Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-06
THE TELEGRAPH POLE NUISANCE.
Denounced by the Special Committee
Feasibility Of Underground Wires.

The report Of the special senate committee OF
the New York legislature on the feasibility OF
placing telegraph wires under ground has been
prepared. The committee states that at the
threshold Of its inquiry II was confronted with
the fact that the obstruction Of public avenues
and thoroughfares I'm large cities by telegraph
poles and structures was permitted in no coun-
try but the United States. The committee
question the existence of any authority for the
obstruction. II finds that in 1S4S the legisla-
ture authorized the formation of telegraph COM
panies, with the right to construct telegraph
lines along and upon any OF the public roads
and highways, provided the same shall not be so
constructed to incommode the pubic use of said
roads or highways" This act was modified In
1858 by authorizing such lines "upon, over, or
under any OF the public roads, streets, or high
ways" but subject TO the sane restrictions.
These are the acts under which the system has
reached its present dimensions. Tie companies
were empowered to construct their lines over
lands OF private owners by making such owners
suitable compensation. But under this faint
color OF authority companies for telegraphic,
telephone and electrical purposes have relieved
themselves from the payment of such damage
by taking permanent possession Of considerable
portions OF many Of our country roads, and OF
the very finest avenues and streets of our cities
and have built upon them structures for pur-
poses not known when these acts were passed.
These structures unquestionably do obstruct
and incommode the public use of these streets
and avenues, mar their beauty, and are stand
ing offence to the eye that looks upon them
Not only are these structures multiplying with
arithmetical progression under system which
places no limit upon the creation of new COM
panies, but the diameter and height of poles has
been increased, until some of them are loftier
than the buildings In front Of which they are
placed.
The testimony In regard to the feasibility OF
placing wires under ground, In the opinion OF
the committee, establishes beyond controversy
the entire feasibility Of subterranean wires for
telegraphic, telephone, and electric light pur-
poses and shows it to be the duty Of the pres
ent legislature, so far as our larger cities are
concerned, to provide by law for the prompt
commencement Of the work OF putting these
wires under ground and for insuring the remo-
val of the posts and wires from the streets OF
such cities within the next two years and six
months. 1t is noticeable fact that among all
the experts examined in the city of New York
there was not one who could testify unreservedly
against the feasibility of subterranean lines at
the present time. In view of this evidence the
committee believes that the public cam
not afford to await the dilatory movements
Of the companies toward the voluntary adop-
ton OF a subterranean system. and that il will
be wise to secure such adoption by positive leg
isatiOn. The fact that no supervision. either
state or municipal, is exercised over the forma-
ton Of corporations for telegraph or telephone
companies leads to the multiplication of wires
idf utyoHu Ine ucilianuS Ol PUBIC necessity. Inc
committee is of opinion that it may be well for
the present to limit the operations of the bill to
New York City, and that matters Of detail as
well as the subject of local regulation (beng
municipal rather than legislative) should be left
to the control of the cities interested. The COM
mittee recommend that the growth of the evil
be promptly and definitely arrested, and that the
construction of new lines or the erection OF
posts In any OF the streets to which the bill APP
plies be declared clearly unlawful as to Justify
hni fr1pf inn- hu inAtx A,,a1 xx-ba
choose to remove them. They also recommend
that the corporations be required to remove all
the posts or other fixtures from all the streets.
avenues and highways in such cities within two
years and six months, length of time which the
committee believes to be amply sufficient for the
change.