Streetlamps back then weren’t electric, but typically gas (or sometimes oil) - they need to be lit with an open flame before they can start operating. The wick in this case is on a long pole so he doesn’t have to climb up the ladder for every lamp on his route.
Piped in (underground ) from a central gasworks. I’m not sure if they were on the same municipal gas system as the gaslight in homes, but it seems likely.
Streetlamps back then weren’t electric, but typically gas (or sometimes oil) - they need to be lit with an open flame before they can start operating. The wick in this case is on a long pole so he doesn’t have to climb up the ladder for every lamp on his route.
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Piped in (underground ) from a central gasworks. I’m not sure if they were on the same municipal gas system as the gaslight in homes, but it seems likely.