Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-22

ever. one portion Of the wire touch the ground IN
any place, especially where IL j. wet then his feet
might tt connected tbrouSh ihe damp grou1d
with another part OF The current and tHo paths
thus be opened to the current, with the chances
body The accident On 1 tuesday co t!nues PruI-
iro2ss gy;es People an idS@ ,- Of u the ID danger 1
Aons the streets on p,ies II ~ loftu-
nate that no more serious accidents &c
CURED. Every telephone in the city Is IN
danger and IL tho-e electric wires are no run AN
Ter ground IL i Hsrd 70 tell what would not hap
pen IL would hardly surprise me that IN adol-
ton TO fires bld similar accidents We should soon
hear 81 a person being shocked to death II Is
cay enough 70 do thing right IN the nrst place,
when the way IS plain ana easy. ana II II easy
enCagh 10 run the electric wires uuder ground
The way is ready" The London Ttnes OF i,ecem-
Der 18TH says a workman was instantly killed at
Hatfield House By coming in contact with the
Brush wires conveying the electric c,trrent which
lights the mansion. number of similar &C idents
have been reported in newspapers Supposs FIRE
man was to break a connection ON the Woodward
and Fea H b he f lRTe id 9 81 he h
would be certain death to him or 10 any one else
connecting medium with wire in which the pas
sage OF 20 powerful current was broken. The
should not be exposed 10 so imminenta danger.
The cost 1.-THE underground system is about
$1,000 per mile over the cost Of the poles system,
and it would no doubt be preferable. But
we regard Mayor Raud's oh iections as frivol-
Gus and untenable. The suppositions that
Influence his veto would prevent the build
ing OF another steamboat or railroad loco
motive, and the young ladies of the
country engaging in matrimony from
the fear that her child might accidentally
tumble into a pot OF boiling water. The
veto message of Mayor Rand created
considerable adverse criticism by the people
of Minneapolis. Being iute rested in the Gs
Company, it is charged that he was infu-
enced by Tecuniary motives in his vote. In
this progressive age it will not do for great
enterprise to be impeded by imaginary dangers
under imaginary conditions. II will not
do to tackle circular saw, locomotive, or
a steamboat in full motion, and it is equally
as dangerous to rush blindly upon an electric
li,s.t-ThA electric -rziEes are used in all the
principal CITIES of the East, strung on poles,
and no danger has resulted to either life or
The most eminent scientific men
Of the day regard the electric light as the
'afest known mode OF artificial lighting. The |
National Board of Underwriters have re-
emily completed most thorough investiga- |
ion OF this whole matter, and have decided |
lot TO increase the rates Of insurance where |
he electric light is used. There are, no |
losbt, many valid reasons against the whole |
Ierial system of wires in cities. Disconnected |
rom the electric lighting problem, it is
ngaging the serious attention alike of the
of the large cities of the country
md Of the companies m lking use of the wires.
The adoption OF the underground system
only question of time, depending solely
pom the forbearance of the people and the
OF a system which is practicable,
nd will work no grave hardship to the COM
anies. The multiplication OF wires in the
lrge cities by the introduction of telephones
nd electric lighting systems and the Gre
ton of new telegraph companies, is rapidly
lsking it impossible for fremen to reach
uildings inclosed on all sides, as many of
lem are, by network of wires, and it would
em that the hazard of the existing en-
nglements is sufficiently great.