Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-29
WIRES UNDER THE GROUND.

Growing Demand for iii Improved
~ en- OF Photographic Wire Com
dHCt0rs III Great GIics-The. stu rb-
stone and Eutter', Scheme.
Friday s storm practically suspended tele.
graphic communication In New York. The
wires which were not down were, with few ex-
cepttons, interrupted by fallen wires crossing
them and thus breaking the "cireuit." The
effect upon business and traffic generally by
the unexpected stoppage Of this important
agency OF communication was so serious as to
excite general d. mqnd for better means of
conducting wires about the city. All the old ar
gumentS In favor OF the shifting of the wires un.
der the streets were revived and enforced by ap.
p1cation OF the new illustrations furnished by
the storm. The extravaganza, dangers and de.
StructVenesS as we'll as the unsighllineSS OF
the present system OF wires suspended from
pole to pole or roof to roof OF houses were
urged against the construction OF further lines
on the same system. gentleman largely in
terested In the active management OF telegraph
lines. said that the use OF poles and wires ex.
posed to storms compelled constant repair and
Watchfulness by large force Of men specially
trained for the peculiar work, and iesulte
Practically IN the occasional rebuilding of tie
lines Moreover the wires thus exposed Ia order
to sustain their own weight and that OF Ice ana
snow had to be made much larger than theg
would be II protected. ard the needless cost
was something like half the expense. Ii built
In cables, each wire need not be more than the
thickness of needle Or pin. II submerged fl
water or laid under ground, they could be made
OF any desirable thickness, a single cable CON
bining scores Of separately acting wires.
A prominent official. who Is connected with
the nre department. spoke from observation OF
the dangers and difficulties OF the present sys-
tenn. The wires when built across roofs are
placed upon frames resting on roofs, and ire
quently leaks are thus started. In heavy
storms the wires, sway1ng from side to Side
with the wind, strike the root or chimneys ana
are thus very destructive The wires stretcnei
ft,rcr xxrgf
operations OF nremen at fires. With the uat-
ural Increase OF wires now going On these diff
cuities may prove inSurmountable after time
The danger OF interruption Of the communIca-
ton by which all ire companies are nov
quickly Informed OF the location OF a fire Is a
serious matter.
Several schemes are already before the public
FOR laying underground lines, to which how
ever. general attention has not been very &C.
lively directed The Edison Electric Light
Company. which has permit from the com
mon council to light the lower part or the city
with electric lights, has made an application
for the privilege OF laying the necessary wires
under ground This has not yet been granted
and 1t Is opposed Tor several reasons the chief
one being that it requires the tearing up OF the
entire length OF each street to be supplied with
lights. and when repairs Or additions are neces.
saIy. travel must be largely interrupted at The
points at which work IS going on Another
company, OF which General ". F. Smith, OF the
police board, Is manager and director, ALREADY
has permit to lay Its wires under ground.
rms permit 1t Is understood to have disposed OF
10 the Western Union Company, but the latter
has not awaited itself of the right further than
10 lay few pneumatic tubes. The applications
Dy these companies contemplate only the lay
Ing OF an ordinary pipe, in which the wires will
De laid. This system IS In use in London.
where Its chief defects is found to be in the
dl1hculty OF making repairs and additions wiuo
out obStIucting travel.
Still another and later scheme Is one patented
In this country by John ID. Townsend, the tn-
ventor and In England by Charles L. Gore, who
Is owner OF two-fifths. Mr.. Gore Is now 10
London, where II is proposed to introduce the
system. 1t Is patented here under the name OF
"A conductor for underground telegraph lines, y
and Is simple plan to make the curbstones OF
Tue si9ewaiAs ana Lhe guIteTs or the streets
be built In sections OF any length, each taking
the form OF single step Of an ordinary stair
way. and the whole OF a block OF sections look
ing like and occupying the space of the curling
now In general use. The whole Is made OF cast
iron, very heavy and strong. so as not to be
injured by trucks backing against 1t or heavy
articles falling upon 1t.