New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-19
UyDrPGPOryD TELEGP4PH WIRES

The general purpose of numerous petty eX-
cavations and mysterious surveying operations
on a small scale now going forward in many
of the city streets is to substitute a system of
electrical conductors underground for the poles
and wires now in use. The system of string
ing wires on poles works fairly well in the
open country, but has become Objectionable
in the cities and larger towns, since the great
increase in telegraphic communication. The
poles are unsightly and Obstruct the side
walks The maze of wires has become too
complex 10 be secure or useful. Let kite
string become entanglcd in one Of the skeins
of wires so common in the lower part of New
York, so that it forms Il conductor from one
wire to another, and the insulation necessary
may be impaired and the transmission of mes
sages stopped. heavy fall of damp snow
upon one of these skcins will accumulate
till the weight may tear down the wires. or the
hardened snow and ice become annoying, and
even dangerous, by falling npOn pedestrians.
The heavy storm of last winter is said to have
cost the companies some $25O,OOO for repairs;
and several serious casualties were reported.
Fires rs well ~ storms may break the wires.
Under special conditions telegraph wires may
promote disastrous strokes of lightning. NJ.
Montigny lately found that out Of five hundred
poplar trees forming one side of an avenue,
cighty-one had been struck by lightning,
while scarcely any in the opposite row had
been struck and the cause was found TO be
the proximity of telegraph wire to the row
Injured. The quarrels over the right to hang
the wires are a serious evil. Quite lately in
This city the business of the District Telegraph
Company was hindered by some one cutting
their wire attached to n Mercer-st. building to
get il out oi.his way while he was putting up II
burglar alarm and Montclair has been agi-
tatcd by Il small war between wOrkmen of
telegraph company sent there to erect poles
and residents assuming to cut them down.
These evils may be avoided, as inventors
have lately shown, by placing the wires under
ground. The usual method is to draw them
through an iron tube, like n Croton water
pipe or gas main, which is laid in q trench
dug sufficiently deep to protect it from injury
by frost or by travel upon the street above
This tube may be made of any size, and any
number of wires may thus be buried in one
The wires must indeed be carefully insulated;
this is done by covering them with cotton,
silk. rubber kcrte or similar Insulating ma
tcrial deemed convenient. After the requi-
site number of wires is placed IN the tube
the workmen usually fill the intersticcs with
pitch or tar forced in under pressure. Wires
thus buried under ground are almost absolutely
safe from any cause of injury or decay. The
first cost is heavy, and this consideration has
delayed introducing the improvement; but,
when the arrangement is once completed, ex-
pense for future repairs is prevented; hence it
is confidently believed that the underground
plan is not only the best for all thickly settled
neighborhoods but also the cheapest in the end.
Legal difficulties in the way of such changes
anywhere in this State are relieved by an act of
the Legislature passed last June. 1t author
ICES any telegraph company to construct and
Law lines of electrical conductors under ground
in any city, village or town within the limits
of this State" The company must, however,
first obtain permission from the Common
Council of city, the trustees of village or
the Highway Commissioners of a town to use
the streets for the purpose.