Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-02
u :DERGKOUND WIRES.
The Conduit system Endorsed by the Ch
Engineer of HhllauelDhln,

Iho Conduit system Endorsed by the Chief
Engineer of Philadelphia.
In view of the probable adoption by the
city OF the electric system OF lighting, the
placing of the wires on the streets is a
project worthy Of attention, and the tx.
perience and observation of the authorities s
of other cities is worth consideration. Tho
chief engineer of the z Philadelphia fire de-
partment who recently visited Chicago to
inspect the workings Of the underground
conduit system of laying wires reported
must satisfactory and conclusive tests.
All kinds of electric currents were passed
over tho wires in the conduit, side by side,
without tho slightest interference with one
another, electric light, telegraph and tele-
phone. AS to the dangers Of the over
head system Chief Catln says:
1t left no room in my mind to conjecture
an excuse for further federation of the
overhead nuisance, ever increasing danger
to life and property, as experienced by
your department at almost every fire and
hero must state that if the wires were all
removed from our streets, and tho same
number of fires should occur, the actual
loss would be reduced in an amazing de-
gree, as tho record Of the department
would prove. embraced the opportunity
Of interviewing number of the electri-
clans present on 4 question that has caused
mo TO little anxiety for the past year, the
subject of which am daily in fear must
grapplo with. 1t is tho overhead electric
light wires.
The total ignorance Of myself and men
Of tho action Of this terrible element, and
tho entire want Of satisfaction to be gained
from tho Brush people themselves on tho
subject, has cost me moro anxiety than |
had over cared to express, and the infor-
nation gained at Chicago has not ahated
that fear, but only Increased it.
find that the coating on the wires in
Chestnut street, instead Of being of an in
sulating quality, is simply paint for the
protection of the wires, and not to prevent
escape of the current that should any one
touch these wires while charged with the
current, on the surface of which there ex-
listed any moisture, it would close tho Cir
cult through tho body. And when l
stopped to think OF the chance Of tho coat
ing being free from moisture, it would
never be SO, on the contrary, they would
be soaked all the while, as streams
from the apparatus would fill thor6ajr
with water, and l found that it u Id
be perfect suicide to allow a man 20 at
tempt to cut these wires when charged,
as the man, and shears and wires would
all be wet, which would pass the whole
current through his body; and suppose
he succeed in cutting them without
harm to himself, the ends thus cut loose
would discharge this terrible current into
any thing it came in contact with, which
would be worse than to lot them alone.
Aud to knock the poles down would rs
suit in the same danger.
lido, therefore, submit that 1t is mat.
ter fraught with such evil consequences
and importance to our city's welfare that
the most aggressive movement should be
Immediately inaugurated that would result
in the burial of all overhead wires, par.
ticularly as there remains no longer any
doubt as TO the entire feasibility of an IN.
der ground system.