The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-05
THE ELECTRIC PROBLEM.
LOCAL SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS SPREAD
THEMSELVES ALL OVER IT.
A Joint Committee Meeting Wherein
the Real Issue Was Lost Sight Of
e Compietely--Th Gentlemen Finally
Agrce-to Adjourn.

edge was never known in Memphis as that
which graced President Hadden's office,
City hall, yesterday afternoon. There
were President u. p. Hidden, Mr.. Samuel
Hirsch, Mai. NJ Burke, Capt. Sam T.
Carncs, Mr.. Raphael Scmmes, Gen. Luke
H.. Wright Mr.. Hume, OF the Telephone
company, and Mr.. Mccartney, foreman Of
the Thomson louston Electric Light COM
pany The question which called these
eminent scientists together was solution
OF the problem of strangely interrupted
telephone service in this city, particularly
after night. II is universally known
throughout this entire section OF country
that for knowledge Of cotton, rail-
roads, military, insurance and the
law the gentlemen named above stand
at the head OF their respective classes.
That they could discourse learnedly on the
subject OF manipulating electricity re-
manned 10 he disclosed by the meeting
yesterday afternoon. They rose up TO the
importance OF the occasion, aud hcnceiorth
there will bc n continuation Of kicks.
Mr. llirsch explained that the meeting
wns arranged aud carried out TO learn the
result Of Friday nights test Of telephones
and discuss the remedy. A leading feat.
urc OF this test was the closing down OF cir
cult six OF the Thomson Houston electric
light system, which includes the south
eastern section OF the city. This period Of
darkness continued from 4 TO . O'Clock,
and subscribers were requested 10 expert
ment and report experiences TO the com
mittee. Responses were numerous, con-
sisting OF one from Van Nleet
& Co, who got mixed rs 10 time
and could discern no Improvement
Just before the joint committee was called
90 order, n bulky envelope from the West
ern Union Telegraph company was thrown
upon the table. IL proved 10 be the result
oil test by Manager T.. Howard, who
struck il right and found the telephone
wires clear as a bell. Later, Fire Chief
Cieary came in, and submitted his testi-
mony. His verdict WIS that the telephone
service during tho test was all that could
be desired, and he therefore gave Il at his
opinion that the only remedy was for the
electric light companies TO remove their
wires from the telephone company's poles
and occupy opposite sides OF tho streets,
or 20 underground. This was all the data
the scientists hal on which 20 exercise their
learning, Ingenuity and skill.
After Chairman llirsch had called the
meeting 10 order and briefly explained its
object, Maj. Burke asked the meeting,
through MIR. cCafifey, how the remedy
proposed 10y Capt. Carnes would work.
No one had any idea what the remedy re-
ferrcd 10 consisted Of, but Mr.. McCaiirey
was not going TO allow himself caught in
rear Of the procession, and he promptly re-
sponded, I'VE haven't got the metallic
wire"
This opened mp new branch OF the dis.
cussion, and Mr.. Mccartney was asked 10y
Maj. Burke how much the wire would cost.
ut can H. had from 20 q cents per
foot, was his reply THAT at the latter
price j. what We are using"
eve have tried that wire, aud found Il
deficient, interrupted Manager Hume, Of
the telephone company.
beg pardon, but there II none Of that
wire IN this city save the little We have"
insisted Mr.. McCailfcy, 'and that is In
coils"
"Bh. It's In coils, IL ~" inquired Mai.
Burke. III that's the case must state
that there IL none Of Il Ia U.s. here. I
am familiar with the different kinds OF
wine and have seen no wine In coils in use
here"
At this Chief Clearly fell heavily 10 the
floor Ia a III oi mysteries, and had To be
carried from the council chamber. When
Chairman Hush succeeded In restoring
composum among the excited delegates,
President MADDEN inquired who was going
90 reimburse the city Tor expense incurred
by false hw alarms from contact Of their
wlrs with thosc Of the other companies.
II was learned that this sum during last
year amounted 10 over $50.
"llumphl" exclaimed Capt Carncr.
Accidents are liable 10 happen In the
hest regulated families. I've heard Of men
lcing struck dead by lightning. We've
not liable for that.
"Not much, Mary Ann" said Mai.
Burke. When was going homo one
dark night, and ran into lamp post,
didn't hold the city responsible"
swell, by ganny, II was because you
knew YOU conldn't get H." exclaimed
President MADDEN, and the laugh was on
the major.
'Gcnilcmcn. we digrcss. Return with
me 10 the question at issue" pleaded
Chairman llirSch."
What. the question" came the in.
qulfy Ia chorus.
"llangcd II haven't allowed Il 10 O..
cape, said the chairman, thoughtinlly;
then, glancing down at the three solitary
papers before him, frightened up aud NJ.
markell ooh, yer; here II H. What ia the
best method a. induce the telephone en-.
change operator 70 give you the correct
number and keep out intrusion"
'Oh, come off, Sam, that's not the
backbone OF our deliberations" corrected
President MADDEN, sivastically. after
oil there's no one Who can keep great
body IN line like unto my.cli. We arr
discussing the problem OF cscape."
who's trying a. cscapc2n essentially
inquired the chairman. III YOU want Ia
20 out ifOm amongst us there's no stsing
tied 10 YOU"
Calm yourself, calm yourself, brother;
You didn't gasp my meaning by the
hons, explained the Tycoon, soolhinply.
'k-capc from the electric light wires Ia
What ! referred o..
'Grcat Jcmimylh calculated Mai
Burke, has u COME 10 this3 Want 10 90
cape from Ne, do yon-wani 10 run us out
OF the ciiy7 DO you hear that, captain
How much did You cay our wires coat
McCaiif,y7n
"Ninc"
"Ninety dollIsg"
"Nine.h
'Ninety ccnts2"
SHINE cent? Nine, Nine"
Nine times mines nine $3.50 n mile.
and We have nine miles Of wirel Well, We
don't 80, do you mind that nowl BY golly,
we run our lines just ~ the city has given
IA The priyllcgc, and here We mean 10
stay"
"Bui The privilege was granted on con.
diton that yon would not interfere with