New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-24
UNDERGROUND TELEGRAPH SCHEMES

GROWING DEMAND FOR AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF
TRLrGRAPHlC WIRE CONDUCTORS IN THE CITY
APPLICATIONS TO LAY THEM IN PIPEs UNDER
THE sTREETs-TnE "CURDsToNG AID GUTTER"
SCHEME.
Fridays storm practically suspended Geographic
communication in the city. The wires which were
not down were. with few exceptions, interrupted by
fallen wires crossing them and thus breaking tho
"circuit" The erect upon business ana
traffic generally by the unexpected stoppaRe OF
this important agency Of communication
was so serious as to excite general demand Tor
better means of conducting wires about the Guy.
All the old Arguments i'll favor of the sinking OF the
wires under the streets were reviv and enforced
by application of the new illustrations furnished by
the storm. The extravaganza, dangers and de-
structiveness, well as tho unsighlllness or the
present system of wires suspended from pole 10 pole
or roof to roof of houses; were urged against the
construction of further lines on the same system.
gentleman largely interested in the active
management of telegraph lines said That
the use of poles aud wires exposed to storms
cOmpelled constant repair and watchfulness by
large force of men specially trained for the peculiar
work and resulted practically In the occasional re-
building of the lines. Moreover, the wires thus eX-
posed, in order to sustain their own weight and
that of ice and snow had to he made much larger
than they would be II protected, and the needless
cost was something IKE hall the expense. III DuilV
i'm cables each wire need not be more than tie
thickness of needle or pin. If submerged IN water
or laid under ground they could be made of any de.
sirable thickness, single cable combining scores Vi
separately acting wires. ,
A prominent official who is connected with the
Fire Department. spoke from observation OF the
dangers and difficulties of the present system. The
wires when built across roofs are placed upon
frames resting on roofs. and frequently leaks are
thus started In heavy storms the wires. swayIng
from side to side with IT, wind, strike tue roof or
chimneys and are thus very destructive. lhe wires
stretched in trout of buildings greatly interfere
with the operations of ircmen at fires. With the
natural increase of wires now gq&s on these DIN
culties may prove ilisurn0untabe attef IL tlne nc
danger of interruption of The CO. munica'ion by
which all fire companies arc now p"ckly informed
of location of "A fire IS a serious matter.
Several schemes are already before the pubic Tor
laying underground lines to which, however, gem
era attention has not been very actively directed.
The Edison Electric Light Company, which has
permit from the Common Council TO light the lower
applies for the privilege OF laying the necessary
wires under ground. This has not yet been
granted, and it is opposed for several
rraures the tearing up of the entire length of each
street to be supplied with lights. and. when repairs
or additions are necessary, travel must DC largely
interrupted at the points ut which work IL going on.
Another company, of which General w. r. Smith,
OF the Police Board, Is manager ana director, az
ready has permit to lay lis wires unG"r ground.
This permit it is understood 10 have dIspoae OF to
the Western Union Company, but the latter nas not
avaed Itself OF the rgit further than To lay lew
pneumatic tubes The applications by these compa-
MES contemplate only the laying Of an ordinary
pipe in which the wires will be laid. This system
is ia use IN London. where its chief defect ID found
to be in the difficulty of making repairs and addi-
tiOns without Obsiructlng travel
Still another and later scheme is one patented III
this country by John ID. townsend, the inventor.
and in England by Charles H. Gore, oil TINS citS,whO
is owner of two-nitns. MIR. Gore Is now III London.
where it is proposed to introduce tic system. 1t Is
patented here under the name of "A conductor for
underground telegraph lnes," ami Is simple plan
to make the curbstones of the sidewalks and The
cutters of the streets available for the RECEPTION
of the wires. IL can be built III sections Of anv
length each taking the form of a single step of
ordinary stairway, and the whole "t "A block of
sections looking like and occupying the space OF
the CURLING now in general Use. The whole IL made
of cast Iron very heavy and strong 80 as not to be
lnju, ed by trucks backing against 1t or heavy
articles falling upon II.