paper be issued and the fraudulent act remain hidden for months. Often the municipality itself invites trouble by requiring in its published notices of sale that the blanks be furnished by the purchaser of the bonds. So easy a method of obtaining money is nct to be overlooked by the unscrupulous, and duplicate issues are the result. It is to be hoped that every crime of this sort is finally brought to light and the perpetrator punished, but in spite of the popular theory that the criminal eventually reveals himself, there remains an uneasy doubt as to whether he may not sometimes successfully cover up all evidence of his wrong-doing and out of the earnings of his illicit capital repay the "loans" obtained by means of the duplicated paper.

We have pointed out only one of many routes by which lax methods of issue invite abuses. The fact that such lax methods prevail hinders in no small degree the free exchange of municipal securities between.

investors, and in other ways unfavorably affects the value of securities which should stand supreme at the very top of the market and pass unquestioned from one investor to another.

It seems strange that the officials of any municipality should hesitate to adopt measures to safeguard the interests of taxpayers, but "penny wise and pound foolish" is the prevailing policy, and, as our forefathers did so do we, though financial methods and conditions have entirely changed. Frequently when an issue of bonds is proposed and the question of having it "certified" is under consideration, a local financial institution will offer to place its signature on the back of the bonds attesting their genuineness, and the argument is advanced that public officials should patronize home industries, etc. On the other hand the trust company which has been most active in directing attention to the need for better methods in the issue of all public obligations insists that "the value of certification lies in the safeguards it attests" and that the mere writing of another name on a bond in no way protects against either over-issues or forgery.

This trust company has backed up the foregoing statement by establishing a protective method for the issue of bonds composed of a rigid system of safeguards, yet so directed as to materially assist municipal officials in the performance of a most difficult duty, relieving them of responsibility and serving their convenience. The method not only protects the investor, but renders a much greater service in safeguarding the interests of the taxpayers-which, of course, should be the chief consideration of officials responsible for the proper issue of bonds.

At various times state authorities have

endeavored to provide official supervision intended to protect bond issues, but so far none of these state-directed plans have been wholly satisfactory, and municipalities situated in states adopting such procedure have had their bonds issued under trust company certification methods in addition to the modus operandi provided by the state. It is unfortunate that municipal officials usually remain in office only for short terms, and therefore cannot familiarize

themselves with the technical details of matters, such as bond issues, which may come up only once or twice during their terms of office. It is encouraging, however, to note that the more experienced officials tend to the employment of safer methods for the issue of their bonds, many cities having adopted the plan of having their bonds certified by trust companies providing effective safeguards covering the process of preparation and issue.

C

IVIC pride in our modern towns is beginning to show itself in many forms,

among which not the least important is a higher standard of illumination. The stores are more brightly lighted than in times past, and the various "White-way" campaigns have improved, to a marked degree, the appearance of the streets.

Along this line, it is only natural that the standard of residence lighting should be raised. As the porch is the part of the house which is most visible from the street, the illuminated porch is an indication that the owner is doing his share, in one respect at least, toward the general attractiveness of the town. Not only is good porch lighting attractive, but it has an element of protection. Burglars and sneak thieves are more likely to pass by a house that has a

porch light burning than one that has not. Most of the advances in the art of illumination have been due to an increase in efficiency of the light sources themselves. This, however, has been paralleled by improvements in the reflectors and other auxiliaries. These changes have made good porch lighting more feasible than ever before, and have placed it within the reach of everyone, no matter how simple his home.

The incandescent lamp is the most logical illuminant for this purpose. A few years ago the lamp most in use for porch lighting had a carbon filament; it consumed 30 or 50 watts of electrical energy, giving 8 to 16 candlepower, respectively. Now, however, we have available the 10-watt Mazda lamp, which gives 8 candle-power. This is

adequate for lighting the average small porch. And think what that means! Assuming the cost of power to be 10 cents per kilowatt hour, this lamp costs but one-tenth of a cent per hour to operate. In other words, the porch can be lighted every night from seven to eleven o'clock for 12 cents per month.

