Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-10

The reform OF abolishing overhead wires IN the
District seems 70 be progressing backward. Gen.
gress decides 70 leave the existing lines untouched
TOT the present, the Commissioners ask authority
10 put up more poles In pursuance OF the congress
sional decision, AM now the Commissioners add a
new species Of overhead wire TO the existing net
WORK oy permitting the lexington railway 70 con-
struct an overhead electric system along New
York avenue. Washington has strongly desired an
improvement In the motive power Of It's street rail-
ways superseding the horse by electricity cable,
but in the entire discussion OF this improvement IL
has been assumed that the Commissioners have
placed themselves In post TO secure TO the city
the DEMENT'S OF rapid transit without aggravating
the evil OF overhead wires. Capt Grimm was au-
thor1ed by theLl 70 investigate the subject OF the
use OF electricity as o motive-power for street
railwaya and the nrst recommendation
OF his able and elaborate report Is:
That no overhead electrical conductors be per-
mitted 10 the city. but such conductors, with due
precautions TO insure safety. may be allowed on
suburban lines" In an interview Capt grimm
also said, speaking Of the general use of electric
motors: in suburban lines the system will be TO
large extent by overhead conductors, but for
this city, where II Is the Intention 70 put all wires
underground. the adoption OF this system Is out
Of the question, as the same objection Is made to
II that 1, made TO al pole systems: that they
unsigntiy, take up TOD mucn space, and interfere
The Commissioners who, In their report 10 the
senate committee, have stated In similar vein that
IAN electrical conductor OF high potential should
not De allowed above the surface aloRy the line
usleSs In isolated cases, where no harm could en-
sue" have also adopted other Suggestions OF
captain Gri1in's report, and have urged, for
Instance, al his su sgestiOn, that II the Use of
electricity Is authorized In street-railway
charters the regulation OF Methods &C.,
sIaFnN 1sUf.nr I'll.
Where such provision has been lns-r ed In railway
charters the people OF ths city, relying upon the va
rious Official outgiy4ngs whicn lave been made In
opposition TO overhead electnc wires have felt ut
ease In the Confidence that so far as the Commis-
sioners were concerned the Use OF the above
ground system would never be authorized. The
sole recommendation or the overhead system Tor
street railways Is It's cheapness. It's disadvan-
tages, outside OF the danger where a high te.sion
curreat, Is employed are stated as: 'sThe
use Of the poe lines which In general will
not De tolerated In large cities; the absolute
necessity OF using low tension currents when the
rail constitutes part OF the electric current; and
the difficulty OF ensuring good contact with the
rail when the streets are not clean (as In WASH
ingtou?l or are covered with SNOW" Electric
railways are not confined to this system AT the
Antwerp exhibition in 1885, careful experiments
were mad upon direlelt KINDS Of tramway motor,
the highest prize. outside OF their greater
cost, tue conduit systems, burying neIlllic
conductors beyond the possibility OF accidental
contact are recognized as lar preferable for In
cities. Washington should have the best electric
motor which experiment has disclosed IL is con-
ten1ed, In behalf OF the Commissioners. that they
have no power TO authorize a breaking OF the
ground for the conduit system or to require the
Use OF storage batteries The fact that tue bill re-
Quired ,he ConInIs, liners approval OF the manner
Of the construction Of the road, ami made
IL lawful for the corporation with the
approval OF the Commissioners 40 make all
peedful excavations In any OF said streets
and 10 place In such trenches and excavations
all neeiiui devices Tor operating said railroad"
was thought TO contemplate and TO include tnis
power. i the Commissioners are really without
authority In the matter, the people Oh the city will
take more nsely interest In the wording VI new
railway Charters There Is no general dis. osi,ion
To aSgravate one evil In the effort TO reform an
Otl<r.