The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-30

The Telegraph Poles In the Streets.
MEETING OF THE ALDERMASIC COMMITTEE on
srkEETs-ARGUMENrs FOR AND AGAINST REMOVING
THE TELEGRAPH POLES FROM THE sTREETs-rHE
POLES COMPLAINED OF AS A NUISANCE-THEIR RE-
MovAL ARGUED AGAINST, ON TIE GROUNDS OF THE
IMPRACTICABILITY OF LAYING THIN UNDER
GROuND-ANorHER MEETING TO BE HELD, ETC.
The Aldermanic Committee Streets met yesterday
afternoon, Alderman Boole in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN announced that the committee was ready
to hear parties interested in the removal Of the telegraph
poles from the Streets placing the wresunder ground
JAMES 7. OLIVER, of No. 81 Amity street, said that
he represented property that street. and desired that
The poles should removed. His house is surrounded
by no fewer than twenty two wires which are great
nuisance At the time the company was engaged in put
ting up the wires he opposed them They always full
of boys kites and other unsghty things which get
tangled them, and dange continually from them, the
wind sometimes blowing them against the windows, SO
close the wires the house. He spoke 10 the COM
pany time ago about the matter and they informed
him that they would look after it, but he has heard nothing
from them and the wires and poles just they
were previously The business Of the telegraphic compa
MES s private business aud he could not see any
son why the public, who pay taxes, should be nconve
nienced by them, and aso their property IN the name
they are at present
The CHARMAS-The resolution before the committee 8
in regard to removing the telegraph poes and having the
wires placed undor ground
Mr.. OlwKR-I proposed that to the company and they
told ME they had that under consideration at the time
understood that application was made some time after
wards to the Common Council to permit them to lay ths
wires under the ground. cannot any reason why
the wires could not well be under the ground above
it, as the water pipes and gas pipes are
C. RoRINsoN, Superintendent of the New York
Fire and Police Geographic lines said The Pre-
Geographic lines throughout the country and others
nected with various Geographic companies, in the
city on Wednesday last expecting to be present at your
meeting. As there was no meeting on that day, they
directed 10 inform you of the fact and adjourn your
meeting till the middle Of next week. when they have
time ,eive notice and To the city. Should this
OF removing the poles be carried OUT will drive
all the offices OF the telegraph companies from the city,
and they win be removed to Harlem, Jersey City and
the citizens will have to pay extra for the Geographic des
patches that they will receive; and once that begins to
operate you will soon hear clamor in favor Of having
the poles back again they are now may say from
experience that is mpractcable 10 lay the wires under
eyes to be practicable Scheme John aA Purdw Of
Philadelphia, who connected with the Geographic bust
ness in this country was last year in London and he
was passing through street he noticed great confusion
On coming and finding the cause he that twas
gas pipe which had been fred by flash Of electricity from
subterranean telegraph wre and when he passed he
soon witnessed similar ana equally dangerous
explosion on London Bridge, which was produced in the
same way The origin Of this was lightning striking the
wires during thunder Storm do not care how much
money You may spend in putting down iron pipes TO
close thswres-they cannot be made perfectly tight. If
any Of the encasements are Affected repairs be
made till every one Of them is taken up.
Alderman BooIE-How could the Atlantic cable be so
ii 8uOtcrranean telegraph
cannot be managedP
Mr.. G. RomssoS-That is great argument. Qaughter)
What condition is that cable in nowY
Alderman ADAMs-There other cables under water
the the British Channel and the Newfoundland
telegraph for instance, that work WELL The Atlantic cable
worked too, and may be stopped from cause
different from those that would interfere with lines
through the streets
Mr.. RomSsoN-If the poles are removed there will be
great delays in delivering messages when the offices
out Of the city. There at present delays enough
Of this nature, and instead Of increasing them,
benefit S' Of the public, as much ' as possible.
admit that the poles and wires are Objectionable in some
be remedied by having the wires equally distributed
through the streets.
