Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-21

IL contended that the current proposed for the
lexington electric railway wires IL not Of SUM-
Gently high potential TO be dangerous Congress
mas not limited specifically the character OF the
current which may be employed, and II, as con-
tended, no power is given the Commissioners 70
regulate the railways motive power, and their
permit TO occupy the air or ground is formal
matter which they can be compelled TO issue
against their viii, the question Of using high
potential current Is in the discretion OF
tne railway, and a decision upon this point
reached to-day may be changed tomorrow with
out accountability 10 any one. The same discre-
ton Will also be enjoyed by the other washington
railways given the general power to use electricity,
and by other roads proposed or existing which are
now asking and which may hereafter be given
TINS power. And through the exercise of this dis
erection any man living upon a present or pro-
posed street railway line may have an ugly pole
planted and dangerous wire strung IN front OF
his house. 1t is said that as copper is expensive
IL Is generally much cheaper to increase the
tension rather than the quantity Of the current.
Few people will expect the railways in the exer-
else OF their discretion to select the expensive
alternative merely because II Is less dangerous TO
the public. 1t Is also TO be remembered that the
wires are not rendered harmless by reducing the
tension below the point which means death to the
average man. Accidents to persons and recent
experiments IN New York upon dogs show wide
variation In individual powers of resistance
TO electricity. Some endure shocks which
would ordinarily be expected TO prove
fatal, while others succunb to q much
feebler shock, the result depending upon
the physical condition OF the victim and other
special circumstances. one is not encouraged to
expose himself to be struck by lightning by the
reflection that persons have recovered from such
shocks or by the suggestion that the artificial cur
rent which threatens him Is a few volts below the
number which viii certainly kill him, and that II
his physical condition Is al right he may pull
through with his life. Overhead wires In cities
also menace the public with dangers which
cannot be credited TO some Of the Individual
wires. The various cords of the network are
constantly coming in contact, and many deaths
have resulted from currents conveyed through
hanging telegraph wires ordinarily harmless,
from high potential conductors across which they
have fallen. Every overhead wire in a city sys-
TEN Is armed, potentially, with the death current
Of its LeighbOr. For this and other obvious
reasons, often recited, overhead eleetric-motor
wires, Ike all other overhead wires, are
denominations in a great city. Capt Griffin In his
report mentions as a feature OF special interest
In the Scranton railway that in city OF 600 in
habitants the use Of overhead conductors is al
lowed. According to a recent correspondent of
The STAR the ScrantOnites are repenting OF this
remarkable permit, and seeking for some electric
motor better lifted TO city use, leaving to WASH
ingtOn. with It's population OF 100000 the unique
distinction suggested by Capt Griffin