Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-11

Third. All overhead telephone wires in the
streets or avenues of the cities of Washington
and Georgetown should be prohibited after a
fixed date. This prohibition. however, should
not extend to the alleys. Distributing wires of
all the electrical systems should be permitted
in the alleys, under the direction of the Com
mlssloners, for these arrangements can gener-
ally be made more conveniently and safely than
arrangements for underground entrances into
houses.
From the best information in my possession
l estimate that, to place all the overhead tele-
phone wires underground, about Is miles of
conduit will be required. 1 am unable to de-
termine. even approximately, the cost of this
work. for II the methods heretofore used are
employed. this will depend largely upon the
number of wires which the company considers
it necessary to establish with view to future
business. The work will, of course REQUIRE a
large outlay of money and the abandonment of
much valuable overhead wiring In view of
these circumstances think at least one year
should be given the TELEPHONE company to make
the required change. When the time fixed by
Congress has elapsed the company should be
required to remove all its poles and wires from
the streets and avenues.
THE TELEGRAPH COMPANIES.
Fourth. If the Commissioners are authorized
by Congress to make and enforce regulations
for the control of the distribution of electric
ity, as before recommended, they will be able
to compel the removal of all dead wires and all
wires and poles not necessary for the service
OF the public. Such action and the prohibition
OF the erection OF new wires would soon greatly
reduce the pole and wire nuisance, and would
tend to force the telegraph companies to place
their wires underground. The number of
miles OF overhead wire owned by telegraph
companies is everywhere greatly in excess of
the number owned by all other companies com
bined, yet attempts in this country to compel
them to bury their wires have never proved sue
cessful to any great extent Congress may enact
law prohibiting all overhead telegraph wires
IN the streets and avenues of the cities of
Washington and Georgetown after fixed date
and direct the removal of the same when the
time allotted has expired. This method, how
ever. has not proved very successful elsewhere
In New York, Philadelphia and Chicago laws
were passed ordering the peremptory removal
of all telegraph poles on certain dates. The
dates were passed, the laws were not repealed,
and the poles still stand on the streets. The
simple fact is that the telegraph business
of the country Is too important to be suddenly
cut off under any circumstances whatever
L suggest that the telegraph companies be
given period Of at least one year to place all
their wires underground. and that after the
lapse OF this time they be required to pay a
license fee OF S25 per pole per annum for each
pole maintained within city limits.
The length of conduits required to accom-
modate the Western Union telegraph system is
IL ,647 miles. The national conduit. with six
ducts. manholes and distribution. costs about
SO, 900 per mile. Thus the expense to the
Western Union telegraph company for con-
duits alone Off open conduits are employed)
would be sl16,47O In addition to this the
company would have to abandon all its poles
and wires, which would not pay for their re-
moval, and expend large sum for the pur-
chase and establishment Of underground wires.
A letter just received from Mr.. Morrell
Marean. superintendent of the Western Union
telegraph company in this city, states that
ABOUT 5OO miles OF underground wires would
be required to provide for the present service
OF the company, and that the change from the
$500, 600
since the telegraph companies pay nothing
Tor their privileges, l see no reason WHY they
should not make these expenditures; but the
length OF time which should be granted them
70 make these changes is a matter for consid-
Grafton.
ELEcTRIc-LIaHT WIRES.
futn. All overhead conductors for convey
ing currents Tor electric light or power, unless
operated by the express authority of Congress,
should be prohibited in the streets and avenues
OF the cities of Washington and Georgetown
after hxed date, say September so. 1889: but
the commissioners should have the authority
70 permit the temporary employment of such
conductors in cases Of necessity, This authority
is required IN case it becomes necessary To re-
pair any part Of the underground system. No
contract should hereafter be made for the
lighting OF the public streets which contem-
plates the use Of overhead wires. The Com
missioners should be authorized in their dis
erection to enter into contract. after dine adver-
tisement, for a term of at least Eve years, with
one or more companies, for lighting by cleo
tricity such streets and avenues of Warrington
and Georgetown a. they may select, either by
the arc or incandescent system, or by both. the
conductors to be underground; and the com
psny or companies with whom these Contract
are made should have the exclusive right 10
furnish electric lights 10 private establishmepts
along the routes on which they supply the pub
confident that cheap, satisfactory, guaranteed
underground system Of electric lighting can be
obtained.
GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF EL1crRlo LIGHTING.
On the question of governmental control Of
the efectric-lishting systems Of the District
the Commissioner exprssses his views freely.
At some time In the future Il may become nee