New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-01

DEPENDENCE UPON TIRE PRESENT SYSTEM hUCn
LONGER Observation-Disclosures or THB
WIRES WITH ONE AN0THER-THE LAYING OF
WIRES UNDER GROUND BY THE CITY GOVERN.
MENT AND TELEGRAPH COMPANIES IN CoMBiNA-
TON.
TO the Ediior Of me Trtbuns.
SIR: Having read with interest the articles
that have appeared TIE TRIBUNE advocating the
mova OF the telegraph poles fron the streets
and placing them under ground, deem few words on
this interesting subject from one who has gwen many
years Of service to teegapy and considerable atten
TO the subject OF underground wires may shed some
additional light and assist In Fastening desirable an
event The feasibility Of wires under ground-a least
for short misunderstanding been settled, the immense
imprOv in the appearance OF the city that would
result beng manifest, the natural query IS, VIII IL be
doDei The answer to this is that it must be done
or later for the simple Dut patent reason that
there for many more wires. and the demand
for additional facilities shows no sign OF decreasing
Of the telegraph this city since 1850 has
been astonishing Ia that there wee lees than 90
telegraphic lines the city, there at present about
Every through north and south street below Four
teenthst ncumbered with from TO four sets Of
poles and wires, and the housetops covered with
such q network Of wires that 1t Is extremely difficult TO
find space for The greater portion Of bs ncrease
has occurred within the past five years 1t therefore
safe predict that the present number will be
doubled within the comm: ten years.
The telegraphs present constructed not only
subjec, to interruptions by the elements has been
stated in your columns but they seriously endanger
and interrupt another by coming in contact, pro
ducing what telegraphers term " a cross" which I,
more dangerous 10 the trustworthiueSs OF sowe sys
OF tecgr"phy, aud greater eVl 10 all-ffool H
raduency-an broken wires. II therefore follows thai
an increase increases the interruptions aud en-
dangers the entire systtr Ny own experience ID clv
ergraphs that the great majority OF lnterr
tons traeeaDe 10 this cause. The inadequaey of
fhp pr-pnf : II,
that The question has not been met before, aud &c Is stu
more wonderful that the public have tolerated such Cd
structOns aud Disbursements 80 long whom u remedy
could be provided Nat Would NOT ONLY place mem OUT V
sight but make them sIis and Trustworthy Ia All
en- hrseucles.
Tie general public natural look TO those directly In
terestCd in teegraphs for such an Improvement put
when IL t1ken into consider alton that there are sh OF
seven distinct telegraph corporations, each WIN lf
wires. besides the city departments ahd q large
number owned aud used ~ private lEdVlduais,
il apparent that syst IN that dOs not pro-. Tor az
wants would fa 10 meet the requirements OF Tue case,
The expense or laying "A portion oil Tue wires unoef
ground wOJid lie nearly as great as lablng tc WholF
TINS explained by the fact tlat the prInclpal cost
would for labor OF excayatug and replacing INC
streets when would be no greater Tor large IMAM
small number IL Is therefore, e'luelt thht
when the work j. done 10 must oe 10y method mat VII
furnish wires for the entire wants OF the CITY, woulo
he an endless and very expensive uDueflahR ioi can
telegraph company 10 atteuIpt TO lay It's Own Mlie ~
would therefore, tnat the CIY way 10 DIlDS aDoue
tits desirable improvement IL for one company OF OF
ganz atom To provide "a comprehensive plan tItt WIZ
prOyo entire present and idtlre wants, ana *
act yearly rental for sucn service TOls can uIdoeOs-
eddy De done. and Trustworthy wires furnished at
rental thai would exceed the present cost Of main
tanning lines aud yield nauc some return upon Tue
outlay therefore arrive az ibe conclusion tDht some
plan 81 this description, either undertaken by pIlyate
company TIC CITY Government. VIII DC louMu " v"
the only solution VI the matter. Very resuectinlly
{. KINNEY SMITH
No 800 East Fourteenth ST., Nee York. leo. IS, 1915