Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-13
TO PUT WIRES UNDERGROUND.
superintendent Miles Recommends an
Abandonment of she iAir.Lfne Sys.
tenn.

tenn.
Superintendent Miles, of the District tele-
graph and telephone service, in his annual re-
port to the Commissioners says in relation to
underground cables, 81 have made an estimate
OF the cost of putting all the wires of the Dis
trict government underground and find the
cost to be $15O,OOO. This estimate is based
upon laying trunk lines, as indicated on the
map, measuring 80, 400 lineal
feet, and with loop or branch routes estimated
at 13S, 800 lineal feet, and with 500 miles of
wire. This plan if carried out would put all the
fire alarm and telephone wires OF the District
within city limits underground, and afford
ample facilities for the addition of all the in
sIruments that will be required for many years
to come. One OF two things will have 10 be
done: put the wires underground or put them
on poles OF sufficient he light 10 keep them
above the trees in the streets. The latter
proposition is impracticabIe, the other practi-
cal, and in the long run tar more economical.
The facts are that very soon
THE FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH LINES
will have to be reconstructed, whether above or
below the surface. These lines were constructed
in 1875, over house tops and on Small poles,
at an expense, including the instruments, of
$4,000, all OF which was paid by the District
OF Columbia Now these poles are all in q state
OF rapid decomposition, some of them quite
rotten, and must be substituted in some way
very soon. The house top wires are regarded
by the owners of the houses upon which they
are fastened as nuisance and are only toler-
ated because of the deep interest felt in the fire
telegraph. Whatever may have been said or
thought in regard to the success want of
success OF underground wires, think the Ques-
ton is fully settled That upon short lines for
municipal purposes there is no doubt of their
superiority over even the best constructed air
lines, better because free from atmospheric dis
turbances and other air line troubles, and hence
there need be no hesitancy or doubt as to the
practicability of an underground system"
With the report us indicated, Mr. Miles sub
mits a map of the city showing where he pro-
poses TO lay
THE PROPOSED TRUNK LINES.
The main trunk lines, he said, should be laid
as follows: Starting from the central Office, at
northwest corner of 5th and D streets north
west, along Louisiana avenue to Pennsylvania
avenue, and thence along Pennsylvania avenue
10 10TH street northwest. AT Pennsylvania
avenue and 18th street, run along ID street TO
18th street northwest; from Pennsylvania
avenue and 18TH street, along 18th to l. street
northwest, along l. to 17th, along 18th TO NJ
northwest, along NJ to High street, West Wash
ington; from Pennsylvania avenue and 9Th
street northwest; from 10Th and l. streets
northwest, along 15thstreet to Boundary north
west; from 10Th and NJ streets northwest, along
10Th street to + street, along street TO Vir-
ginia avenue, along Virginia avenue TO 26Lh
street and along 10th to / street northwest;
from 2Uth and NJ streets northwest. along 2Oth
street TO Boundary street and along Boundary
8 treet to 10Th street northwest.
Starting again from cenocal Office, run along
ID street 10 New Jersey avenue, along New
Jersey avenue to the sixth precinct station
house, then along New Jersey avenue TO C
street, along to Massachusetts avenue north
east, along Massachusetts avenue to 1th street.
From 5th and Massachusetts avenue northeast,
along 9th to G street southeast along q to Sth
street east along Sth street to Virginia avenne
southeast, along Virginia avenue to llth street
southeast, and along 11th street to the Ana
costa bridge. Starting from Sd and u north
west, along Sd TO broadway northwest. start
ing from I'D aud II northwest, along H street to
Boundary and III streets northeast,
Starting again from headquarters run south
along 4l2 street 10 Virginia avenue southwest,
to No. engine house, thence down Az street
to K street south, along + to 9Th stree, along
9th street TO 9th street wharf, Starting again
from No. engine house on Virginia avenue
southwest, along said avenue to ID street. along
d street to 14th and d streets southwest
"These as trunk lines," Mr.. Miles says, "will
afford an abundant opportunity to reach by
loops al necessary signal boxes for fire alarm
and patrol SERVICE aud to the various station
houses, and together with such OF ahe munich
pal schools as it may be desirable TO connect
with the telephone service. It is important
that this work be begun and pushed forward
rs rapidly as possible. AS stated before tue
fire telegraph wires must of necessity be con-
strucied very soon, and il ever TO be put under.
ground, 1t should be done at once, SO as TO save