Evening journal., 1889-04-20
NEWSPAPER OPINION.
achange is Not Reform.

'sChnnge is Not Reform"
Wilmington Freie Presse.
II is surprising 30 the unnitisted obser
yer at Dover to witness the earnest desire
of few men with their doubtless paid
accompanying excursionists haranguing
the Legislature TO promote their private
gains under the cover of and assisted by
the old political hacks of Council, whose
very presence in an honest atmosphere
would produce pestilential stencil.
Such an exhibit was had last night,
when the champions sprang into the
arena of debate, like gladiators in,ancent
amphitheatres, determined to down our
enterprsing citizens who have risked
their own money, time and reputation to
have our city abreast of the progress
sion Of the times by introducing, main
taing and risking the splendid adaptation
Of electricity, as both n motive power and
where the old gas lights made the night
hideols;' has given us splendid illumi-
nation by arc and incandescent lights,
and no forsooth For reasons no sane
man can devise, the hue and cry is raised
by the recent philanthropists that
the overhead wires must in the deep
bosom of old Earth be buried, and rush
ing to the General Assembly in palace
cars, properly equipped, they urge their
cry of reform. Who are they2 They are
manufacturers Of some new method Of
insulated wire, and would induce the
Legislature 20 believe that they have dis
covered the only system, and cry and
slider this. IL IL were not be-
ing SO ardenty and determinately
pressed it would seen purely fiction.
The actual cost Of trying this expert
nent, because It has yet to be proven a
success in any city, will be for the
seven miles required $2i0, 600; and such
expenditure Of money Is by no means lhe
least item or factor Of cost. 1t entails
the risk, indeed almost the certain fail
ure, Of electric system in our city. II
makes the discovery Of leaks or escapes
next TO impossible, and certainly beyond
human skill to remedy in short time.
Years ago Paris, with her perfect system
of sewers. tried underground wires for
telegraphy and found it a failure, as the
| fetid vapors OF the sewers soon
corroded and destroyed the wire.
Then the wires were laid in
laid in gas pines and the best insulation
was had by filing the gas pipes with oil.
This failed by reason Of leaks and evapo-
ration. The first electrical wire by
Morse was laid on the ground, and it was
only when hung upon poles that the tele.
graph was successful. But suppose per-
feet insulation could be had, why put our
citizens TO bankruptcy and the present
company TO abandonment of their legiti-
mate rights to permit new company TO
sell seven miles Of wire. OF all bold
bare-faced methods TO defraud the city
ana blackmail an honest company Of the
quiet possession of their rights, this sur
passes all yet attempted But this is not
all Not only do they have the effrontry
to demand the aid Of the Legislature. but
this in defiance of the opinion of learned
physicians who have declared that to tear
up the cutters and the streets Of city
where the filth has run over FOR years, as
in Wilmington, is.to invite beyond doubt
epidemic Of the most dangerous type.
| Every man, woman and child Is endan-
gered. Why not let well enough alonel
Are the lives Of our people Of no value
when dollars can be made even at such
risksg Every reason protests against
this sschem and not tangible reason can
be offered why it should be done.