Mr.. OvER-There poles before the doors of any
of the gentlemen engaged in the Geographic BUSINESS they
take good care that they shall suffer no annoyance
Alderman BRADY, who ia not member Of the commit
ee but who introduced the resolution the Board of
Aldermen, took occasion 10 say-I believe the telegraph
poles and wires are great puisance and all the people
where live complain Of them. cannot see why the
wires would not work under ground. wish to in
ure the Geographic companies by the passage Of any re-
solution but he was astonshed when no heard Mr. Field
who recently engaged in laying the Atlantic Tele
graph that impossible TO have the wires work
well under ground he did at the last meeting of the
committee. think they might work in sewers II they
work well under the beds Of rivers they do now,
would like to hear reasop why they could not bc made
Council gave the companies permission TO lay the wires
under ground through the streets they should have no
objection to spend few dollars extra to suit the public
9. RoBNsoN-n Boston, Philadelphia, and all the towns
and villages of the Union, the example or New York will
be followed and the Offices Of the telegraph companies
will have to be removed outside their limits. would re-
peat the argument Of Mr. Field the last day. regard
to the line TO Brooklyn, which is not paying at present
This line will have to cease operations altogether any
further restrictions put and would many other
lines throughout the country.
Mr.. McKIssoN--a stakeholder in the Union Telegraph
C0mpany-arose to reply TO question from Alderman
Brady, which was" Why won't the telegraph work
under grounds ' He said 1t morally impossible,
count Of the gutta percha in which the wire would have to
be enclosed being so destructble in its nature.
Alderman BRADY-Why does not that destroy the sub
marine lines the Hudson and elsewhere?
Mr. McKRsoN-Because, If anything gets wrong with the
line the Hudson they can get boat and adjust
with very little trouble This could never be done in the
city Of New York See what IL would be to take up
street like Third avenue for instance to fix the wire when
ever anything went wrong with it, The difficulty of nsu-
laon would prevent the lines from working under ground
CHARMAN-How9 That's what want to come at-a
reason why they would not work-and then would be-
gin to take another view Of the matter.
Mr.. MCKIssON-I have been twenty years engaged
in the telegraph business and yet do not know enough
about to fully explain the reason why would not work
CBARMAN-Yes but if it will not work under grounds
And you know that you surely give reason
why it would not. Why won't III
Mr.. McKIsso~-wel because ii will not, and il can't be
made Uaughter) The guta percha Is an article used
much TO nsuate the wire as TO preserve against the
Influences of air and water II expands in cold and con-
tracts in weather. unlike most other substances In
this respect and the changes of the atmosphere crack it,
When is cracked the water and air get in, and the
ment this occurs the insulation passes from the wire to
the water and II will not work any longer. Iron pipes
will not answer for encasements, il they could be
made tight for whenever the wire contracts touches
against the sides of the encasemont and the insulation Of
the wire is instantly at an end We all willing have
the wires under the ground If possble but If 1t
done, the first thunderstorm would dsarrange the
whole arrangement. 1t would cost the city million of
dollars-woutnt II, Robinson?
C. RomNsoN-Not altogether so much, think.
Qaughter)
Alderman BRADY-why would not the sewer do9
Mr.. McHIssoN-Because il would cost too much, and
lines which not paying would then have to be
discontinued
Alderman BRADYIt is very well to talk about pay
ing, but II the lines were not paying they would be
worked by the various companies as they now
Mr. MoKIssoN-Well, TO enlighten you little that
point, will tell you that the Boston and New York ne
which cost from $500 900 TO $4,000 when was made
is not worth than 5000 900 today and many other
lines are just in the condition.
Alderman BRADy-l know these wires to be great
nuisance myself and they have often got entangled
my legs and them as passing through the streets
have also known them TO the faces of drivers and
others passing through the public horoughares who would
them till 1t would be too late 10 remedy avoid
the danger and they might be cut and blinded. They
prevent remen from aischargng their duties fires for