New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-06
UNDERGROUND TELEGR4PH UIEES
THEIR USE BY TIE FIRE DEPARTMENTAL NEW
CABLE TO BIZ LAID FOR TELEGRAPH AND 1ELE
PHONE LINES.

THEIR USE BY TIE FIRE DEPARTMENTAL NEW
CABLE TO BIZ LAID FOR TELEGRAPH AND 1ELE-
PHONE LINES.
In THE TRIBUNE last August n full description of
tie underground telegraph line, between P0hce
Ue1dnuarters in Mulberry st. and the Fire Depart
mpnt in Mercer-St., gwen. reporter the o'her
morning met Fire Commissioner Van COtt, ana
asked him what had been the experience OF lhe IRE
Department in using this underground line. lie
said that nearly all the fire alarms sounded above
Uouston ST 90 along the wires OF tins linc ana are
then sent through them TO the Police headquarters
There can be no question:" he added, that
all these wires must soon be put underground
am not prepared to say how this line would 90 LOT
a LONG distance but for any distance III the CITY
am satisfied that il is practical. There are also TWO
tcep hone wires in the line, and they are IN constant
use The utility of underground teiegraphy III case
of storms fires and other causes OF disturbance, can
not he overestmated. Last winter alter that severe
storm in January 1t was eight days before the wires
connecting with tins ollce were an rep5liT6u ra
Telegraph Service, about the success oil the hhe III
question:. q -, IL. 49,. To- M .,,o ,;ro,
laid i'm the ground have beeu brought INTO use by
his department they have been entirely satlsiac-
tory The inheritance OF having wires IN perfect
condition is So great that wire IS not used untl II
has been thoroughly tested. With this TACT IN view
the wires were connected one at time but now
nearly all in the line are connected ana III aetna!
sprvite Some OF them have been used since August
90 and without any ex;enSc for repairs
The wires are laid III an Insulating compound.
which, when cold, resembles glass, beng MADE OF
silica resin. paraliine and lnsced OIL. This
compound when hot, is poured into wooden box,
which is placed two feet below the surface OF inc
street. The box is opened at Mercer ana houston
sis where several wires are taken out ana con-
nected with the wires on the telegraph poles. At
Houston-st. and Broadway the process Is repeated,
but most of the wires run between the TWO depart
1nenfs a distance of about 1000 feet At Police
HeadGuarters, Superintendent Crowley of
The Police TELEGRAPH Service, said that
hn agreed with the statements made by
commissioner Van Colt and superintendent Smith,
ana said that he was pleased with the system used,
especially in regard to the telephone wires.
The reporter then saw \. l. Woodward, the Cen
erai Snperintendent of the United States Under
ground Telegraph Company winch owns thc
system used here, and asked NM what had neen
of nublic Importance" he said except that com
pany has been formed with capital stock OF
81 100000, of which Samuel A MG4 9 y president
The temporary Office is at No. 90 Willlaln-st Ar
Tanrements are making to begin LAYING cable III
Anrl of 800 wires north and south iortelegraph ana
telephone lines part OF whlEh va %l Gc ieiTeI TO
he lad TO Philadelphia, one to Boston and another
TO Chicago through Buffalo and CleVeland.'
What has become Of that mile OF wire laid IN
BROOKLYN nearly two years agof" asked the re-
1t is still there and was tested last week and
vos fouud TO be III excellent working order Ii has
moi cost ANYTHING for repairs and the insulation OF
the wires is as perfect as when they were lald.
Professor Morse never intended TO nave the
wires above ground, but he was unable TO
fnd a material that would msulate the wires. so
he was compelled TO place them upon poles. In Lon
don guttapercba Is used az an ihaulauNe, ou! IL
cracks in short time, and thenlt Is very expensive
with the plastic compound which IS used mere the
cost is not than One-tlrd as uuch as that used
i'm the English system
MctropOhtan Telephone and telegraph Company
said Yesterday that the company had been expert
menflng for some time for the purpose OF aScertan-
ing the best system to use III laying rs wires under
ground, I'VE have had over 100 different systems
or plans submitted to Us, he sad, but nave only
SIX now under consideration one OF which we snail
use II is our purpose to place all our wires under
oround ia the spring. We have the permission
of the Common Council 10 use, the streets
for that purpose, and thus avoid
The use of poles Ii is more difficult 10 work tele
phone wires under ground satisfactorily than II IS
to work ordinary telegraph wires There are ten
times more rctardaion met with IN telephone wires
tban i'm the telegraph wires. We have tried the
s1sten IN use between Police Headquarters and
fHe Fire Department. but il was unsatisfactory 10
onr nuruose " 4 will place wires underground
That has been decided, and satisfactory system
will be employed Tor the purpose" The Western
Union TELEGRAPH Company has been using cable
which rms from the main Office underground 10 the
North River, for some years. and there has been no
trouble with il. The managers OF the company say
thatthcV are eX pcrlmenlng Win underground Wlles
hui they have no intention at the present time OF
placing these wires underground i'll the city.
The Edison Electric lighting Company mas lald
some wires under the street, but has not made any
connection with them YET. Ihey nave Dcch pat
underground $ an experiment.
One of the officers OF the United states Electric
Lighting Company said yesterday that he was salts
fed that il was only aqueslGn OF time when all wires
would have to be placed under the ground III tins
clty as they are now IN European cities. lie sand
there was no difficulty making telegraph wires,
as well as electric light wlres work fully as well
under ground Oh poles aud house tops. Yet, he
said his company had no intention Of
placing wires under the street aIpresent, but would
put up more poles.
The Board of Fire Underwriters had adopted some
stringent rules regard to the use OF electricity for
lighting purposes and Is considering the question
of increasing the rates OF insurance on buildings
over which run the wires OF an electric lighting
company. If this action IS taken II Will compel all
such wires 10 be placed on poles or under ground.
Some of the companies have not yet got the consent
of the Common Council Tor the use OF the streets.