Wichita eagle., 1889-11-13

system L. very dangerous and ali other cities
can well a., I'd 10 wait till she finds the path
Of safety She will soon do it, If it can be
done for To- popular instinct of self preser-
vation and the popular anger over recent
leaths is bringing pressure to bear which
10 officials can resist
At noon one October day, as all the world
knows by this time, Joseph Feeks, the line
man, was shocked, paralyzed and roasted to
death at the corner of Centre and Chambers
street, In the very heart of the business sec
ton. Thousands looked on and groaned in
sympathy with his suferings. And the
tragedy was enacted in full view Of the lead
ing newspaper offices II black fate had Sc
lected the spot for this electrical murder,
with special view to creating the greatest
sensation and thus working up the people to
fierce resolve, it could not have been better
done To add to the interest, the wife Of
Lineman Feeks was lying i'll, and her child
was born a few days later. Public sympathy
took the form of popular subscription. A
box was fastened to the pole where he died
and thousands of people contributed small
sums to it. 1t was noted as a peculiarly af-
fecting fact that hundreds Of the poorest sort
of people contributed pennies. Newsboys,
bootblacks, street peddlers and mere infants
gave their mites till the box was nearly filled
with such coins, and the mite donations OF
the day amounted to S239.23. Other dona-
tions in petty sums have brought the popular
relief fund above 81 ,000.
Every kind of organization took some kind
of action. The labor orders especially passed
indignant resolutions Mayor Grant per-
emptOrily ordered the electric power shut off
until some scheme of safety could be devised,
and for night New York looked unnaturally
dull. Then gas began to resume its old
place; but the amount Yves scanty and the
order went out that only private lights could
blaze Public places and many streets looked
dismal, but soon many were heard TO say
that 'but for the style of the thing we could
get along just as well without the electric
light if gas were plenty" Meanwhile the
legal battle was found to be q very conpli-
Gated affair.
First, the board of electrical control, new
body, of which the mayor is ex-officio men,
Der, decided on the subway question. Some
time before the popular uprising a contract
had been made with a subway company to
prepare the tunnels or subways; the mayor
wanted TO hasten their completion by con-
tracing with other companies, but the other
members objected, and so nothing could be
done till the law had decided the rights Of
persons. At the same time injunctions were
issued by the courts, forbidding the mayor
aud all other persons TO interfere with the
poles. Some had been cut down. AS the
government of rapidly growing city OK
1,SO0, 900 people is necessarily very compli-
Gated, and that of New York certainly not
less so than is necessary, mere detail of the
legal actions and arguments would fill ten
such columns as this.
The net result was to leave all poles and
wires in position for the time being, but tc
shut of ell currents, and 50 leave everybody
safe and impatient till the courts car
straighten out the tangled contracts and de
eide whether ''vested rights" or public
policy is to rule the issue. Also whether the
vested rights" have not been forfeited by
failure to exercise ''due diligence"
The scientific battle is scarcely less compli
Gated, but New Workers are unanimous and
emphatic In demanding that, if it cannot bt
shown to certainty than perfect insulation
can be secured or a perfectly safe subway
system devised, then the companies mus
adopt tie method admitted to be safe by al
electricians, namely, low tension, let it cos
what it may.
la the meantime the board of health, under
= its general power of removing whatever Il
dangerous, has opened a flank movement
which is to be pushed, If the mayor is per
petually enioined- The interval of waiting