Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-24
TELEGRAPH WIRES.
The number of poles and wires on the streets
at present is as follows:


western Union. .......... sl1 2 1913
Baltimore & Ohio. ........ 175 81
Bankers and merchants. 1s7 Is
Baltimore & Potomac. III 8 16
L. 5. Government. ITO %
Dirtrict of Columbia-.... 623 q 122
Telephone. ............... 2S1 10 81
Electric Light............ 14O 10
Total 1923 70 7e7
This does not include single house-top lines,
which probably amount to $50 miles of wire ad-
ditlOnal. Three years ago there were ,266 poles
with Al miles of line and $50 miles of wire.
The pole and wire nuisance has therefore more
| than doubled in the last three years. In the
central section of the city there is hardly street
which is free frOmit. In the annual report for
1880 the Commissioners recommended to Con-
gress the passage of a law to compel the re-
moval of the wires from poles to underground
| routes, and cited the almost universal
custom of the large cities of Europe (where
poles are prohibited, and where the wires are in
successful use under ground) in support of their
recommendation. They were unable, however,
to secure any action on the subject py Congress.
Since that time the older companies have con-
tinually stated that they were DESTROYS of
placing their wires under ground, and were
experimenting with that view, but had not yet
perfected their systems. New companies have
appeared asking for poles, on the ground that
to refuse them would prevent competition in
| telegraph service and that they also would be
ready to 20 under ground whenever the system
was perfected. BY these arguments they have
succeeded in getting permits for such poles as
were absolutely necessary to get into the city,
circuitOus routes through the outskirts being
generally adopted. 1t is doubtful however, if
these companies have made much substantial
progress on the underground problem, or ever
will under these conditions; for no one has ever
Claimed that an underground system is as
cheap as the pole system, and until that impos-
sibility is achieved the companies will never
consider the system perfected. During the past
year. therefore, all applications for poles tor the
telegraph companies have uniformly been reject
ed except In isolated cases where their poles had
become unsafe or were 80 low as to interfere
with the trees. In such cases they have been
allowed to replace the old poles with new ones
Inc telephone company has, however, been al
lowed to make large extension of it's pole lines
II mas erected poles on Massachusetts, avenue, L.
9th and 5th streets; also in tier Of alleys run
ming north of street, from 18th street to Rock
Creek, and in another tier running north of G
street, from 14th street to North Capitol; it has
has also erected poles on a number of roads be-
vond the Boundary. These privileges have
been granted on the ground that without them
the telephone service, which was greatly desired
by the residents Of the city, could not be con-
Quoted. that the difficulties in regard to
underground telephonng were conceded to be
greater than in regard to telegraphing. and that
the company would promptly adopt any under
ground system which was demonstrated to be
feasible. Its agent also promised to Law
for experiment. He was called upon several
months since for information as to his progress
with this line, but as yet has failed to make any
answer. Under these circumstances 1t would
seem to be proper to refuse all applications Of
this company for any more poles.
The permits for poles in alleys were granted
TO this company, partly because the poles in
alleys would prove less annoying than those on
the streets, and partly because it would remove
the most serious objection to the underground
Sy'Ctn fnr fnIn VIM. In -
house connections-to have pole in the alley
In the center OF each block, to which the wires
could be carried under ground, and from which
they could be distributed into the rear of houses
Some of these poles will therefore form part
of any permanent system. All permits for poles
during the past year have been granted on eX-
press condition that they are subject to revOca-
ton and the poles to removal at the pleasure of
the Commissioners, on sixty days notice. Dur
ing the last few months two applications have
been received for permits to lay underground
wires. The first was from the Standard Under
ground Cable company, a company which manu-
features cables, but is not telegraph company
They offered to lay cables from the War depart
ment to the Capitol, and also on a part of the
District fire-alarm service: the cables to be laid
at the expense of the company, and then sur
rendered to the United States and District
authorities for six months use and experiment.
The laying of these cables was begun on the LIST
OF the present month and is now nearly COM
Telegraph company which desired to bring
Its wires into the city underground and do
general telegraph business. Before granting
this permit careful examination of the city
was made with view of determining what
streets should be used for underground wires
1t was found that 18th street and street would
form parts OF any permanent plans OF UNDER
ground routes. and the privilege Of occupying
these streets for this purpose was granted to the
fostai Telegraph company. The agreement en-
fhnYn 10 In TJ11i In fhn
pendix. In BRIEF 1t provides that this company
snail nave the exclusive right to construct con-
outs LOT electrical wires on these streets, pro-
Vldcd other companies have the right to lay
thelf wires IN the conduits on fair rental, to be
determined In case of disagreement by the Com
missioners The conduits are to be constructed at
once under the asphalt pavements at crossings
OF streets; for the rest Of the way the cables or
conductors are to be laid Under the brick side
wa walk ana no conduits are required at present.
me condults are of brick masonry sixteen
inches square in cross section, inside measure
ment. with substantial cover of iron or stone.
which can be removed at pleasure in order to
give access to the cables. They are large enough
to mold several hundred wires, laid in such man
ner as the companies may prefer. These con-
QUITS at lntersecting streets are now In process
OF construction, and it is expected that they
vii! be completed early in December. The wires
Will De laid as soon as completed. The COM
panies who are laying these underground wires
confidently state that telegraph and telephone
service can be performed with them fully as
well as with the over head system. In very
few months their success or failure will be an
estaolisheu TACT. II they succeed, 1t Will then
be necessary to institute vigorous measures to
compel the speedy removal OF the poles. 1t is
expected That the companies will offer every
resistance possible to the change On account of
the expense, and the question will probably
nave 10 go before the courts for ultimate settle
ment. Outside of the companies interested,
there Is hardly any one who is not in favor Of
the change. and as the companies pay nothing
for right OF way, there is no real hardship in
forcing them to the expense of removal.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) F.v. GREENE,
Captain Engineers.
blessed Of DAYLIGHT