New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-06


head where tbs other before tao snbways
ars completed or in connection with tho subwsys aitor
they arc built .
Very little progress has been madc by tho Board In
Tho telegraph and telephone services are except
mai. ane ws S On s Of good
The electric light conductors however, are very
dangerous to both life and property whenever mpIop
erly insulated and improper insulation OF these dan
whore throughout tho city The only regulations
Affecting tho use Of electrical conductors In the city OF
Now York prior to the organization of this Board were
w resolutions of the BOARD OF Aldctren touching tho
erection Of poles which have never been SO far as tbs
with; and tho provisions OF the Fire Underwriters In
reference TO the Insulation of the arc lighting and
fect property Il strictly adhered to, OF little avail
owing to the absence Of proper Inspection and SUPER
vision of tho wires from time TO time as their insulation
becomes affected by the clements and by natural
The chief provisions Of the Board Of Underwriters
are to the effect that the electric light wires must be Of
tho kind known as underw rcrs wirer aud that they
underwriters wire, is copper wirc covcred with
tape saturated With white lead and certain length
q osaas renders II susceptible to moisture After
being In msc s longer the tapc rots away and leaves
tho naked wire exposed
DANGEROUS ELECTRIC WIRES
In many places In the city OF New-York electric
light and power wires are carried dangerously near
building, awnings, telegraph and other poles, lamp
posts and other street distractions.
n Agan' In many parts OF tho city several distinct
20 be found on the same side Of the street and these
Roies necessarily differ in height, the wires upon them
Of the hooks ladders and Ife saving apparatus Of
placing Of ali the wires on The same side OF any Street
upon one Inc OF poles, would in great measure OBJ
Again. nuisance has been created by the fact that
companies having contracts TO Hight the city by cleo
use, which necessitates frequent tearing up Of tho
pay YEN ps when any new contracts are awarded
OF thcsc dangers and difficulties In rules and reg
,uaiions which 1t has established for the government
Owing. however to the lack of Inspectors. who can
question Of such delay and doubt h1' few mpoyo
mems have been made in tho condition of the over
and regulations Of the BOARD ''"''
rAc torS so sr % &c and
ton Of The snbways Of the overhead service. duty
possible. and it is believed that with tho ruIcs and
regulations already adopted and added to as
complications of the overhead wires Will be materially
diminished.
THE CONDITION or rHr WHIPS UNDERGROUND.
In nangurating the underground system. the Com
mission has followed certain principles which may DO
defined follows:
Iys' conduit subway for electric conductors natl.
and convenience for placing and protecting them under
high, and power conaGetors .hona as
sisy a. from SSss tor u the
r ssra and form Of the subway
.e, The OF the locality and the service
issn Ora ing 10, essdat: With con,s,en.
are In the man me most desirable for the sire Is Of
nnciv dav. :. place thor conductors uwavs
sia he easily accessible without serious d,r
Tyoh-Tre of the Underground service depends
rs.s S-1v with the the Fights
Of others hend be allowed to tho companies making use of
STns nature e. local sonnssssns sse:pas srs.
signed and here aan ocry Of choice under proper restrc
Proceeding flOm these general prnc Dlcs. Board
has constructed shbways In different localities largely
differing In design. size and material
The subways. however. with the exception of tho
construction for the Edison incaDdcscen plant arc
all on the drawing in-snd-out pattern which means
tube a series of tubes ducls through which cables
or insulated wires can be drawn terminating stdi;
can be had from tho street by removing a.
Iron cover 81
t. exercise In tho additions 10 the conlniis
for the purpose of making local co INJECTIONS allowing
several companies desire for themselves rom the
taken advantage Of and promises beneficial results.
For example. tho Construction Company has at
Of distribution for the of tho telephone wires in
downtown streets where 1T seemed desirable wlio az
ton with honseop distribution has proved emclchl
The way in which the resolution nofyi ng companies
to place their wires In the SnDways was drawn piac-
tcally allows the companies operating wires 10 soIcet
their Subscribers while at time the authority
of the Commission over the CONSTRUCTION ,9nipai'
and it's work. as well the supervision of the Con
st,Tctlon COMPANY itself over the underground &C
rtmnlodations, is preserved
THE REGULATION OF THE sUBwAYs
Tho requirements In the nature of safeguards TO
10 observed 10y companies placing their wires III tho
sul,yays have moi as yet been fully promulgated,
and must necessarily be largely modified in the future
by the experience gained in the practical use OF con
The nrinci,le which viii decide these requirements
moro fully. a. work of operating conductors nI-
est posshin liberty 10 The electrical companies com
rstile with the prcserV alton of the Interests o'
A system Of inspection Of the subways and tho
wires within them and their malnenanco ire ron ON
load Is giving AMI viii give its attention, and in
ccnain,y of the payment of Inspectors, should II en-
Ylcy thcin
COMPLAINT ABOUT LACK or FUNDS.
Tn conclusion the report dwells on the way in
which the efficacy of the Board has been impaireN
through lack of funds and doubt as to payment
of its expenditures The collection from tho
electrical companies" it adds, " Of the moneys
appropriated for the Board of Commissioners of
Electrical Subways and the Board of Electrical
Control has proceeded so slowly that up TO the
present time arrears of pay due to the officers
and employees Of the Board from January, 1887,
while other accounts are outstanding ior aeoaS
ntractrd even prior to that date A hberil
appropriation which shall enable the empioyIncnt
Of competent inspectors to classify the overhead
wires with view of their being placed In proper
condition, and TO supervise the subways and the
wires within Them and which will also enable
the fulilmcnt of obi cations 10 the officers, en-
ploycs and creditors of the Board, is therefore
suggested
THE MAYOR WILL HAVE NONE OF JONES.
sTbere are lies about me in The Times this
morning." said Mayor Hewitt yesterday.
The particular statement which he characterized rs
containing lies editorial asserting that he had
neglected his duties a OF the Board Of Elec
srcai Control.
The fact s that have been prompt IN attending to
those duties" eddei the Mayor Z" The Board did not
direct do anything. 1t has no such power IL did
request Inc order the Commissioner OF Public WORKS
10 remove certain lies and wires The minute got the
request in an Official form wrote to the Commit ssioner
for information. 4 find that he has appropriation
Mhion be used for this purosc Now tle only way