New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-23
pER1Ls At HOME AND ABBoAD.

Inc general impression VhdV INC u"hSSi VI
fires from electric lighting is real and grave
danger is confirmed by the interviews with
many experienced observers which were re-
ported in our columns on Sunday. The views
thus expressed by electricians, underwriters,
manufacturers and officers Of the Fire Depart
ment were singularly conservative. There was
not reckless or malicious statement on either
side of the subject, but on the contrary, there
was substantial agreement of opinion that
careless work is always dangerous, that faulty
insulation is common, and that no means OF
perfect insulation has yet been discovered.
There was, moreover, manifest unwilling
ness to believe that electricity is, even now,
the cause of more fires than gas, and an al
most unanimous agreement that it is destined
TO become the safest and best means of IL
Elimination.
Condemnation Of electric lighting certainly
ought not to be based on hasty generalization
from the reports of fires which it has caused;
for it is still comparative novelty, and as such
sure to have it's misdeeds fully reported. Slight
explosions of gas and multitude of trivial ac-
cidents to curtains and woodwork go I'M
recorded because everybody is familiar with
and always more or less expectant OF them, but
the mnuteSt fire from an electric wire is still
a piece Of "news," and treated accordingly IN
private conversation and in the public press.
The three points to which care and ingenuity
ought chiefly to be directed are the proper
preparation of new buildings for the reception
of electric wires, the skilful distribution and
connection of the wires themselves and inn
proved means of insulation. There is no rea-
son to doubt that within few years the many
advantages Of the electric light may be enjoyed
without the accompanying sense Of insecurity
arising from defects within doors.
A far more appalling, if less frequently mani
tested, danger turks in the wires which are
stretched above the Streets instead Of laid
underground as the law commands they shall
be. 1t is not a cheerful thought to the pedeS-
TRAN who is with difficulty making his way
through the streets in a gale OF wind that the
slightest inadvertence on his part or a mere
chance which he cannot possibly foresee may
bring him in contact with a broken or fallen
wire carrying a deadly charge of electricity.
Fortunately for their peace Of mind, very few
persons under those circumstances bea- such
burden with them. Not all know the dan
GER and those who do are seldom conscious OF
it, But every now and then such an incident
as that of Monday morning, when horse was
instantly killed on West-st., brings home to
pedestrians a realization of the perils to which
they are exposed. The simple truth is that
everybody who ventures upon our streets in a
heavy storm runs a risk of making his next
exit from home in a coffin. And the danger
of great confagrations from the same source
is very great During the blizzard of last
March the city enjoyed an immunity from fires
which good judges have always considered
special favor Of Heaven, and which We have no
right to rely upon for the future.
The public keeps insisting that electric wires
shall go underground, but thus far the insist
ance has proved farce which those whose
business it is to put them there have seemed
to find highly diverting. In Brooklyn more
activity has been shown, and better results
have been obtained, although there and in
every ether city from which statistics have been
obtained-as appears from the recent report
Of the Engineer Commissioner Of the District
of Columbia-the constant increase in electrical
business is so great that no matter how much
wire has been placed underground there
has always remained net increase in overhead
mileage" We are not disposed to underrate
the task before the companies nor to demand
impossibiities, but we arc anxious to sec the
work begun in earnest and continued with zeal,
instead of the insolent Indifference to statute
law and public opinion which now prevails.
The electric light wires most threaten life and
property, and that menace at least ought to be
removed at the earliest possible moment.