St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-07
ELECTRIC LIGHT WIRE DANGER
An Instance Yesterday Of n Startling
and Warning Character.

The GLOBE has already published several
articles pointing out the dangers Of the cleo
the light wires coming In contact with those
Of the telephone aud FIRE saIarm systems in
tie city. and from their careless erection or
handling has predicted loss Of property as
well as Of life
Between the hours OF four and Eve O'Clock
yesterday afternoon al electric light wire Of
one OF the two companies in this city came in
contact with the telephone wires At some
point, which was not aseertained last might,
burning out three section lines OF the same,
and is supposed TO have destroyed quite a
number Of telephone instruments. On
one OF these lines Is 2ql
selby avenue, the residence Of Chief
Black, OF the Ere department, whose occu-
pants observed smell Of smoke in the
dwelling and traced il to the telephone box,
where the coils were found 10 be melted, the
box TO be on FIRE aud considerably charred.
At the time the wires came in contact Dan :
iel Ncary was at the telephone instrument in
the Office of the Fire District Telegraph in
Central FIRE hall and was severely
shocked in the arm, while quite pyroteeh-
mic display vas made on the telephone
switch board
Superintendent jenkins, OF the FIRE alarm
telegraph, said that the electric light wires
were clear of the fire alarm poles and he IN
derstoOd that they had been ordered of Of
thstelepbone poles. In such wet weather as
yesterday the insulation on the electric light
wires amounted to nothing, as water WAS
one Of the best conductors Of
electricity, and he had long feared
worse accident than the one
which had occurred, with an electric wire
crossing the fire alarm and telephone sys-
tens OF the city, at any moment $4,000
worth Of property OF the fire alarm system
was liable TO be destroyed and the entire
system wiped ont He wondered the St
Paul public did not wake up 10 the danger
they we're in Of being left by such an acct
dent without any means Of prompt nOtifca-
ton Of hres, and that the authorities did not
take measures to have the electric light wires
properly yui up with a view to avoidance
of such a calamity, or under ground where
they really should be- located for the
general safety. As It was the electric light
wires were in the position Of lighted match
held above key Of powder, not only endan-
gering portion of, but the entire city.
Chief Black seconded tile assertions of Mr.
jenkins in regard 10 the danger to the FIRE
alarm system from the electric light wires,
and added that we're not some action taken
by the city government TO
compel different policy in
the erection of the electric light lines OF wire
that the business portion Of the city, where
telephone wires were run hither and thither
through the stores and Offices, touching wood,
iath and infammable substances, would be
burned by unknown cause" and being set
on fire by the contact Of the electric wires
with the telephone wires thus concealed, and
in such case equal 10 trains Of kerosene laid
over a structure, the Ere department would
be blamed for not being able to get at the
flames and subduing them.
Chief Black cited the instance occurring
last year In the Metropolitan hotel dining
room where the electric light wire running
on the hard finish close 10 the ceiling, the
latter happening 10 be wet, set fire to the lath
and caused the department TO be called out.
The fact Of a bill poster, while FASTING NJ
handbill at the Olympic theater few days
| ago, happening TO bit the electric wire with
the moist paper and being knocked over,
was cited 20 show that the insulation of the
electric light wires amount to nothing when
there is any moisture around.
To show how carelessly the electric light
wires are handled, Supt. jenkins instGnced
the Summit avenue aud Seven Corners cleo
trio masts where the wires hang so near the
ground Il times that should person acct.
dcntally put a hand on them in wei
weathet, such person would be killed out.
right.