Let us now porch lighting.

see what comprises good

Of course, some porches. are fitted up as a room and used for playing cards or reading at night, in which case they should be lighted in the same manner as a room. Lamps of the size which would be used indoors and similar reflecting devices are applicable. If the ceiling is dark, direct lighting must be used; if light in color, semi-direct or totally indirect units give a very agreeable light and make a pleasing appearance.

The average small porch, however, requires but a very low intensity of general illumination, sufficient for a visitor to see clearly the bell and name-plate, and to be distinguished from within the entrance. The steps must be well lighted to avoid danger from accident. As stated above, it is desirable that the wattage or the size of the lamp should be very small, for it is advantageous to have the porch light burning all evening. For reading purposes, it is desirable to have a weatherproof flush receptacle provided in addition to the ceiling light, so that a portable lamp may be connected to the lighting circuit.

FIG. 3

The logical location for the porch light is at the ceiling, either midway between the door and the steps, or, in some special instances, at the front, above the steps.

Formerly the standard equipment consisted of a metal ceiling ring, holding a clear spherical glass ball, etched on the inner surface. This globe absorbed a certain percentage of the light, depending on the depth of the etching, was not attractive, and lacked diffusion.

By diffusion we mean a breaking up or spreading of the light rays-a soft light in contrast to a glaring one. This is roughly shown in Fig. 1. At the left is a clear, bare lamp, the flament visible in its full brilliancy. At the center the lamp is inclosed in one of these roughed inside globes just described. Partial diffusion is produced.

592

་ཀ་མ་

FIG. 2

formly bright. This is certainly a more artistic arrangement.

A feature which is very noticeable in the average porch light is the collection of dirt and dead insects at the bottom of the globe. Fig. 2 shows a porch lighted by a 50-watt carbon lamp in a roughed-inside globe. Close inspection will reveal a dark spot at the bottom, due to this accumulation of dirt and insects. Not only is this untidy, but an illumination test made of this unit before and after cleaning showed an increase in illumination of 24 per cent with the clean globe.

The lamp in the previous picture was replaced by a 10-watt Mazda lamp, and the globe by an opalescent or white glass enclosing ball of an attractive design. This gave excellent diffusion, and the appearance of the unit is pleasing. The present illumination is approximately the same as from the old equipment when dirty, although only one-fifth of the power is used; it is about half the illumination from the old equipment when clean. It can be readily seen, however, that there is plenty of light.

One of the greatest inconveniences when calling at night in an unfamiliar locality is to locate the desired number. To meet the demand for an illuminated house number, a fitting has been devised of the type shown in Fig. 4. This consists of a cast iron body with a diffusing glass front and back, enclosing a standard lamp receptacle, and

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

has either a straight or a 90-degree angle swivel hub tapped to receive 1/2-inch conduit. The over-all length, exclusive of hub, is 8 inches; depth, 31⁄2 inches. It will accommodate a 10-, 15- or 20-watt lamp. The front glass is blackened, except for the numbers (there being space for five characters), and the bottom of the fitting slopes up from the front edge at an angle of 45 degrees, thus allowing the light to escape through the diffusing glass, illuminating the porch.

A day view of one of these units installed is shown in Fig. 5. The fixture is strong and weatherproof; and although relatively small, the numerals are large enough to be seen at a considerable distance.

Fig. 6 shows the appearance of this at night, using a 10-watt lamp. There is sufficient light for easy reading from across the street. (The shadows on the porch appearing in this and previous figures, are due to an arc lamp located a short distance down the street.)

An illuminated house number is certainly a convenience; for, with it, the occupant of the house is not called from his bed to assure an inquirer that it is not the number he is seeking. Again, the doctor, visitor, or messenger can always find the house without losing several minutes looking up and down the block. Civic pride, as well as personal convenience, demands the installation of more illuminated house numbers.