The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-17
TELEGRAPH POLE WAR.
HOstiIities in New York Opened
by Order Of the Mayor
CUTTING DOWN THE POLES
Going on All Day-EHcltins Scenes
on the streets-Tho Crowds Cheer
tho Axcmcn..statep'euts by
tho Telegraph officials.

day, The poles and wires are falling at
last. After more than two Years bicker-
ing between the authorities and the tel.
egraph, telephone and electric light
companies. the removal Of the overhead
wires and poles in the subway district
was begun to-day, The companies
fought for delay to the bitter end. The
Western Union Telegraph Company,
acting like drowning person catching
at astraw, didn't surrender until 1t had
appealed to the United States courts to
prevent Mayor Grant from issuing the
order taking down the wires and poles.
Judge Wallace's order dissolvlng the in.
junction on the Mayor, left the compa-
uies no ground to stand .npon, and 1t
awaited the Judges order for the re.
moVal Of the wires aud poles to com.
mence. Early to-day counsel for the
Board OF Electrical Control went to the
Mayors office taking with him Certi.
fed copy OF Judge Wallace's order.
Mayor Grant was not Present, but
Commissioner Gibbens and Expert
Wheeler, OF the Board Of Electrical
Control, were there awaiting the arrival.
Secretary Grain handed Commissioner
Gibbens an order, signed by Mayor
Grant, directing the Commissioner OF
Public Works to remove poles and wires
from the streets in this order: Begin.
ming on broadway, at the intersection OF
Fourteenth street, and to Continue up
broadway to Twenty.third street; then
on TwOnty.third street from broadway
to Sixth avenue; then or. Broadway
from TwCnty.third street to Twenty-iifth
street; then on Twenty.iiith street from
Broadway TO Sixth avenue; then on
Sixth avenue from Twenty.third street
to EittY.eighth street; tlleb on Broad
way from Twenty.hith street to Forty
llith street; then on Forty.second street
from Sixth avenue to Madison avenue,
THE ORDER sERvEp.
II was 1920 o'clock. when Mr.. Glib.
bcns served the order on Commissioner
Smith. The latter at once Summoned
Superintendent John Ricbardson, OF
the Bureau OF EnCumbranCes. Commits
sioner Gibbens and M expert wheeler,
left at once for the scene OF destruction,
followed shortly after by Superintendent
Richardson. Together, with spurs for
the climbers, the workmGn took with
them axes, pinChers, hatchet and reach
trucks, the Inter to lbe used in taking
away the noles cut down and the wires
cut oil.
The pole on the southeast corner OF
University Place and Fourteenth street
was the scene Of the first attack. The
foreman had his spikes on and in few
minutes with nippers In hand, he quick
ly climbed the pole, while a gaping
crowd gathered around Con- missioner
Gibbens, who was on hand, and wonder
ed what was going to happen. The
work OF clearing the pole was accom-
plished in six minutes, and the pole was
allowed to remain standing TO support
the now useless wires running south.
Then the forces were divided. One
section crossed into the park, where a
pole stood on the northerly lines Of the
Western Union. 1t was soon cleared Of
wires. At ll;25 the axemab had laid
the pole longwise,
TIE GOOD WORK GOES on.
The other gang OF workmen began
clearing the heavily laden poles Of the
Brush Electric Light Company, starting
with the pole on the northwest corner
of Fourteenth street and Broadway.
When the cutters began work 1t was
found that notwithstanding the notice
given the diIcrentcompAnies aitected by
the move OF the Board OF Electrical Con-
troll to cut of the electric current, the
Brush Company had left five ctecntts in
full working order. The lineplen, how
ever, were fully prepared for this diff
Guilty, and wore rubber gloves. AS the
nippers went through the wires there
was Il flash that made tho crowd below
step aside in q lively fashion, and which
proved that tho powerful CURRENTS for
arc lighting were turned full on the
wires. Commissioner Gibbens, who
stood on the street below watching the
work, became indignant.
"Why, they want TO kill our men.
This Is outrageous" he exClained.
In about ten minutes the eighteen
electric light wires running north and
south on Broadway were rendered USE
less. Tho crowd grew larger ae the peo'
pie realized that the war on the wires
hadbegun, and fully Thousand thronged
the space around the statue Of Lincoln.
EXCITING SCENES.
While this work was In proGress the
other gang had cleared the second
Western Union pole which stood In the
park above Fifteenth street. 1t was 9
long pole, and as the lineman descended
from his pcrilous position 1t swayed,
The pole, when falling, caused cry Of
mingled warning and horror from the
crowds as the pole inclined toward Q
Broadway street cur, which bad about
fifteen passengers on board, mostly
women. Fortunately the driver saw hi,
danger and with single bound Jumped
from his car Just as the polo crashed 10
the ground, barely missing the car.
Another scene followed, but u was .ol
aludiCrous character. A torman OF the
Brush company demanded the arrest oi
Commissioner Glbbens for destroying
the Companys property. Falling in nc
rompllshing his work he attempted u
take possession Of tho cut wires, bnl
Superintendent Richardson had hi
wagons and men on hand, and 9s eaCli
wire was cut II was rolled and
placed In guarded wagon. -. Thert
was no interference from the Western
Union or tho other companies Affected
The work was continued until night
fall and will 10 continued carly ,to.tnor
row morning. The only poles lUl
standing by the wotknGn were thOst
which held tho fro department wires
These will all be removed by that dc
partmOnt this week, THO COntnlsslOn
srS expect that by Saturday nIRht thI
streets designated will bU entirely iFeI
from overhead wires.
The electric light, Telegraph and telC
phone people are helpless and say tho,
can only grin and bear II,
Superintendent HumBtonC, oi N
Western Union Telegraph Uompan,
Rald to-day; "Whal can We do2 II Vli
Di course, interfere with Out bbAinels
the Mayor goCs about II In the way
understand hp intends 10, FoftunAlel
for ID, In the district over which he
going to-day, our wires arc already
the snbN Ays, although the poles ate oui