Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-11
LOCAL NEWS,
Underground Telexraphy.

THE EXPERIMENT IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THE
WIRfS THROUGH TH8 SEWERS.
The subject OF underground telegraph wires
In cities, and the Feasibility OF adopting such
plan for this City, which has 80 long been urged
by TIE STAR, seems to be growing in public
favor, and has warm and intelligent advocates
In Lieut.. F. v. Greene, assistant engineer in
charge OF the streets and avenues and fr
Lieut. r. L. Hoxte. In charge Of the sewerage
system for the District OF Columbus. This sub.
Ject was treated In very able manner in
Lieut. Greene's last annual report, in which he
advocated the abandonment of poles for tele-
graph wires, and the use OF the public sewers,
20 far as practicable, for the laying Of wires A
location Of large sewers already constructed
shows conclusive1y how convenient they are
and their adaptaoility for this purpose.
FOR THE MOST PART
the telegraph lines enter the city on the north
side and there are no less than seven different
places where they could easily enter large
brick sewers OF sufficient capacity for workmen
to operate In with ease and attach the wires
to the crown OF the sewers, out OF the way of
harm, and where they can be conducted to
might he desirable. Lieut. Greene states that
there can be, so far as he can see. no objection
10 the Use OF sewers for this purpose. II It is
lot OverdOUe and the sewers are carefully used
by the wOrRmeD, and that the security to the
wires would be perfect.
THESE APPROACHES
and places OF entry, as stated, are into sewers
leading to larger ones. and the city could be
easily comprised Commencing in the NORTH
west section, there is a feasible entry at 18th
and boundary streets, into four feet diameter
barrel sewer leading into the Slash run sewer
The next is at 18th and N streets, the head of
the 14th street sewer. which at this point is
about five feet In diameter and Increases in
size to its mouth, at the street outlet,
Another Is by way of Sth street extended,
four or five feet diameter sewer leading around
North Capitol street sewer, which runs down
direct to street, where 1t passes oDlquely
across lots back OF the Baltimore and Onfo
railroad depot. connecting with the Tioer
branch sewer which runs into the James creek
canal The North capitol sewer is about IA
feet inside diameter, and there Is abundance OF
room for telegraph wires. The next entry
which could be utilized Is at 1st and Boundary
streets-a five foot diameter sewer which also
connects with the North Capitol sewer; an.
other entrance could be made at Boundary and
creek running by Gales farm; also a large
sewer connecting with the North Capitol street
sewer. Another good entrance Is at 10th and
Boundary east, which l., also large sewer
running into the same large sewer In North
Capitol street. All OF these sewers increase in
size as they descend towards the heart OF the
city, and afford plenty OF room for all the
cables which will be- likely to be needed for
telegraph purposes, and room enough for
woIkmen. When Sd street at the Botanical
gardens Is reached, the connection With the
Iar as the Baltimore and Potomac railroad
depot, and at this point
THERE WOULD BE BREAK
OF about half square, where there Is no sewer
Of sufficient size to be used for the wires This
occurs between 9Th street and the terminus of
the B street sewer, about half way of the
square between 9Th and 18th street, but there
wonld be no difficulty In running the wires
thu ougb terra Gotta pipe, which could easily
be laid for the purpose under the sidewalk. This
point reached. there would be clear course
dow the street sewer to 14th or 18th streets,
and there are large lateral sewers leading up
Ith, 9th, 10TH 11tb, 12h, 13h and 18th streets to
almost any point north OF the avenue desired.
THE SMALL SEWERS.
A large portion of the sewers In the cross
streets are terra Gotta pipe, ranging from IL to
30 inches. which could net well be used for
wires, owing to their small size and lack Of
fastening facilities, yet in some cases they
might be used short distances when desired 10
make connections.
THE MUTUAL UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY
new line now being made, are the first to in
augurate this plan OF utilizing sewers for this
purpose. Their line enters the city on poles by
way OF Sherman avenue and 10th street, and
by an angular zigZag course until they reach
18th street and New York avenue, where IL
enters the sewer on the southwest corner of the
interCepting the sewer just laid By Lieut..
Hoxie aid following it to the Office on. 18th
street.
THE MANNER OF ENTERING THE SEWER
at this point is quite interesting. There are
some eight or ten wires, and large straight
pole is planted at the north side Of the avenue.
very deep and securely fixed with a wood foot
and braces under ground to prevent the strain
OF the wire, upon it from turning iu over.
THIS pole has groove cut in it about inches
deep,and about the same In width from thetOp 10
the bottom The wires are all brought to-
gether in ore cable, and run down this pole
TO the ground, where the cable enters terra
Gotta pipe laid under ground across the street
to the sewer, which Is reached by way o. q
EanhOle. The cable is then continued thr ough
the sewer, fastened to the crown Of the arch
With iron staples at convenient distances.
The wires being insulated requires no other
fastening, and should any break occur which
is rot likely TO be the case, the sewer Is Access
cessible at every manho.e and cas- ~ Travelled.
District authorities to enter the North Capitol
sewer at New York avenue to conduct their
wires TO the Capitol
OPINION OF ENGINEER OFFICERS.
Lieut.. HoXle states that he thinks there can
be no objection to tn, use of the sewers for
this purpose, unless injury Is done them In
making the fastenings for the wires, In which
companies. He thinks it would not inter- ter
fere with the flow Of water, and that the wires
would be secure from many of the damages
Incident to outside exposure
A New Church Organized.
TIE WITHDRAWING MEMBERS OF UNION BRruRI
"a. NJ. e. CHURCH ELECT OFFICERS.
At the adjourned meeting of the Withdraw
Ing members Of Union Bethel A. NJ. E. church,
held last night, the following officers were
unanimously elected: Trustee board-Arthur
mmons, John L. Lacy, Henry w. Freeman
VIM. Gwin. Overton Bend, T. Ford and W. G.
Fearing. Official board-Wm. II. Thomas,
Burt Edmonson, Chas Maddix, Augustus
James, N. NJ. Cole, VIM. F. Thomas and Thos.
Washington. Superintendent and assistant
OF the Sabbath school-W II. Thomas and w.
G. Fearing. Leader OF the choir-J. w.
Bailey. Leaders OF classes Frank II. Free
man. w. T. Peel. j. w. Thomas, a. w. Dyson
and Isaiah Berry.
The new church will be known as the First
congregational Methods church OF Washing.
ton D. G. The number O. ,llhiraWing meun-
ters from Union Bethel up TO date is IA. The
amount subscribed for support OF the new
church up to date is 1892. The secretary
read three letters OF congratulatiOn from
prominent ministers approving the action OF
the seceders and Offering to assist them at any
time. The chairman stated that lady offered
the use OF her organ and another offered to
play for them without cost. The Sabbath
school for the present will meet at the rooms
OF the Young Mems Christian association, on
l. street. between 10Th and 18th streets, ana
services OF the new congregation will be held
at Salem Baptist church Sunday afternoon.