New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-16
TO TEAR DOWN THE WIRES.
THE MAYOR ONLY AWAITS THE ORDER
DIRE TROUBLE PREDICTED BY THE COMPANIES

DIRE TROUBLE PREDICTED BY THE COMPANIES
IF CONNECTIONS ARE CUT.
MAYOR Grants order to the Commissioner Of Pub
liz works TO remove the telegraph wires, cables
and electrical conductors IN the subway districts Is
signed and ready for delivery soon Judge Wal
ace's order dissoving the Western Union injunction
s received at the Mayors Office It is understood
that the Mayors order is q sweeping one and will
include ABOUT everything In Broadway, sixth-ave.
and the streets and avenues provided with conduits.
except the Fire Department lines and the wires upon
the Manhattan Elevated structures. The removals
win for the present be confined 10 the region above
rourtccnth-st. 1t Is intended on the Mayors part
20 proceed systematically and fmparally, and in q
manner TO produce the minimum OF Inconvenience to
the public. There WI DO no raids directed against
any particular company
Commissioner d. Lowber Smith said yesterday that
he all ready to set his men at work eas sooD
a. ne received the Mayors order "The Bureau OF
Incumbranoes,' he said, has three gangs OF men
ready which will be doubled II necessary and Kept
at work as long as the appropriation lasts. Super
intondent Mccormick, Of the Lamps and Gas Bureau.
reports to mo that tho removal Of the Broadway poles
and wires will necesstate the lighting of 1900 gas
lamps to replace the electric lights. This VIII require
1000 glass globes. We have but 500 or so OF those
but will make the connections with tho gas mains
and push tho arrangements necessary to avert q
period Of darkness rapidly as possible"
A telegram from John NJ. Bowers, counsel for the
Board Of Electrical Control, was received by Mayor
Grant yesterday, stating that Judge Wallace had
signed the order at Syracuse yesterday morning. that
IL would be entered In the United States Clerks
once In New-York this morning. and certified
copy delivered to the Mayor The Mayors order to
Commissioner Smith win probably reach the latter
before noon to-day.
The Bureau Of Membranes was yesterday OF work
removing the wires OF tho West Side Electric Light
xefAsx LET fvaA nd
Eleventh ayes, and in Fifty-third-st Although the
Board of Electrical Control refused Its permission the
company proceeded TO stretch its wires the house
tops In the streets mentioned and began supplying
customers with incandescent lamps About 10000
feet Of wire was removed
Speaking for the western Union telegraph COMPANY
yesterday, w. 3. Somerville said that one con-
would take such summary action In regard to the
noyal Of poles and wires would lead to the incon-
vcnienee Of the public by reducing telegraphc fac
ties Nothing had been done by the company, nor
could anything be done. In anticipation Of such action
The company was relying upon the common sense Of
the Mayor to prevent the paralysis of its business.
When 1t was suggested that Mayor Grant would be
likely 20 execute his threat order down all poles and
wires in broadway and Sixthave, Mr. somerville de-
clarcd that be did not really know what the company
would do in such case, except to bring an action
against tho city for damages.
1t might be possible, he said, all connections to
the Eastern wires Of the company were destroyed by
the removal Of poles to around the break In
other way For instance, cables could be run down
Deyst TO the Sixth-ave. elevated structure and
Rcd thence 10 the Harlem River. Then, running
along the south bank of the river, these wires could
be carried to those placed the Thi-ave. elevated
rosd between the City Han station and the Harlem.
Tie latter wires would have to be cut at the Harlem
River and connected with the additional cables run on
the Slxth-ave line. This would furnish Eastern con-
nectons. and. needed. loon down Thrd-ave. clear
to the City Hall station again. Such an arrangement
would involve considerable outlay for construction,
but 1t would partially remedy the interruption. 1t
Would not, however, bring any nearer permanent
settlement of tho underground problem. and would not
benefit The subway Company having the rental Of the
eonduits.
He did not believe that Mayor Grant realized the
seriousness Of the situation, and he said taas
people who he'd been accustomed to hay
Ing telephone always ready at hand,
box in order the services Of messenger, and
who should and themselves deprived Of these con
venences b. the MAJOR, would raise great fuss about
IL Nearly all Of the district messenger service womb
have 70 be suspended and than hfy OF the COM
pany's branch Offices In tho city would DO closed
What the company proposed to do, Mr. somervine
said was simply to VET and gee wsat aa so sseS
would be taken At any rate. the company would DO
lis best with the facilities at hand The companys at
torneys received official notice Of Judge Wallaces order
yesterday. q